Jane Bunford (26 July 1895 – 1 April 1922)[1] was one of the tallest women ever measuring 2.41 metres (7 ft 11 in) at the time of her death (adjusted for spinal curvature). She was the tallest woman in the world during her lifetime.
Bunford's parents were John Bunford (14 March 1856 – 10 December 1916) and Jane Bunford (Nee Andrews) (April 1857 – 1934)[1] of Bartley Green, Birmingham, UK. Her father was a metal caster.
Accident
According to the Guinness Book of Records at the age of 11, Bunford had a head injury.[2] It is believed that the injury permanently damaged her pituitary gland, releasing an excess of growth hormone which sent her growth out of control.
School
Bunford attended St. Michael's Secondary School in Bartley Green. At school she displayed a talent for embroidery but the desks and chairs became too uncomfortable for her to sit at. A Mrs Booth who knew Bunford said it was difficult for her to get through the school doors.[3] As a result of both factors, Bunford's parents took her out of school. On her 13th birthday she was measured at 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in) tall.[4] On her 21st birthday Bunford was measured at 2.39 metres (7 ft 10 in) tall, her peak standing height. Mrs Booth said Bunford had to have her shoes specially made at Halesowen as she had size 17 feet.[5]
Later life
Bunford rejected several opportunities to benefit financially from her size and appearance. She had straight long auburn hair. In her final years Bunford became a recluse. She hated the attention her size brought her, and her spine developed a severe curvature. Because of this, Bunford could not stand fully erect towards the end of her life. By the end of her life, Bunford was also in pain because of joint problems and other ailments.[6] She often baby-sat young children in the area, as a favour for neighbours.
Death and funeral
Shortly before her death, Bunford was measured at 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 m) tall. It was estimated that she would have been 7 feet 11 inches (2.41 m), if she had not developed the spinal curvature.[7]
Bunford died at her home in Jiggins Lane on 1 April 1922. According to her death certificate, Bunford died of hyperpituitarism and gigantism.[8]
The funeral was held at St Michaels and All Angels Church, Bartley Green, on 5 April 1922. The Coffin had been locked in the Church overnight before the day of the funeral.[9] According to undertaker's records published in General Practitioner, her coffin was 2.50 metres (8 ft 2 in) long and was probably the longest ever used for a UK funeral. Mrs. Booth claimed in February 1972 that no local people were allowed to enter the church. The story featured on ATV on 27 January 1972 and 14 March 1972.[10][11][5]
^"ATV Today: 02.02.1972: Giantess Mystery - Jane Bunford". 23 June 2017.
^"ATV Today: 27.01.1972: Tallest woman mystery - Jane Bunford". 23 June 2017.
^"ATV Today: 14.03.1972: Giantess Story - Jane Bunford". MACE Archive. June 23, 2017.
External links
Jane Bunford's memorial stone on Bartley Green Library wall
January 07, 2023
jane, bunford, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, january, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jane Bunford news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Jane Bunford 26 July 1895 1 April 1922 1 was one of the tallest women ever measuring 2 41 metres 7 ft 11 in at the time of her death adjusted for spinal curvature She was the tallest woman in the world during her lifetime Jane BunfordBornJane Bunford 1895 07 26 26 July 1895Bartley Green Northfield BirminghamDied1 April 1922 1922 04 01 aged 26 Bartley Green Northfield BirminghamKnown forTallest recognised British personHeight2 41 m 7 ft 11 in Contents 1 Early life 2 Accident 3 School 4 Later life 5 Death and funeral 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBunford s parents were John Bunford 14 March 1856 10 December 1916 and Jane Bunford Nee Andrews April 1857 1934 1 of Bartley Green Birmingham UK Her father was a metal caster Accident EditAccording to the Guinness Book of Records at the age of 11 Bunford had a head injury 2 It is believed that the injury permanently damaged her pituitary gland releasing an excess of growth hormone which sent her growth out of control School EditBunford attended St Michael s Secondary School in Bartley Green At school she displayed a talent for embroidery but the desks and chairs became too uncomfortable for her to sit at A Mrs Booth who knew Bunford said it was difficult for her to get through the school doors 3 As a result of both factors Bunford s parents took her out of school On her 13th birthday she was measured at 1 98 metres 6 ft 6 in tall 4 On her 21st birthday Bunford was measured at 2 39 metres 7 ft 10 in tall her peak standing height Mrs Booth said Bunford had to have her shoes specially made at Halesowen as she had size 17 feet 5 Later life EditBunford rejected several opportunities to benefit financially from her size and appearance She had straight long auburn hair In her final years Bunford became a recluse She hated the attention her size brought her and her spine developed a severe curvature Because of this Bunford could not stand fully erect towards the end of her life By the end of her life Bunford was also in pain because of joint problems and other ailments 6 She often baby sat young children in the area as a favour for neighbours Death and funeral EditShortly before her death Bunford was measured at 7 feet 7 inches 2 31 m tall It was estimated that she would have been 7 feet 11 inches 2 41 m if she had not developed the spinal curvature 7 Bunford died at her home in Jiggins Lane on 1 April 1922 According to her death certificate Bunford died of hyperpituitarism and gigantism 8 The funeral was held at St Michaels and All Angels Church Bartley Green on 5 April 1922 The Coffin had been locked in the Church overnight before the day of the funeral 9 According to undertaker s records published in General Practitioner her coffin was 2 50 metres 8 ft 2 in long and was probably the longest ever used for a UK funeral Mrs Booth claimed in February 1972 that no local people were allowed to enter the church The story featured on ATV on 27 January 1972 and 14 March 1972 10 11 5 Preceded byUnknown Tallest Recognized Woman 1982 Succeeded byZeng JinlianPreceded byTrijntje Keever Alleged Disputed Tallest Recognized Woman ever 1982 Succeeded byZeng JinlianPreceded byUnknown Tallest Recognized British Person ever present Succeeded by See also EditList of tallest people Zeng Jinlian the tallest female in medical historyReferences Edit a b FreeBMD Search www freebmd org uk Guinness Book of Records 1972 ATV Today 02 02 1972 Giantess Mystery Jane Bunford 23 June 2017 The Guinness Book of Records various issues 1972 2000 a b ATV Today 02 02 1972 Giantess Mystery Jane Bunford MACE Archive June 23 2017 RootsWeb ENG BLACK COUNTRY L RE B C Jane Bunford archiver rootsweb ancestry com Archived from the original on 2009 02 25 Ladies First Archived 2007 10 17 at the Wayback Machine Jane Bunford s death certificate 3 April 1922 ATV Today 02 02 1972 Giantess Mystery Jane Bunford 23 June 2017 ATV Today 27 01 1972 Tallest woman mystery Jane Bunford 23 June 2017 ATV Today 14 03 1972 Giantess Story Jane Bunford MACE Archive June 23 2017 External links EditJane Bunford s memorial stone on Bartley Green Library wall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jane Bunford amp oldid 1091961424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
