This film is part of Free

Gypsy Queen

Memory and legend merge amongst the gravestones of a peaceful Worcestershire village where the Gypsy Queen rests in peace.

News 1967 6 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

In 1861 at Feckenham in Worcestershire the funeral took place of the so called Queen of the Gypsies, Phoebe Lee. In this 1967 news item 90 year old Mrs Martha Shakels recounts the story to reporter Gwyn Richards. Her father witnessed the spectacular funeral and with over a century passing since then Phoebe's grave is falling into disrepair amongst the chestnut trees of a typical English village cemetery.

As the years continue to pass Phoebe Lee's grave continues to decay in a forgotten graveyard at St John the Baptist Church at Feckenham.