We have been finding out about medieval jobs and today I want to learn more about the medieval town crier. They were one of the most recognisable figures in a medieval town. Medieval streets were often crowded and noisy. But there was one voice that people could hear above the din, that was the town crier.
Town criers played an important role in medieval society, especially at a time when most people could not read or write. In medieval England, literacy wasn’t widespread, it was only really available to the clergy, nobles, merchants, and maybe some officials. Ordinary people had to rely on other forms of communication to find out news. Because of this, the town crier was hugely important.
A town crier was usually appointed by the local authorities, it could be the mayor, the lord, or maybe the town council. Their job was to publicly announce important information. This could be anything from royal proclamations, new laws, tax announcements, market regulations, punishments, to public warnings.
Town criers needed to be very confident. They needed to speak in busy public places. It was not enough to just read the words from a scroll. They had to command the attention of the crowd. They often rang a hand bell before they spoke, The familiar phrase “Hear ye! Hear ye!” later became associated with them. Those words were used to call people to listen.
A town crier’s day would often vary depending on what was happening in the town. On some days, they might need to walk through the streets, market squares, and near churches to announce something. On other days, they might have to deliver an urgent warning about a fire, or a crime or maybe even a disease outbreak. At a time when they didn’t have newspapers, radio, television, or phones, the town crier was hugely important
The job wasn’t always easy. Town criers were sometimes responsible for announcing punishments or executions. Imagine having to publicly declare that a local had broken the law and would face punishment. Not a job that I would envy.
Town criers were often quite well known in their communities. They became familiar faces, people recognised them by their voices and clothing. They often wore bright clothes often red, blue, green, or yellow, so that people could spot them easily.
Some people may have respected them as trusted messengers, but others may have seen them as the bearers of bad news. But they were a necessary part of life.
In some towns, town criers also announced exciting news. Victories in battle, royal weddings, royal births and major celebrations could all be announced by their ringing bell and booming voice.
Although we no longer rely on town criers in the way medieval people did, they have not disappeared entirely. Town criers still exist today, though their role is mostly ceremonial, promotional, or simply just a connection to the past. In places like as Chester, York, and other historic towns, modern town criers appear at festivals, civic events, parades, and historical reenactments. I think that it is brilliant that they are keeping old customs alive.
Do you think that communities felt more connected when news was shared face to face?
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