The job of Town Crier can be traced back as far as 1066, when news of Britains first (and last) invasion by King William of Normandy was passed from town to town by individuals specifically employed to call out the Kings proclamations.
Literacy amongst the majority of the populace was low well into the 19th century as books and newspapers were generally only accesible to a small percentage of the English population. Proclamations, edicts, laws and news may well have been written on paper, but they were usually passed on to the general public by The Town Crier - in fact the first talking newspaper!
Oyez! Oyez! which is believed to be derived from the French and means "hark" or "listen" became a familiar call in town squares, markets and public meeting places all over Britain, a summons for town folk to gather and listen to news of plague, victories in far off lands, Royal births and death by execution!
After the news had been read aloud, the paper was nailed to a post on the nearest hostelry for those who could read - hence the term "posting a notice!"
Certainly news of the great fire of London and the attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the houses of Parliament would have been spread by members of the Ancient and Honorable Guild of Town Criers.
Today the tradition of Town Criers is kept alive and well in Australia by many of the Shires and towns across this vast land. Many Australian Town Criers compete in competitions both here and overseas, many with great success. Town Crier competitions have very strict rules applied, with accuracy, diction and appearance being just some.
The earliest record so far found of a Town Crier in the Shire of Macedon Ranges is one Andrew Andrews. who was the Town Crier for the town of Gisborne around th 1870's. Andrew was recorded as being the local Bellman, and also the local amateur dentist! Andrew lived in Aitken Street in Gisborne in what was describes as "a skillion built of palings". Poor old Andrew died there and was buried in the Kyneton cemetary on 13th February 1877. The current Town Crier is happy to follow the tradition of Town Crying but draws the line at amateur dentistry! |
