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A town crier, called a bellman, is an officer of a royal court or public authority who makes public pronouncements as required.
The town crier was used to make public announcements in the streets. 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.
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. The word "Oyez" means "hear ye," which is a call for silence and attention. Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman word for listen (modern French, oyez, infinitive, ouïr, but has been largely replaced by the verb écouter). The proclamations book in Chester from the early 19th century records this as "O Yes, O Yes!".
When the need for a town crier disappeared, the position passed into local folklore. Informal and later formal town crier competitions were held from the early 20th century. Subsequently, some cities and towns reinstated the post purely for ceremonial purposes.
See also:
- Dead bell, used to announce deaths and funerals.
- Street cries
- Message stick
- Umalohokan
- Vic Garth, reputed in 2005 to be the oldest town crier in the world.
- Knocker-up, the antiquated profession of human alarm clock.