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
@Shiva49 (26689)
• Singapore
10 May 17
I recall Open Outcry on stock exchanges - siva
3 people like this
@Kandae11 (55040)
9 May 17
I may have read about them somewhere. I think one would need to possess a very strong unwavering voice in order to do that job effectively.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Kandae11 Oh yes, you'd need a big booming voice.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471493)
• 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
@LadyDuck (471493)
• Switzerland
9 May 17
@jaboUK It was the same in France, while in Italy they cried "Udite, Udite, Udite!", it means "hear me".
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@LadyDuck Yes, that was their cry "Oyez!"
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 May 17
@LadyDuck I saw them in movie.There is none in our place, maybe in the past there was.
2 people like this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
9 May 17
No I have not.Would love to hear one though. Yes,it was.I have seen this in movie on the Town Crier. Too bad that you do not have a photo on your Uncle The photo is not your uncle is he?LOL
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@amadeo No, I don't have a photo of my uncle in his regalia, sorry.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
9 May 17
@jaboUK it would have been nice.Wonder if you find find this somewhere online?way back when
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 May 17
@jaboUK Your uncle looks so healthy and strong in his photo. he is very much dedicated to his city people.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
9 May 17
! That was a funny one! I'm giggling right now. Yes, I certainly have heard of town criers, but none were sopranos as far as I knew!
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@DianneN I'm happy to have made you giggle Dianne, and I don't think Bill would have been much good at the job after that
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@DianneN Ouch!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
9 May 17
@jaboUK Not only for the job! Bill's entire life would be severely messed up. .
1 person likes 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!
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@responsiveme I love it when you do this - respond in rhyme. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
• India
9 May 17
@jaboUK Bill joins the rank of Maud andDaisy
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112874)
• El Paso, Texas
9 May 17
Oh no, he busted his b____s
2 people like this
@rebelann (112874)
• El Paso, Texas
9 May 17
@jaboUK poor thing
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@rebelann Yup, he sure did
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 Grrrr!!
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.
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
• 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
@CRK109 (14556)
• United States
9 May 17
I've heard of them, and did see one when William and Kate had their youngest child. Love your limerick! Truly made me laugh out loud!
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@CRK109 Yes, they are purely ceremonial these days. I'm happy that you like the limerick, thank you
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• 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
• 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
@cacay1 (83505)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 May 17
Nice info, ours here none.
1 person likes this
• Banks, Oregon
10 May 17
@jaboUK they would be neat to see
1 person likes this
@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
29 May 17
Here in Indian villages, there are Mourners but not in the cities
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
29 May 17
@ShifaLk Several of your countrymen have mentioned the paid mourners.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 May 17
@ShifaLk That was my thought too, it seems ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
30 May 17
@jaboUK yes .. But I find them very funny.. how can someone cry for money I mean how fake LOL
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
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Essjayd Oh, I know what you mean - things can be blown up out of all proportion
1 person likes this
@Essjayd (1567)
9 May 17
@jaboUK Oh yes especially in small towns! I'm glad I moved to a city :)
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Essjayd What country are you in? And are you male or female? I like to know these things, but if you'd rather not say, that's fine
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?
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
15 May 17
@dragon54u Thanks for explaining.
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
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28643)
• Mauritius
10 May 17
@jaboUK in fact the country was very poor at that time and the first television program was introduced only in the 1960s.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
10 May 17
@Nawsheen We didn't have a TV until I was about 13 in 1953. They didn't become common until later on in that decade.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Nawsheen That's surprising that you had Town Criers as late as the 1930s, but they did the same job as the ones here hundreds of years ago.
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
23 May 17
I think Arthur likes to do some of these dramatical things in the UK with that troupe he works with. I can imagine him doing it. No we dont have town criers in SA!
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
23 May 17
@Inlemay Hi Lany - I think Arthur is into civil war re-enactments, but yes I could imagine him as a Town Crier. I got your postcard yesterday thank you - good of you to send it
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
24 May 17
@jaboUK we should challenge him to perform as a Town Crier for us and write a post on it. You are welcome - postcard
1 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
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 May 17
@KnehKnah First of all I second your YEHEY for still being alive!! Wonderful to hear from you my friend. That's interesting that you had a Town Crier still doing what he was supposed to do
1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
23 May 17
@jaboUK That's for seconding my yehey, my dear Momma!
1 person likes this
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
23 May 17
@jaboUK And yes, we used to have a town crier too. Sad to say, he passed away when I was in high school. No one replaced him.
1 person likes this
@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
9 May 17
No, I haven't actually seen one where I was raised. Perhaps heard of them and seen one in the movie @jaboUK
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Gabugs I've only seen them in ceremonials, but they would have been part of everyday life hundreds of years ago.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
9 May 17
@Gabugs Oh yes, I saw him, but it was only dressing up, he wasn't actually bringing any news.
@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
9 May 17
@jaboUK Oh really? I thought you actually had seen your uncle as a Town Crier!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
13 Mar 18
Yes, I have heard of them. That is really cool what your uncle did.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
13 Mar 18
Yes, he loved dressing up
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
13 Mar 18
@jaboUK Jabo, I remember I went to Viriginia and they dressed up on costumes. It was really cool. they really got into character too.
1 person likes this