Loudness & sustained volume
Can the crier be heard right across The Square, and keep that volume up from the first ‘oyez’ to the last word?
Bells, booming voices and magnificent costumes. Over 20 town criers descend on The Square for one of the most colourful moments of carnival weekend.
By Ros Charlton-Chard · Hatherleigh Town Crier
A cry always starts with three ‘oyez’ and finishes with ‘God save the King’. Each crier must use between 100–125 words.
WhenSaturday 14th November, 11.30am
WhereThe Square, Hatherleigh
WhoOver 20 town criers
The competition
Can the crier be heard right across The Square, and keep that volume up from the first ‘oyez’ to the last word?
Every word must be clear, with the rise and fall of a voice that makes the crowd want to listen.
Judged separately, and great care is taken to keep to the correct period chosen.
From past competitions
A little history
Greek & Roman times
The noble art of town crying goes back to Greek and Roman times. Sometimes they were referred to as Heralds.
A crier in every town
As town crying evolved, each town had a town crier who held a very important position. Because most people could not read or write, this was the only way townsfolk would find out what was happening around them (obviously there was no television or radio!). Town criers also had the authority to expel any troublemakers from the town.
‘Coure fai’
They also went around at night to check all the fires were either put out or had a metal cover over them. This was known as ‘coure fai’, as in old Norman French. (Don’t forget – all buildings were made of wood at that time!)
The ‘Peelers’
As town crying further evolved, the crier was placed before the fire brigade and the police, and they got the name of ‘Peelers’.
Today, town criers take part in many processions and festivals, and make announcements for birthdays, weddings and funerals. In fact, everything, as long as it’s not political, racist or rude.
Town crying was the first profession to have men and women treated as equals.
Hatherleigh’s own
Ros Charlton-Chard is Hatherleigh’s Town Crier and the organiser of our annual Town Crier Competition, which brings criers from far and wide to The Square every carnival Saturday.
The Town Crier Competition takes place at 11.30am on carnival Saturday in The Square. Bring your ears!
