![]() ![]() It was also his job to make sure fires were damped down for the night after the curfew bell. Proclaiming the news was not however their only role: indeed, their original role was to patrol the streets after dark, acting as peace keepers, arresting miscreants and taking them to the stocks for punishment and posting their crimes to show why they were there. Having read out his message, the town crier would then attach it to the doorpost of the local inn, so ‘posting a notice’, the reason why newspapers are often called ‘The Post’. The cry would then end with the words, ‘ God save the King’ or ‘God save the Queen’. It was the job of the crier or bellman to inform the townspeople of the latest news, proclamations, bylaws and any other important information, as at this time most folk were illiterate and could not read. The town crier would begin his cry with these words, accompanied by the ringing of a large hand bell to attract attention. ‘Oyez’ (pronounced ‘oh yay’) comes from the French ouïr (‘to listen’) and means “Hear ye”. It would however have been a common cry on the streets of medieval England. Our current Town Crier, Stuart Morrison, wears the traditional red and gold costume.This is the call or cry of the town crier, now usually only heard at ceremonials, fetes and local events. Many Town Crier uniforms are designed in the 18th century style, incorporating the colours of the Crier’s town. Whitehill and Bordon revived this position with Steve White who became the Town Crier in 1980.Įach town crier is officially appointed by the Mayor and you can see that the Town Crier’s robes are very similar to those of the mayor. However, the position has been revived by councils all over Britain since the 1970s. Town Criers and Bellmen were largely phased out in the early 20th Century – mainly because of the growth of local newspapers and literacy rates. THE PHASING OUT OF TOWN CRIERS AND THE REVIVAL Bellmen would be paid for each proclamation they made in the 18th century the rate was between 2d and 4d per cry. The key requirements of the role were the ability to read, a loud voice and an air of authority. The tradition has resulted in the expression “posting a notice” and the naming of newspapers as “The Post”. The Town crier would read a proclamation, usually at the door of the local inn, then nail it to the doorpost of the inn. Often the wife of a Town Crier would ring the large hand bell whilst the husband was doing the shouting. This was a necessary safeguard as the town criers often had to announce unwelcome news such as tax increases! Anything they did was done in the name of the monarch, therefore, to harm a town crier was an act of treason. ![]() ![]() “Don’t shoot the messenger” was a very real command! Town criers were protected by law. The cry would then end with the words, ‘God save the King’ or ‘God save the Queen’. ![]() At this time most folk were illiterate and could not read so this was an important role for keeping the townspeople informed of the latest news, proclamations, bylaws, and any other important information. The town crier would begin his cry with the words, “hear ye” which was later changed to Oyez (derived from the French ouïr which means ‘to listen’) accompanied by the ringing of a large hand bell to attract attention. The role of Town Crier can be traced back to medieval times: two bellmen appear in the Bayeaux Tapestry, which depicts the invasion of England by William of Normandy and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
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