Although it is known that the charity had been in operation as early as 1656 , an anonymous article in The Gentleman 's Magazine in August 1770 is the earliest recorded account of the legend of the Biddenden Maids . This account state that the twins was joined at the hip only , rather than at both the hip and the shoulder , and that they lived to a relatively old age . The article explicitly state that their names was not recorded , and that they was known only as the " Maids of Biddenden " . The anonymous author recount the story of their bequest of the lands to the parish to support the annual dole , and go on to say that despite the antiquity of the events described , he have no doubt as to their authenticity . As with all accounts of the tradition prior to 1790 the author do not mention their alleged birth in 1100 , or the name of Chulkhurst ; these details first appeared in a broadside published in 1790 . The Antiquarian Repertory of 1775 say that the sisters had lived " as tradition say , two hundred and fifty years ago " . Drawings of Biddenden cake from this period show that they featured an image of two women , possibly conjoined , but no names , dates or ages .