3. Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst

3. Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst

Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst, better known as the Biddenden Maids, were born in 1100 to a wealthy family. The Biddenden Maids are considered to be one of the earliest cases of conjoined twins on record.

It is said that the twins were conjoined at the hips and shoulders. However, such occurence of twins being conjoined in two places is extremely rare and thus most teratologists dismiss such possibility. Thus, it is most likely that the twins were simply conjoined at the hips. However, due to their custom of walking with their arms around each other’s shoulders, it could have looked like they were also conjoined at the shoulders.

In 1134, Mary died from illness. It was suggested that Eliza should be separated from her sister to ensure that she goes on living. However, Eliza disagreed, saying that together they came into this world, and together they shall go. Thus, Eliza died six hours later.

The sisters left their wealth to the poor and for many years, every Easter Sunday, bread, cheese, cakes and beer were distributed to those less fortunate.

An annual festival has been celebrated in the Biddendem Maid honour right up until the early 1900s. An important tradition of the festival has been the creation and consumption of ‘Biddenden Cakes’ which featured the two famous sisters.