Town Crier
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
May 9, 2017 9:01am CST
I had an uncle who used to dress up as a Town Crier on ceremonial occasions, pageants etc., but in medieval England people relied on the Town Crier for the news.
He would walk around the town ringing his bell to attract attention, and then stop in a strategic position to call out the news in a stentorian voice.
This was a valuable service as a lot of people couldn't read in those days.
Of course I couldn't resist writing a silly limerick.
Big Bill had a voice to admire,
his job was as the Town Crier,
while swinging his bell
he tripped and he fell
he's soprano now in the choir.
Have you heard of Town Criers?
Photo is from freeimages.com
56 people like this
52 responses
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
9 May 17
Love the limerick. Yes I am an election judge and when the polls open and close we have to shout out much like that town crier that the polls are open and closed. I do feel a bit silly doing that though.
8 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@fishtiger58 You really have to shout out? Have you got a bell???
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
9 May 17
@jaboUK Yes we really have to shout it out, no bell though lol.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472124)
• Switzerland
9 May 17
Nice limerick. Of course I have heard of Town Criers, they were popular in the Italian cities during Medieval Times. It was the same in Medieval France, I know that In France they started with "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez!" I think it was the same in England.
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
9 May 17
I need a town crier's skills at times in the college...I precede it by banging the duster loudly on the desk
Bill spread the news in a voice so strong,
But certain changes came along.
He tripped and discovered his muse.
Now his voice is put to use
Forever uplifted in song!
Bill spread the news in a voice so strong,
But certain changes came along.
He tripped and discovered his muse.
Now his voice is put to use
Forever uplifted in song!3 people like this
. Thank you.@responsiveme (22926)
• India
9 May 17
@jaboUK Bill joins the rank of Maud andDaisy
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
9 May 17
i have heard of them but they were way,way,way before my time
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@hostessman Lol - are you implying that they are not before mine???
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
9 May 17
@jaboUK you seem to know so much about them i just assumed you might have seen them --lol
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
26 May 17
I don't think I heard of them until I moved to Canada. We have them at every event. I am in awe of your post and your limerick. I never thought of the fact some couldn't read.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
26 May 17
@PainsOnSlate That must be the British influence in Canada 
. Oh yes, they date back hundreds of years when a lot of people were illiterate.
. Oh yes, they date back hundreds of years when a lot of people were illiterate.1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
27 May 17
@PainsOnSlate I think there is a special connection between Canada and England
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
27 May 17
@jaboUK When we moved to Canada I realized the history of the connection between Canada and England. The Queen was still new to me back then, but I have been here for a long time and love the history behind Canada and the Brits . Living in the states for the first 30+ years I learned very little about the UK. But living here has been delightful and educational.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60803)
• Perth, Australia
15 May 17
@jaboUK That is so cool! And I really loved your limerick.
I have heard of town criers but I've never seen one for real. I wish I could. I mean obviously not a real one since we don't rely on news that way anymore.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
15 May 17
@VivaLaDani13 Yes it's fun to see them in processions etc. Thanks for liking the limerick.
2 people like this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
10 May 17
Yes I have heard of town criers but never seen one before
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
10 May 17
@chrissbergstrom They are only seen on ceremonial occasions nowadays, but they had a real purpose in the past,
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
10 May 17
@jaboUK they would be neat to see
1 person likes this
@Essjayd (1567)
•
9 May 17
Great limerick! I'm not sure
my hometown would ever have
needed a town crier.
There were so many gossips
I sometimes think news
reached the other side of town
before it had actually happened.
Worse still they would embellish
the rumour each time it was
passed on..
If you stubbed your toe at one
end if town your leg would have
been amputated by the time
the rumour made it to the
other end of town.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
14 May 17
What a great limerick, you made me laugh aloud! Yes, I learned about town criers mainly from reading historical fiction when I was a child. I remember looking it up in the card catalog at the library and not finding anything so the librarian steered me to the history section and helped me find information. Remember card catalogs? Or did you not have that in the UK?
Yes, I learned about town criers mainly from reading historical fiction when I was a child. I remember looking it up in the card catalog at the library and not finding anything so the librarian steered me to the history section and helped me find information. Remember card catalogs? Or did you not have that in the UK?1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
14 May 17
@jaboUK Before computers everything had to be organized on paper. Libraries used the Dewey decimal system and still do here, that's what all the numbers on the book spines mean. The numbers showed you where to locate the book. Each book had a card organized by alphabet for fiction and the Dewey system for non-fiction. these cards were in big cabinets that people looked in to find books. Now the card catalogs are still there but they are on computers.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
14 May 17
@dragon54u I'm happy that the limerick amused you, thanks. I don't remember card catalogs, but that's not to say there weren't any.
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28643)
• Mauritius
9 May 17
The only ones I have heard of are the sellers yelling at the top of the voices and ruining my sleep. I think there used to be town criers in my country in early 1930s. I can recall grandma talking about them. Their main responsibilities were to deliver news to people as in those times people in my country didn't have access to any kind of media
I think there used to be town criers in my country in early 1930s. I can recall grandma talking about them. Their main responsibilities were to deliver news to people as in those times people in my country didn't have access to any kind of media1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
22 May 17
Hi, my dear Momma! Yes. We also had a Town crier when I was still in my elementary grades. That old man had a bell too. He just stop ringing his bell after positioning himself in a strategic place. Then, he begins reciting the news for the day (& a little from yesterday's or last night). We used to follow him. We had fun listening to his way of announcing through a big booming voice!
P. S.
I'm still alive, Momma! Yehey!
1 person likes this
