An Anglo-Saxon settlement originally on an marshland island dating to the 7th-century was discovered in the village after a local metal detectorist found a wide range of metal artefacts including twenty styli, coins, pins and trade weights and a lead tablet engraved with the female Anglo-Saxon name 'Cudberg'.

An excavation by Dr Hugh Willmott from the archaeology department of Sheffield University found a 7th-century cemetery, timbered buildings as well as, high status ceramics and glass, as well as further ecclesiastical metal objects.

Dr Hugh Willmott from the university said the finds suggest the settlement was a "high-status ecclesiastical and trading site and not an ordinary village".

Excavation work and a survey were carried out during the demolition, during which a number of blocked doorways and windows were identified.

[7] Part of a late 10th-century or early 11th-century grave cover was used as rubble-fill in the south wall of the nave between the two main windows.