Biddenden’s Act of Easter Charity

Biddenden is a quaint and picturesque village in the Weald of Kent, near Tenterden. Amongst its most famous former residents are Eliza and Mary Chulkhurst, a pair of conjoined twins who were said to have been born in the village in the year 1100. They were supposedly joined at the shoulder and hip, and lived for 34 years. They are known as the Biddenden Maids and are commemorated on the Biddenden village sign (pictured).

It is claimed that they left five pieces of land to the village on their death, totalling around 20 acres, the income of which was to provide an annual “dole”, or distribution, of food and drink to the poor every Easter. These lands became known colloquially as the Bread and Cheese Lands. Since the 18th Century, the dole has included hard biscuits imprinted with the image of the twins, known as Biddenden Cakes.

The dole used to be distributed in the church immediately following the Easter Day service. In 1681, the Archbishop of Canterbury reportedly had to intervene due to the “disorder and indecency” of the event. It was subsequently moved outside the church building!

The Bread and Cheese Lands were sold in 1907 for a housing development, but the continuing income has enabled this centuries-old tradition to continue to the present day. Every Easter Monday, tea, cheese and bread are still given out to widows and pensioners by the local charity, as well as Biddenden Cakes. These biscuits are baked so hard as to render them inedible, enabling them to be preserved for a longer period as souvenirs. There are several examples in Kent museums that have survived over 100 years.

There is much mystery surrounding the Biddenden Maids, with some historians arguing that their story is just a folk tale, and others suggesting that the evidence about them is sparse or inaccurate. However, whatever the truth about their existence and lives, their legacy certainly lives in on in this charming Wealden village, and in the Biddenden Dole tradition.

The Weald of Kent is a picturesque area to explore, with many sights and attractions to visit, and pretty villages and countryside to see. Why not take a guided tour with a local accredited Blue Badge Tourist Guide? We know all the best places to visit, and the stories behind them!

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