Advertising in SW London

When the cry of "Oyez", or "Hear Ye", rang out all across the town everyone knew to stop whatever it was they were doing and to be silent, to gather round and to listen to what the town crier, otherwise known as the bellman, had to say.

It was, after all, the only means of hearing the latest news.

So it was back in medieval England. The man in the red and gold robe, black boots, white breeches and tricorne hat, swinging a hand bell, shared his information with the folk of the town. And the people did have a vested interest in hearing what he had to say. If we were going to war with France once more and the man of the house was about to be hauled away by a press gang it was always handy to know in advance.

For those whose business is in advertising, it is interesting that news brought to the towns and villages by the criers was not always of a purely informative kind. He was also a useful means of conveying the news that there was some "hooky gear" going cheap. For instance during Christmas 1798 the Chester Canal Company sold some sugar damaged in their packet boat and this was advertised by the local bellman.

The tidings brought by the town crier were not always well received. It is noted that in 1620, again in Chester as it happens, a street fight broke out between butchers and bakers, the cause of which is not known, following an announcement by the bellman. When it was the ugly duty of the town crier to announce a tax increase he was often the first point of contact for the angry townsfolk, and it was deemed necessary to remind them that the crier conveyed news as a representative of the monarch and that to harm him was therefore considered an act of treason. This is said to have been the origin of the saying "Don't shoot the messenger".

Bellmen are still around in some parts of the United Kingdom today. They are formally represented by an association known as the Loyal Company of Town Criers. Any "official" town crier may join the company, and is able to take part in competitions that are held around the country at various times of the year.

Today of course we have a whole selection of alternative means of disseminating information and of advertising items for sale, from the Internet to cards in the window of the local newsagent's. One company in SW London has uniquely attempted to combine the two, with some success.