Orpington and District Archaeological Society (ODAS) is an active local archaeology volunteer group with a field headquarters at Scadbury Park, Chislehurst. It is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in 2025.
The Society is a registered charity. It promotes the study of archaeology in the local area by undertaking excavations, carrying out research and encouraging public interest through meetings and visits.
Where We Work
This society’s main focus of activity is the Upper Cray Valley in the London Borough of
Bromley, in an area bounded by the A222 on the west; the A21 on the south; the LBB boundary on the east; and the LBB boundary to the north.
The Society’s History
ODAS was founded in 1975 by a group of local enthusiasts who, having helped the Curator of the Bromley Museum excavate the Roman Bath House and Anglo-Saxon cemetery in St. Mary Cray, realised the importance of investigation and recording of archaeology in the Upper Cray Valley.
Local archeology
Roman Jar
There is evidence of human presence in the Upper Cray Valley from Palaeolithic times. Since its formation ODAS has undertaken numerous excavations in the area. It has uncovered a Romano-British corn drier; an early Saxon Grubenhaus (sunken hut) associated with a Romano-British boundary ditch; a Romano-British trackway; a Mesolithic flint-working site and other evidence of ancient occupation.
In 1986 the Society embarked on a long-term excavation of the moated manor site at Scadbury Park, Chislehurst. Work at the site is continuing.
A key project of the society has been to bring together in one publication details of all the archaeological finds and sites in the Orpington area from Palaeolithic (early Stone Age) to Tudor times. This invaluable resource is available on the ODAS website THE UPPER CRAY VALLEY PROJECT
Member activities
The society holds monthly meetings for members, which include a varied programme of lectures on archaeological research and local history. There are also social events and visits to local sites and museums.
Members who would like to get hands-on experience can get involved with ongoing excavation and survey work at Scadbury Park. There is a regular programme of digging and finds processing on Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Sunday. These take place in the afternoons and all are welcome.
There are also opportunities to participate in field surveys (including geophysical investigations), documentary research and the documenting and analysing of finds for post-excavation publication.
ODAS holds licences for the Fordcroft Roman Bathhouse and Scadbury Manor, both of which are scheduled monuments. We organise open days for the public at the bathhouse and Scadbury Manor in July and September each year, supported by our membership.
Members receive a copy of ODAS’s quarterly journal Archives, which includes reports on finds and research, articles on history and archaeology, and notes on our monthly lecture programme. Archives is available as a PDF by email or hard copy.