A Circus Curiosity in 18th-Century England
In 18th-century Yorkshire, a performer named Thomas Wedders, also known as Thomas Wadhouse, drew attention across England for an unusual reason: his nose. Allegedly measuring 20 centimeters (7.9 inches), it was said to be the longest human nose ever recorded.
Life on the Sideshow Stage
Wedders found his place in circus sideshows, where his extreme facial feature made him a spectacle. While no verified measurements exist due to the lack of photographic technology in his lifetime, wax reproductions of his head—most notably at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in London—preserve his unusual appearance.
A Nose That Defied Anatomy
In 1896, The Strand Magazine wrote about Wedders’ features in dramatic fashion, speculating that his large nose may have overwhelmed his other faculties. They described him as having died in a state of what they called “abject idiocy,” though no medical records confirm this.
An Unusual Record That Still Stands
Though Guinness World Records does not officially list Wedders due to the lack of verifiable evidence, his story continues to circulate in historical curiosities. He died around 1780 at about 50 years old, remembered primarily for a nose unlike any other.
In 18th-century England, Thomas Wedders became a sideshow attraction for one extraordinary reason: his nose.
Born around 1730 in Yorkshire, Wedders was said to have the longest nose ever recorded, allegedly measuring 20 cm (7.9 inches).
The claim made him a circus oddity…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/dgJC16p23N
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