Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Romani Gypsies arrived in the United Kingdom over 500 years ago, leaving an indelible mark on everything from art, music, and film to food, language, and politics.
It could be assumed that with a culture historically centred around nomadism, tangible remains of this ethnicity are hard to spot. But the heritage of Romani Gypsies is all around us, seen in street names, old stopping places, at crossroads, cemeteries and meadows.
In this short film, archaeologist and broadcaster John Henry Phillips explores the Suffolk countryside where he grew up to search for what remains and reflect on whether Romani Gypsy history has been forgotten or overlooked.
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John Henry Phillips is an author, archaeologist, and filmmaker. He co-founded the non-profit Romani Community Archaeology, which excavates historic Romani sites alongside present-day Romani communities. John Henry is the author of The Search, presenter of Channel 4’s The Great British Dig, and created PBS’s No Roses On A Sailor’s Grave.
'Searching for Romani Gypsy Heritage' was created and composed by John Henry Phillips.
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Romani Gypsies arrived in the United Kingdom over 500 years ago, leaving an indelible mark on everything from art, music, and film to food, language, and politics.
It could be assumed that with a culture historically centred around nomadism, tangible remains of this ethnicity are hard to spot. But the heritage of Romani Gypsies is all around us, seen in street names, old stopping places, at crossroads, cemeteries and meadows.
In this short film, archaeologist and broadcaster John Henry Phillips explores the Suffolk countryside where he grew up to search for what remains and reflect on whether Romani Gypsy history has been forgotten or overlooked.
___
John Henry Phillips is an author, archaeologist, and filmmaker. He co-founded the non-profit Romani Community Archaeology, which excavates historic Romani sites alongside present-day Romani communities. John Henry is the author of The Search, presenter of Channel 4’s The Great British Dig, and created PBS’s No Roses On A Sailor’s Grave.
'Searching for Romani Gypsy Heritage' was created and composed by John Henry Phillips.
___
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UChsbpRsD0SiZNsvwdZAR4zQ?sub_confirmation=1
Follow us on
Facebook: facebook.com/HistoricEngland
Instagram: instagram.com/historicengland
Twitter/X: twitter.com/HistoricEngland
Visit our website ➡️ historicengland.org.uk
