He was the all-American film pioneer who brought joy to millions of people with his children’s films.
Today the company founded by Walt Disney in the USA in 1923 is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
But it was during a visit to the United Kingdom in 1949 that history was made.
In 1949, when Walt was in the country overseeing the filming of Treasure Island, he made an impromptu visit to the small village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire to trace his distant ancestors.
Accompanied by his wife and children, he found the family crest of his supposed ancestor Sir William d’Isney on the figure’s 14th-century grave at St Peter’s Church, Norton Disney.
As a tribute to Walt’s discovery, these three lions have appeared in the famous title sequence of every Disney film since 2006.
In the short clip, a flag with the coat of arms flutters at the top of Sleeping Beauty’s castle and has been reproduced in Disneyland parks around the world since 1965.
When Walt Disney was in the country in 1949 to supervise the filming of Treasure Island, he made an impromptu visit to the small village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire to trace his distant ancestors. Above: A family film showing Walt’s visit to St. Peter’s Church in Norton Disney with his wife and daughters in July 1949
Speaking from St Peter’s Church, which dates back to the 11th century, historian and Disney expert Sebastien Durand told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘This is the oldest place in England where you can find a trace of Disney, from Walt Disney’s history and his family tree and even his coat of arms.’
He added that there is a 99 percent chance that Disney’s name comes from the French family commemorated in St. Peter’s Church.
Walt visited Norton Disney on July 7, 1949 with his wife Lillian and daughters Diane and Sharon.
At that time, his company was already gaining popularity through films such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Fantasia,” which starred the popular Mickey Mouse.
Walt, who knew his great-grandfather was Irish, had heard that there was a village named after Disney and so wanted to explore the area further.
His visit was filmed with a film camera. The footage shows him with his family in front of the church and talking to the then pastor Reverend RK Roper.
They also pose at the Norton Disney road signs and walk down Main Street.
In St. Peter’s Church, Walt saw William d’Isney’s coat of arms, which showed three lions facing left – the symbol of Normandy.
Walt found the family crest of his supposed ancestor Sir William d’Isney on the figure’s 14th-century grave at St. Peter’s Church in Norton Disney
As a tribute to Walt’s discovery, these three lions have appeared in the famous title sequence of every Disney film since 2006
The De Isgnys had come to England from France with William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
According to the BBC, her name then changed over the centuries, first to d’Isgny and then to D’Iseny, before finally being renamed Disney in the 13th or 14th century.
In 1965, Walt wanted to place a coat of arms on Sleeping Beauty’s castle to celebrate Disneyland’s 10th anniversary.
He was asked if there was a Disney crest and remembered seeing it at Norton Disney.
Photos were taken of it so it could be reproduced in California and the other Disney parks.
In the short clip, a flag with the coat of arms can be seen at the top of Sleeping Beauty’s castle
The crest can also be seen at Disneyland theme parks around the world. Above: At Sleeping Beauty Castle in California
The St. Peter’s Church dates back to the 11th century. Norton Disney itself only has 242 residents
Walt Disney is seen with his wife Lillian in the 1950s. The couple was married for more than 40 years
Walt Disney can be seen with his wife Lillian and daughters Sharon and Diana
Hilda Kinnersley, now 94, of Norton Disney, was 20 years old when Walt visited her with his family.
Recalling his visit, she told the BBC how her brother took the family to the local pub, the St Vincent Arms, now called The Green Man.
She said, “I thought, who is he bringing in?”
“And then I thought, he’s not a bad-looking man.”
“They all come in with his daughters. And they were chatty and playing a game of darts, because we were already playing darts when Walt came in.’