Criers Collection

Town crier, St Marys, Scilly Isles
The local town crier, Wilfred Tonkin, on St Mary s, Scilly Isles. Seen here announcing the fact that the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, has taken up residence in his holiday bungalow

Dorset Town Crier
Oh yeyh, oh yeyh!. The Town Crier of Lyme Regis, Dorset, England, wearing the traditional costume. Date: 1950s

Chester Town Crier, Mike Chittenden, at his first cry of the season. 2nd April 1991

A copy of verses for 1833 (engraving)
733817 A copy of verses for 1833 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A copy of verses for 1833, humbly presented to all my worthy masters and mistresses)

Stand-in town crier Peter Beighton rang a slightly sour note with Chesters tourists. Peter, 25, turned up for his noon broadcast at Chester Cross

Town Crier David Mitchell awakens Lorraine Breckton of Chester before her wedding at Christleton. 14th October 1992

FRENCH PUBLIC CRIER
A French public crier makes an announcement : a mother shows her child the broadside, but passing street pedlars only laugh... Date: 17th century

TOWN CRIER / CONTEST
The parade at the start of the Town Criers Contest, Southampton, Hampshire. Date: 1950s

C17 COURIER / WOODCUT / 43
A courier/newsboy on horseback Date: 17th century

Night Watchman or Bellman 1608
The Night Watchman or Bellman of London, decribes the Watchman and Bellman as a person of some activity, the child of darkness, a common nightwalker; a man that had no man to wait upon him

Champion Town Crier
Mr. Gomer Thomas, winner of the National Town Criers Championships of England and Wales, at Marlborough, Wiltshire, waving his Champtionship Cup aloft!

Irish Jewish Museum, Portobello Dublin, Ireland

Village criers on horseback, Bird On the Ground and Forked Iron, Crow Indians, Montana, 1908 Photograph by Edward Curtis (1868-1952)

TOWN CRIER
The town crier at Corsham, Wiltshire, England. Date: 1950s

Town Crier / Contest
A contestant from St. Columb, Cornwall at the Town Criers Contest held in Southampton, Hampshire. Date: 1950s

A male quartet
Four men link arms and sing to their hearts content. They are all smartly dressed in waistcoats and jackets, and wear tricorne hats

Town Crier Circa 1800
A Town Crier advertises the disappearance of Mr Guinea - an allusion to the inflation caused by the wars with France

TOWN CRIER / 1890 S
A town crier announces the latest news

French Village Crier
The crier in a French village has summoned the villagers with his drum and now reads them the news of the day

Puritan Town Crier
Puritan town crier, sent through town to prohibit Christmas Junketings

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"Echoes of the Past: The Resounding Voices of Criers" In the quaint town of St Marys, Scilly Isles, a tradition is kept alive as the Town Crier bellows out announcements to gather the townsfolk. With his resounding voice and traditional attire, he embodies a bygone era. Traveling across England, we encounter another remarkable figure - the Dorset Town Crier. Clad in vibrant regalia and armed with a booming voice, he commands attention wherever he goes. Delving deeper into history, we stumble upon an intriguing character from 1608 - the Night Watchman or Bellman. His duty was to roam the streets at night, ensuring safety while announcing curfews and other important information. Meanwhile, in Chester on that memorable day of April 2nd, 1991, Mike Chittenden stepped into his role as Chester Town Crier for his first cry of the season. A momentous occasion captured forever in time. An engraving from 1833 reveals verses dedicated to these heralds of news and events. Their voices immortalized through ink on paper; their importance acknowledged throughout generations. Venturing beyond English shores brings us face-to-face with a FRENCH PUBLIC CRIER. Across language barriers and cultural divides, this crier's purpose remains universal - spreading news far and wide. Competition arises among these esteemed figures as they participate in TOWN CRIER CONTESTS. Each one vying for recognition as they showcase their vocal prowess and captivating presence before eager audiences. Yet not all cries are celebratory; some bear somber tidings known as DEATH CRIERS who announce sorrowful news within communities during times of mourning – reminding us that even amidst joyous occasions there is room for grief. A glimpse into history presents us with a striking woodcut from the seventeenth century depicting a COURIER delivering urgent messages alongside WOODCUT illustrations, a testament to the power of visual storytelling.