Town Crier

From Chester Wiki

Disambiguation: see also Town Crier (pub)

Contents 1 Early history 2 Medieval times to Victorian Britain 3 Present day 4 Activities 5 Honours 6 Trivia 7 Town Crier 12 noon announcement 8 Links

[edit] Early history

The origins of town crying in Chester date back to Roman times, when the city was known as Deva. In what is now the Forum shopping centre, but was then called the Principia, soldiers of the Adiutrix Pia Fidelis (2nd Roman Legion) and Valeria Victrix (20th Roman Legion) received their daily ear-bashing from their commanding officer (see: Centurion).

Roman giving ear-bashing

[edit] Medieval times to Victorian Britain

The Cross, where the four main streets of the Roman fortress still intersect, has been the site of public proclamations since medieval times. The earliest known official mention of Chester's Town Crier is the famous proclamation by a 15th century Crier. In the early 1400s, there was a bloody uprising by Welsh forces which had centred on Chester. After this rebellion was crushed, King Henry IV took precautions to ensure that no such insurrection would occur again. On 4 September 1403, Henry wrote to the Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen of the City of Chester, commanding that "all manner of Welsh persons or Welsh sympathies should be expelled from the City; that no Welshman should enter the City before sunrise or tarry in it after sunset, under pain of decapitation". Henry's explicit orders stated that the new laws should be "proclaimed publicly in your bailiwick for the informing of the people". The Town Crier was therefore responsible spreading the news. The laws have never been repealed, although anyone attempting to carry out Henry IV's orders today by shooting "a Welshman within the City Walls after midnight with a bow and arrow" would be arrested for murder.

Before the destruction of Chester's bullring in 1591 (to make way for Stanley Palace in Watergate Street which was the town house of the Earls of Derby), and the outlawing of bull-baiting, it was the Town Crier's duty to announce the fight. Before the bull was released for battle, the Town Crier would proclaim: "Oyez, Oyez, If any man stands within 20 yards of the Bullring, let him take what comes".

In the 16th century, during the period of office of Mayor Henry Gee (1539-1540), a list of fees mentions payments made for a bellman and a town crier. Later, in the City Assembly minutes dated 22 May 1595, there is a reference to a Thomas Richardson, Town Crier.

There appears to have been some kind of overlap between the office of town crier and that of the city bellman - the City Assembly minutes of 28 August 1600, refer to a John Person being appointed to replace the late Henry Sterington. During the 17th century, city archives refer again to the bellmen (note plural). One worked days, one did the night shift and there was also a "common" bellman. Their function was to announce decrees of various kinds made by the City Assembly.

Being the Town Crier was a nice little earner for the incumbent: the City Assembly voted in 1688 to pay the Town Crier £5 ( a huge sum back then) in compensation for providing this public duty to Cestrians. As well as the not-inconsiderable wage, the Town Crier was also entitled to receive toll fees on certain goods sold at the City Market - fish, fruit, peas and bacon. Not surprisingly, 17th century scammers saw this as a great opportunity to cash in. !690, a certain Ralph Leigh was order by the Assembly to desist collecting tolls at Bridgegate "on behalf of the Town Crier", following a complaint by the Crier himself. As well as the toll fees on produce, the Town Crier was also entitled to levy duty of one shilling on loads exceeding one ton of coal brought into Chester by "foreign" teams. Smaller loads could net the Crier duties of 9d, 8d or 6d, depending on the size. When the City Fair was happening, the Crier was also permitted to have a stall at the Cross and take the profits.

The incumbent Crier in 1741 was suspended for "affronts and misdemeanours", although the city records do not state what these were. He was eventually pardoned by the Assembly, but he had to make a public apology and pay the Mayor £5 as a fine, which was to be distributed amongst the poor of Chester.

The last Town Crier of this period was a certain John Jeffrey (?1818-1903), who was appointed on 30 March 1874. He served Chester for 23 years before resigning in 1897 on the grounds of ill health (city records state he was going deaf, was partially blind and had "other infirmities".)

[edit] Present day

The Office of Town Crier was revived by Chester City Council on 18 October 1978, when Tom Clarkson was appointed to the job. As a city, Chester has the right under the terms of the "Royal Letters patent" (granted in 1974) to appoint "local officers of dignity". The position requires a loud voice, a top hat, full ceremonial regalia and a bell. Mr Clarkson was replaced by Michael Chittenden in 1981.

The current Town Crier is actually two people, Mr and Mrs David and Julie Mitchell. They are the world's first married couple to occupy the role. Together, they also act as Town Criers for Frodsham, Knutsford, Vale Royal and the City of Lancaster.

The Town Crier no longer rings his bell while proclaiming "Bring out your dead!". These days, you can expect to hear more cheerful local and national news, all preceded by the customary "Oyez! Oyez!". ref.

[edit] Activities

The proclamations of Chester's Town Criers can be heard at the Chester High Cross at noon, every Tuesday to Saturday, from May to August.

[edit] Honours

Since the office of Town Crier was revived in Chester, incumbents have participated in various competitions for town criers around the world.

David Mitchell came third in the World Town Crier Championships in 1999, while Julie Mitchell was the winner that year for female town criers. Julie also came second at the 2002 LCTC British Championships.

[edit] Trivia

The three "Oyezs" which begin every proclamation date from the time of the Norman Conquest. "Oyez!" is the medieval French equivalent of "Hearken!"

Chester was the first location on mainland Britain to host a World Town Crier Tournament.

Julie Mitchell has made liveries for 12 British town criers, and also for Howard Barker, the Town Crier of Colac in Australia, who won Best Dressed Crier at the 1999 Australian Championship, and was also named Australian Champion at that event.

David Mitchell acted the role of Town Crier in the Granada TV production of Moll Flanders and in '24 Hour Party People' with Steve Coogan.

[edit] Town Crier 12 noon announcement

[edit] Links

City Council official page on the Town Crier
Official site of David and Julie Mitchell