Oyez! Oyez!

This morning N went down to Dorchester for a clinic appointment while I took a trip in to town to do a few chores and a brief look around the shops. The town was very crowded for that time of day and the Town Crier was there with news of late-night shopping this evening.

Town criers date back to Medieval times when they spread any important news to the townsfolk by ringing their bells and roaring out the information in the streets. Their brightly coloured costume dates back to the 18C. Every year Yeovil holds the Town Crier's competition where town criers come from far and wide. Today the Town Council is the employer and the criers themselves are members of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers.