The Biddenden Maids Embroidery

Mary and Elisa Chulkhurst were known as the Biddenden Maids, conjoined twins born in Biddenden, Kent, England, in the year 1100. They are said to have been joined at both the shoulder and the hip, and to have lived for 34 years. On their death they gave five plots of land to the village, known as the Bread and Cheese Lands. The income from these lands was used to pay for an annual gift of food and drink to the poor every Easter. Since at least 1775, the dole has included Biddenden cakes, biscuits imprinted with an image of two conjoined women.

This is my embroidered tribute to the story of the maids.