Biddenden Maids facts for kids
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst (also spelled Chalkhurst), often called the Biddenden Maids, were a pair of conjoined twins. They are believed to have been born in the village of Biddenden, England, in the year 1100. The story says they were joined at both the shoulder and the hip. They lived for 34 years.
When they died, it is claimed they left five pieces of land to their village. These lands were known as the Bread and Cheese Lands. The money earned from these lands was used to give food and drink to poor people every Easter. Since at least 1775, this yearly gift has included special "Biddenden cakes." These are hard biscuits with a picture of two conjoined women on them.
Even though people have been giving out food and drink since at least 1605, the story of the sisters wasn't written down until 1770. Back then, no one knew the sisters' names. The names "Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst" first appeared in the early 1800s.
Some historians, like Edward Hasted, thought the story was just a folk tale. He believed the cake image was originally for two poor women. He thought the twin story came from people misunderstanding the picture. Another historian, Robert Chambers, thought the legend could be true but was unlikely. Despite these doubts, the legend became very popular in the 1800s. Many visitors came to Biddenden every Easter. Later, historians suggested the twins might have lived in the 1500s, not the 1100s. They also thought the twins might have been joined only at the hip.
In 1907, the Bread and Cheese Lands were sold. The money from the sale helped the charity grow a lot. Now, widows and older people in Biddenden receive cheese, bread, and tea at Easter. They also get cash payments at Christmas. Biddenden cakes are still given out at Easter. They are also sold as souvenirs to visitors.
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The Legend of the Biddenden Maids
According to the old stories, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst were born in Biddenden, Kent, in the year 1100. Their parents were said to be quite well-off. The twins were joined at both the shoulder and the hip.
They grew up together, joined at their bodies. It is said they often argued, sometimes even fighting. When they were 34 years old, Mary Chulkhurst suddenly died. Doctors offered to separate Eliza from her sister's body. But Eliza refused, saying, "as we came together we will also go together." She died just six hours later.
The legend says that in their wills, the sisters left five pieces of land to the local church. These lands were about 20 acres in total. The money from these lands was meant to provide a yearly gift of bread, cheese, and beer to the poor every Easter. This income was said to be 6 guineas each year. From then on, the lands were called the Bread and Cheese Lands.
A Look at the History
The church leaders in Biddenden continued the yearly gift from the Bread and Cheese Lands. Records show that in 1605, the custom was stopped for a short time. This was because a church official was visiting, and past events had caused "much disorder" with unruly crowds.
In 1645, the local rector tried to claim the lands for himself. He said they were church property. But after a legal case, the charity won in 1649. The charity kept the lands and continued the Easter tradition. Witnesses in these cases mentioned that the lands were given by two women "who grew together in their bodies." However, they did not give the women's names.
By 1681, the yearly gift caused so much "disorder" that the church leaders had to step in. The food distribution was moved from inside the church to the church porch.
By 1770, the annual gift happened right after the Easter church service. The money from the lands had grown to 20 guineas. A large amount of food was given out each year. Besides bread, cheese, and beer, hard bread rolls called "Biddenden cakes" were also given. These cakes had the sisters' image molded onto them. They were even thrown to crowds from the church roof! The cakes were flat, hard, and made of flour and water. They were described as "not by any means tempting."
How the Legend Began
The charity was active as early as 1656. But the first written story of the Biddenden Maids appeared in a magazine in 1770. This early account said the twins were joined only at the hip. It also said they lived to be quite old. The article clearly stated their names were not known. They were only called the "Maids of Biddenden." This writer believed the story was true.
Before 1790, no one mentioned the twins being born in 1100 or having the name Chulkhurst. These details first appeared in a printed story in 1790. An article from 1775 said the sisters had lived "two hundred and fifty years ago." Drawings of Biddenden cakes from this time showed two women, possibly joined, but no names or dates.
Historian Edward Hasted wrote in 1798 that the legend was not true. He claimed the Bread and Cheese Lands were given by two women named Preston. He also said the Biddenden cakes only started having the image of two women around 1748. He thought the figures were meant to show "two poor widows" who received charity. He called the story of the conjoined twins "a vulgar tradition."
Many historians, like Robert Chambers, agreed with Hasted. The story was often seen as a folk tale. In 1869, a letter to a medical journal pointed out that surnames were not common in Kent in the 1100s. It also suggested that the number 1 and 5 could be easily mixed up in old handwriting. This meant the birth year might have been 1500.
The Biddenden Maids were sometimes mentioned when discussing conjoined twins. This was especially true after Chang and Eng Bunker showed that conjoined twins could live long, fairly normal lives.
The Charity Grows
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As the yearly gift grew, the Easter distribution became more popular. In 1808, a printed story with a picture of the twins was sold outside the church at Easter. This was the first time the names "Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst" were recorded. Clay copies of Biddenden cakes were also sold as souvenirs.
In the 1820s, a new story claimed a gravestone in Biddenden church was the sisters' burial place. By 1830, many visitors came to Biddenden every Easter. They were drawn by the tradition and the amazing story behind it. The day was spent in "rude festivity." The large crowds became very rowdy. Church leaders sometimes had to use their staffs to control the mob.
Because of the problems, the distribution of the gift was moved from the church to the workhouse. But the crowds still caused issues. In 1882, the rector asked to stop the ceremony. The Archbishop of Canterbury allowed the bread, cheese, and Biddenden cakes to continue. But he stopped the free beer to help control the unruly crowds.
In 1900, a historian named George Clinch studied the Biddenden Maids in detail. He looked at the clothes on the Biddenden cake molds. He thought the style of dress was from the 1500s. This matched the "two hundred and fifty years ago" mentioned in 1775. He believed the tradition started in the 1500s. He suggested that the "1100" date on the cakes might have originally been "1500." He thought the missing names on older cakes were just an engraving mistake.
It's likely the molds Clinch looked at were not the original ones. Their designs are very different from the earliest drawings of Biddenden cakes from 1775. In the 1930s, William Coles Finch explained the confusion over dates. He said "the old-fashioned numeral five is so frequently taken as a one." He also felt the quality of the Biddenden cakes being made then was not as good as in the past.
What People Believed and Doubted
In almost all drawings and cake designs, the twins are shown joined at both the hip and the shoulder. While it's possible for twins to be joined at more than one point, no living case of such a double fusion has ever been recorded.
Historian George Clinch believed the twins did exist. But he thought they lived in the 1500s, not the early 1100s. However, no books or journals from the 1500s mention them. This makes it less likely they lived then. Cases of conjoined twins, like Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo in the 1600s, caused great interest. If conjoined sisters had lived to adulthood in England, it would likely have been widely known.
In 1895, surgeon J. W. Ballantyne looked at the Biddenden Maids from a medical view. He suggested they were actually pygopagus twins. This means they were joined at the pelvis. Pygopagus twins often put their arms around each other's shoulders when walking. Ballantyne thought this might explain why drawings showed them joined at the shoulders. The pygopagus twins Millie and Christine McCoy lived to adulthood. Their case showed that such twins could survive and live relatively normal lives.
Jan Bondeson (in 1992 and 2006) suggested that while the names "Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst" might be a later addition, the twins' existence and the 1100 birth year cannot be completely dismissed. He noted old Irish records from around 1100 that mention conjoined sisters. He also pointed out that there would have been no reason for villagers in the 1700s to make up the story.
Biddenden Maids Today
In 1907, the Chulkhurst Charity joined with other local charities. They formed the Biddenden Consolidated Charity, which still operates today. The Bread and Cheese Lands were sold for housing. This greatly increased the charity's funds. Now, it provides bread, cheese, and tea to older people and widows in Biddenden at Easter. They also receive a cash payment at Christmas. Biddenden cakes are still given out. During food rationing in the 1940s and early 1950s, cocoa replaced the cheese. Cheese distribution started again in 1951.
A wrought iron village sign showing the Biddenden Maids was put up in Biddenden village in the 1920s.
The tradition of the yearly gift continues today. Every Easter Monday, tea, cheese, and bread are given to local widows and older people. This happens through the windows of Biddenden's old workhouse. Everyone who qualifies for the gift receives a Biddenden cake. These cakes are also sold as souvenirs to visitors. The cakes are baked very hard so they can be kept for a long time as souvenirs. They are baked in large batches every few years. Historically, the loaves used were very large. But this part of the tradition ended when Biddenden's last bakery closed in the 1990s.
See also
In Spanish: Mary y Eliza Chulkhurst para niños
