Some newspapers took the name "The Post" for this reason. The term "Posting A Notice" comes from the act of the town crier, who having read his message to the townspeople, would attach it to the door post of the local inn. Salmon fishing season was also closed by the bellman. "Belman at the Cross … Reads publicly a proclamation in the Mayor's name, commanding all persons in the City to be of peaceable and civil behaviour, not to walk around the Streets or Rows at unreasonable hours of night." In 1607, one public notice read by George Tunnall, the bellman, forbade tipping rubbish in the river. In 1620, there was a fight at the Chester cross between the butchers and the bakers where the "Cryer brake his Mace in peeces Amonge them". one fyshe, for every boute lode with fresh fyshe that he goeth for. for every bote lode with powder mellwylle. "of every worshipful gentyllman that goyth onye gounes at ther buryall.
Ĭhester records of 1540 show fees due to the bellman included: During public hangings he read out why the person was being hanged, and helped to cut him or her down. The crier also escorted the destitute to the workhouse, installed minor criminals in the stocks and administered floggings. Royal proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, even selling loaves of sugar were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier throughout the centuries-at Christmas 1798, the Chester Canal Company sold some sugar damaged in their packet boat and this was to be advertised by the bellman. In medieval England, town criers were the chief means of news communication with the townspeople, since many were illiterate in a period before the moveable type was invented. Peter Moore, the Town Crier to the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority. In order to gain the attention of the crowd, the crier would yell, "Hear ye" – " Oyez".
In the observance of Allhallowtide, "it was customary for criers dressed in black to parade the streets, ringing a bell of mournful sound and calling on all good Christians to remember the poor souls." England Bells were not the only attention-getting device-in the Netherlands, a gong was the instrument of choice for many, and in France a drum was used, or a hunting horn. Ĭriers were not always men, many town criers were women. In Goslar, Germany, a crier was employed to remind the local populace not to urinate or defecate in the river the day before water was drawn for brewing beer. In ancient Rome, they typically proclaimed public business during the market days that formed a kind of weekend every eight days. Proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier. Prior to widespread literacy, town criers were the means of communication with the people of the town since many people could not read or write. The proclamations book in Chester from the early 19th century records this as "O Yes, O Yes!" Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman word for listen (modern French, oyez, infinitive, ouïr, but has been largely replaced by the verb écouter). The word "Oyez" means "hear ye," which is a call for silence and attention. In English-speaking countries, they carried a handbell to attract people's attention, as they shouted the words " Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!" before making their announcements. Criers often dress elaborately, by a tradition dating to the 18th century, in a red and gold coat, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat. The town crier was used to make public announcements in the streets.