Town crier
Categories: Occupation stubs | Media occupations
Image:Town.crier.yate.arp.750pix.jpg
The town Crier in Yate, near Bristol, England
A town crier is a person who is employed by a town council to make public announcements in the streets.
They usually dress elaborately—by tradition in a red and gold robe, white breeches, black boots and a tricorne hat.
They carry a hand bell to attract people's attention, as they shout the words "Oyez, Oyez!" before making their announcements. The words "Oyez, Oyez!" mean "hear ye", which is a call for silence and attention. Oyez derives from the Anglo-Norman language for listen.
In Medieval England, town criers were the chief means of news communication with the people of the town since many people could not read or write.