Image credit: Doyle of London / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 2022-09-15 ↗
Prince Lee Boo's tomb
Rotherhithe · Rotherhithe · Expansion route discovery
Story
In the quiet churchyard of St Mary’s Rotherhithe, amidst English gravestones, lies Prince Lee Boo. This young man, the son of a ruler from the Palau islands in the Pacific, arrived in Great Britain in the late eighteenth century. His journey, an extraordinary voyage, ended tragically when he died in London in 1784, at a very young age, and was buried here. His tomb is one of the most unexpected and moving connections between a peaceful Thames-side churchyard and the vast global history of encounters between Europe and Oceania. For generations, his grave has been remembered and cared for, transforming a brief life into a permanent part of the district's landscape and memory, offering a different perspective on London's maritime history, which extends beyond English sailors and docks to encompass cultural encounters of global resonance.
What to look for
Look for a chest tomb among the other funerary monuments in the churchyard. Identify it by the engraved name of Prince Lee Boo.
Secret detail
The tomb is a physical testament to the early contacts between Great Britain and the Palau islands in the Pacific, revealing the global reach of 18th-century maritime exploration.
Where exactly
In St Mary’s Churchyard, roughly west of the tower, look for the chest tomb of Prince Lee Boo.
Orientation
Use the churchyard paths and do not step on graves. Use St Mary’s tower as your reference point.
Why it matters
Prince Lee Boo’s tomb inserts an extraordinary Pacific story into the heart of Rotherhithe’s maritime history, broadening our understanding of the diverse human experiences connected to this place.
Access & opening
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Accessibility
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