In 2003 trenches (eventually combined into 1 were put down on a strip of land alongside the east wall of the former church in advance of the erection of buttresses. In 2006 excavations were carried out within the nave and aisle of the former church, initially hand excavated evaluation trenches then monitoring of machine excavated foundation trenches with some hand excavation . The excavations in 2003 outside the side wall of the church found the foundations of a pre-existing medieval building and pits. In 2005 inside the building midden pits were discovered which are unusual in Scarborough (refuse was dumped in the sea) with good preservation of organic material such as leather . Foundation walls indicated that the site was occupied by a significant building