Maidstone Off The Beaten Path

The small Village of Biddenden was our next stop after Leed's Castle. I had read about this village and its Twin's.
Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, the so-called Biddenden Maids were born in 1100 to a wealthy family in Biddenden.
They are shown connected at the hips and at the shoulder which was a rare occurence and is thought they wouldn't have survived. It is thought, Mary and Eliza may have been joined at the lower spine and pelvis.
The Biddenden Maids became curiosities.

From the page about the Twins..............

"When one sister died, at the age of 34, it was proposed that they be separated to save the other. She refused, stating, As we came together, we will also go together. Six hours later she, too, died.
The twins bequeathed their estate to the parish church, and instructed that their money be spent distributing bread and cheese to the poor of their village every Easter Sunday. The will also directed that tiny cakes of flour and water, measuring about two inches by four inches and bearing an image of the twins, be given out along with the bread and cheese. It's not quite clear whether these "Biddenden cakes" were intended as food or as souvenirs, but as the Easter tradition progressed into the later centuries, the cakes were "much sought-after as curiosities".

The Maids are still remembered! I saw the lovely painted sign depicting the pair in the village.

Quite a story!

Located 14miles from Maidstone on the A274 road.

THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT TO MAIDSTONE , i`ve loved it and loathed it in equal measures, made friends that will last a lifetime ( very few, you know who you are ) a few enemies too ( but who cares! ) made merry, made love, made a few marks, had my heart broken and broke a few in return, but all good things must come to an end and it`s time to move on. We said goodbye to too many great venues, lost a few friends, shed blood, sweat and tears and learned bugger all, because we would do it all again if we could.
I lived here for 38 years, tried to leave a few times but the call was too strong, so now i rely on those good friends to remind me when i should be there for whatever reason, and it won`t take much, to laugh again, cry again , pick mushrooms, play music and make merry. To see my friends kids grow up, find an old road to ride, to touch those old familiar places.
I`m only 40 miles away, you can find me in the Doghouse at Kennington crossroads these days, just far away for a new life and near enough to be there when it counts.
I loved every one of you.

Goodbye from Jonah & Lesley who ran the pub for 4 years.
you can now find them, along with some of the Albion regulars at The Alexander in Chatham, adjacent to the railway station & about 10 years from the Albion.

Sister , daughter, devoted mother & great Friend, sweeter than sin and sadly no longer with us, we all loved Steff.

Gonzo, just like Hunter S thompson said "it never got wierd enough for me"....mad, bad and slightly perverted. you`de love him!

Now there is nowhere left to go look out for this motley lot roaming the streets and parks of Maidstone. Thanks to every one of them for enriching my life in some way, hope to see you all again.