Walt Disney visited Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, in 1949, and Sleeping Beauty's castle changed forever.
It is exactly 100 years since Walt Disney founded his famous film studio, which has made some of the world's best-loved movies. What's less well known is the story of the founder's links to a tiny English village.
"This is the oldest place in England where you can find a trace of Disney, of Walt Disney's history and his family tree and even his coat of arms," the French Disney expert explains, while gazing up at Norman pillars and arches.A special picture by Disney illustrator Kim Raymond given to the village of Norton Disney to celebrate Disney's 100th anniversary
Accompanied by a photographer and with a cine camera to make a home movie, the Disneys descended on the tiny village. The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco has allowed the BBC to show that rare footage as part of Disney's 100th anniversary celebrations.The family can be seen posing for photos by Norton Disney signs, walking down the main road, and inspecting gravestones.
Walt also saw the rather grand 14th Century tomb of Sir William d'Isney on which there was the family crest, with three lions facing left, the symbol of Normandy.In 1965, for the 10th anniversary of the Disneyland theme park in California, Walt decided he wanted to add a coat of arms to Sleeping Beauty's castle. He was asked if there was a Disney crest.
London Illustrated magazine dedicated two pages to the visit, saying: "The man who has invaded the world's screens hopes to prove he is descended from a Norman invader of 1066.""You can never be totally sure," Durand says, "because nobody can trace a direct history over 1,000 years except if he is from a royal family.
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