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Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (1,526)  | |  |  | Another Kent gem - Biddenden! | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
When driving into Biddenden (what a gorgeous name too!), one almost feels like one has stepped into another era. Many places in England have this Weaver-style cottages scattered here and there, but here there is quite a lot of it. Add some locally-made cobble stones to that and it spells C H A R A C T E R. Galore! The name refers to 'The Maids of Biddenden'. In 1100, Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst were born here. They were cojoined and became quite famous in the area. Possibly the most famous cojoined twins in the pre-medical era. Oddly, they are depicted in drawings from that time to have been connected at the hips and the shoulders. They were probably joined at the pelvis and spine realistically though, and not as the fablled pictures suggest. They died at the age of 34. The one twin died and the other, healthy twin, said she would rather die together with her twin, as they had come into the world together, and they should depart together. She died 6 hours later. Should you pop into Biddenden, do have a look at the pretty painted sign of the twins on the village green. Biddenden has recently obtained Broadband in the area. Great for locals I am sure :) (This tip appears in Kent too, so pls do not rate it if you have rated the Kent one already. Thanks). Leave a Comment Website: www.biddenden.gov.uk
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| | | | Dead poets society? | Tip Rating: | | | | |
I must say, I really love wandering about old cemeteries, and this one is a classic. It is very unusual in that it has never apparently been consecrated. This led to it's being the last resting place of many Dissenters, Quakers and others who were not in favour with the established Church. It was much favoured by Puritans and a couple of members of the Cromwell family are buired there. There appears to be a disproportionate amount of literary people amongst the 120,000 souls buried there. There are the graves of, or monuments to, Daniel Defoe (of Robinson Crusoe fame, John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress) and William Blake the poet. Another interesting grave, in the open area, is that of Dame Mary Page, who apparently was "tap'd" 68 times in the last 67 months of her life resulting in the removal of 240 gallons of water! I have no idea what medical procedure this was, nor do I really wish to know. The last interment there was of a 15 year old girl in 1834 after which the place was set aside as a park and recreation area. I love to go for a walk here. Although most of the graves are behind fences, you can access them by arrangement with the park-keeper or by telephoning the number given. Leave a Comment Phone: 0207 374 4127Website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/living_environment/open_spaces/bunhill.htm
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| | | | Oliver Cromwell Monument | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658) was an English politician; who, as Lord Protector following the overthrow of the British Monarchy, ruled England, Scotland and Ireland from December 16, 1653, until his death, which is believed to be due either to malaria or poisoning. In the wake of victory, the monarchy was abolished, and between 1649 and 1653 the country became a republic, long rare in Europe. The republic was known as the Commonwealth of England. Within two years of Cromwell's death on 1658 parliament restored Charles II as king. This should have been the end of the story but in 1661 Oliver Cromwell's body was exhumed from Westminster Abbey and was subjected to the ritual of a posthumous execution - on January 30, the same date that Charles I had been executed. He was in fact hung, drawn and quartered. At the end his body was thrown into a pit; his head however was detached from his body and displayed on a pole outside Westminster Abbey until 1685. Since then it changed hands several times before eventually being buried in the grounds of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, in 1960. you can see this monument right near Parlament building Leave a Comment
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