Bill Posters
&
Town Criers
What is written here is the earliest documented evidence found for Town Crier and Bill Poster in Knighton.
Let me start by adding a caveat. - The job of bill poster and town crier were unlikley to be full time jobs, usually the crier had another full time job and did the crying as and when requested.
Hereford Times - 1st March 1851
KNIGHTON DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR. - The town-crier on Thursday last, by sound of his bell, proclaimed "the sale of a woman by public auction at the Town-hall, in this town, being the property of a jockey." Next week we will give the conditions of sale, and the exact value of the woman in this market. Henceforth any of our neighbours who may be in want of a wife will at once see that he can be supplied at Knighton market.
Hereford Times - 6th May 1854
KNIGHTON SCANDALOUS PROCEEDING. On Saturday last the town crier announced through the streets the public sale of the young wife of a William Jones, which was to come off at the market-place on that evening. The sale did not, however, take place, the fair dame, as it was understood, having been disposed of privately. All parties concerned in these outrages on public decency ought to know that the sale of a wife is a misdemeanour.
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 10th July 1857
3rd inst., at Knighton, at the advanced age of 87, Mr Richard Morris, for upwards of 20 years Town Crier.
Sometime before 1856, Thomas Corbett Davies became the Town Crier for Knighton and in that year a tragic accident befell his ten year old daughter Emma Corbett Davies. A report of the accident appeared in the Hereford Times of the 10th May 1856. Under the heading of ‘Shocking Accident’, the report went on to detail the accident in graphic detail –
“It is this week our painful duty to record a truly melancholy and fatal accident to a poor little girl, a daughter of Thomas Corbett Davies, the town crier.
It appears that on Tuesday, a cart was standing at the door of Mr Phillips, in the Narrows, in this town, when the man in charge of the cart very incautiously went into the shop, leaving no one to take care of the horse in his absence. As might have been expected, shortly after the man left his charge, the horse took fright, and started off at a tremendous pace down the hill. On arriving near to the premises of Mr Baker, a confectioner, the horse came into contact with the poor little girl, above named, knocking her down and injuring her in a truly awful manner, her head being cut frightfully. She was instantly conveyed home, and medical aid was quickly on the spot, it being nearly opposite the residence of Mr Ayres. All that could be done was at once resorted to, but, in the space of from two to three hours afterwards, the poor little sufferer ceased to breathe. Upon the parents, the suddenness of blow must have had a crushing effect, their child having gone out so short a time before, in the full enjoyment of health and strength. There was to be an inquest held on the body yesterday (Friday). After running over the child, the frightened animal kept its headlong pace all down the town, and was not stopped in its wild career until it had gone more than a mile on the Ludlow Road. It was a mercy that a score of little children were not sacrificed, or that many infirm old men and women were not knocked down, and in the same way trampled to death. Will this act as a warning to drivers of carts?”
Emma was buried on 11th May
The inquest was reported in the Hereford Journal of the 14th May. It was held at the Plough Inn in Knighton. The circumstances of the accident were recorded, with the addition of the fact that the cart belonged to Mr John Williams of Chapel Lawn, Clun. The main witness was Henry Warren Esq., the surgeon who “was immediately in attendance” and “from whose testimony we learn that he found her quite insensible, suffering from concussion of the brain, with an extensive lacerated wound extending nearly from the knee to the ankle, also a wound on the right temple near the eye. Death terminated the poor child's sufferings in about an hour after the accident happened.”
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and “at the same time expressing themselves in strong language on the carelessness of the driver in leaving the horse on the street without any one in charge of it.”
Two years later, Thomas Corbett Davies (now described as a Rural Postman) wrote a poem which was printed in the Hereford Times on the 21st August 1858 and was composed “on the occasion of the cutting of the first sod for the railway coming to Knighton.”
Fill your bumpers - nine times nine!
Honour to the new-fledged line!
Honour to the heads that planned!
Honour to the Fair White Hand
That today with keenest stroke
Radnorshire's old soil hath broke!
Fill your bumpers - nine times nine -
Honour to the KNIGHTON LINE!
Honour to the jolly crew
Who combined the work to do!
Fill your bumpers - One cheer more!
Lo! from Cherbourg's bristling shore,
With Imperial honours crowned,
Brassey comes, with fame renowned.
Fill your glasses - all combine
Heart and hand to speed the line!
Here's to all his colleagues too -
Honour to the jolly crew!
Here's to Robertson, McClean,
Here's to Field, and Peele and Green,
Not forgetting Charley Dean.
Fill your glasses - all combine
Hearts and hands to speed the line !
Hereford Times - 12th February 1859
KNIGHTON. THE STREETS.—The Town-crier for this town has handed to us the letter which we copy below :—
"Mr. Thomas C. Davies, Deputy-bailiff of Knighton. The writer of this deems it proper to state, and the sharp ones will doubtless duly note it, that the persons who have asserted or insinuated that he is the author or writer of letters appearing in the Hereford Times signed 'John Davies' are gross liars. Knighton, Feb., 1859."
Although no name was attached to this note, the writer is well known, and from the remarks in Edwin Thomas's letter we can hardly see how the writer can deem "Policeman No. 1 W," in any way applicable to him, as his profession is widely different.
Also in 1859 Thomas proclaimed the loss of a silver cup. He was one of the witnesses in the court case holden at Knighton in April of that year. The case, Isaac Broadhurst, A Life of crime, can be viewed here
Thomas died in 1878 aged 80 years
Thomas Corbett Davies had married Ann Price in Brampton Bryan on 1st April 1839.
In 1880 John Parker, running a game dealers shop in Broad Street, was a Bill Poster.
South Wales Daily News - 14th June 1880
John Parker, fish man and billposter, Knighton, summoned John Steadman for assaulting him on the 14th May, the borough election day. Fined 10s and costs.
The next Town crier appears on the 1891 census under the name of John Langford. At the time of the census his address is given as Bridge Street, Knighton. He was actually living in Brookside. He was living here with his unmarried sister Ann. John was 55 years old. Prior to this census his full time occupation had been as a shoemaker.
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 25th December 1896
Knighton - Bill Poster and Town Crier - Mr John Langford
In early 1903 the Council were having concerns on the discharge of the duties of town crier by John Langford. In 1903 the council put forward a motion to replace him. John produced a petition and had the towns folk sign it, requesting that he be allowed to keep his job.
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 11th December 1903
URBAN COUNCIL ., Wednesday 5th December. Mr J R Bache presiding. - A petition, numerously signed by inhabitants of the town, was presented by Mr John Langford, town crier and bill poster, praying the Council to continue him, as an old servant, in these appointments. - After consideration, the Council expressed the option that all they wanted was an improvement in the discharge of the duties, and, on condition that he employed a competent assistant, they agreed to Mr Langford continuing to hold the appointments.
John was now 67 years old and in failing health. 3 years later would see his passing.
Radnorshire Advertiser - 18th May 1906
KNIGHTON OBITUARY - The death took place on Saturday after a long illness, of Mr John Langford, Brookside, who for many years held the position of Town Crier and Bill Poster, and whose familiar figure will be much missed by the inhabitants.
John Langford, Town Crier died May 12th 1906 aged 71 years.
Ann sister of the above died December 22nd 1917 aged 78 years
John & Ann Langford (brother and sister)
Grave Reference: U33 (Knighton Old Cemetery)
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 15th June 1906
Knighton Urban Council - In regard to the vacancy in the office of bill poster and town crier, it was decided to allow the representative of the late bill poster to complete his period of contract till August next, and also, at the end of that time, to take into consideration the appointment of town crier, three applications for which had already been received. In the meantime the Council will ascertain by valuation the cost of hoardings belonging to the late bill poster, and endeavour to secure them, so as to bring the whole number under their control.
Radnor Express - 30th August 1906
Appointment of Town Crier.
Applications were received for the appointment of town crier and that bill poster. The a price should be quoted for the hire of the hoardings, and that the Council not necessarily accept the highest. The applicants The were :-
William Parton, Knighton, £3 17s;
Ernest H. Fencey, Upper Norwood, London, £10;
Thomas Jenkins, Knighton, £2 7s.;
Richard Roberts, Russell Lane, £5;
Joseph Jordan, Knighton, £12 17s.;
Richard Price, Russell Lane, £10;
Frank James, Knighton, £3;
Thomas Morgan, Wigmore, 5/- for each board, whether one or 20;
E. J. Oldbury, 30/- for each board
William Webb, £5 for the lot and each for one year.
Radnor Express - 30th August 1906
The Town Crier: An Amusing Application.--Considerable humour was infused into the usually dry business the Urban Council meeting on Wednesday evening. The joint appointment of town-crier and bill-poster was about to be made, and for this somewhat speculative position there was quite a number of aspirants, but only one, with commendable forethought, saw fit to give his qualifications. Indeed, it would now appear that too fully were these given, for the Council—shall we say in their wisdom?--- decided that this applicant would shine as a brighter star in some other sphere, and accordingly this mysterious personage was the first to be removed from the list. His application was as follows:
In answer to your advert., re crier and bill poster, I beg to offer my services. I am considered to be a magnificent crier—could make more noise than all the rest of our family put together. Being one of fifteen, I leave you gentlemen to judge for yourselves. My bell shall be of the finest metal, with a silvery tone, my voice like a nightingale, with every word distinct. I understand there will be a special suit of clothes provided. I shall require these to be made by a first-class tailor, and to fit me like a glove, with chest measurement forty-two inches, and eighteen inches around the calf, a pair of silk stockings and low shoes with salver buckles. I have some splendid testimonials, one of which I had from the Mayor and Corporation, where I cried for many years. I am extra good in finding lost property. If a lady lost her poodle dog, or a fond mother her child, I could guarantee to have either returned in half-an-hour--in fact, I have been known to find property before it was lost. That is how I lost my last job really, through being over-energetic. The Mayor, to show his appreciation, sent me to a fine mansion with board and lodging free for six months, where you will find my name enrolled in the visitors' book. Now, as regards the bill-sticking, I can assure the Council that my paste shall be made with . the very best flour "diamond star" brand, guaranteed to stand all weathers and earth quakes, and of a very pleasant aroma and wonderful adhesive powers if properly handled. I may say, without wishing to appear egotistical, that I am the finest sticker in the county, and should the Council entertain my application, I shall be pleased to wait on them, and give them a personal account of my capabilities; and I am guaranteed to knock spots off all the other applicants. I have the honour to remain, your humble servant.
(Signed) "John Crier.'
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 31th August 1906
Knighton Urban Council - Applications, ten in number, were received for the appointment of Town Crier and Bill Poster - Mr. Richard Price, Russell-lane, was unanimously appointed. His offer for the hire of boardings was £10 per annum. The Council decided to purchase a cap for the crier, but ordered that he should provide his own bell. - The present contract with Miss Langford for bill posting was extended to the 1st October, on her application, and it was agreed to offer her £4 for the four boardings she claimed as her property.
In 1911, besides being the town crier and bill poster, Richard was also a County Court Bailiff. His son Geoffrey Charles Price was born on 21st March 1904 (this will become important later in the article)
On the 1911 census Richard and his family are living at 10, Russell Lane, Knighton.
10, Russell Lane
Richard Price died April 27th 1938 aged 84 years. His wife Ann died February 16th 1935 aged 68 years. Also buried with them is Dylys who died February 20th 1946 aged 14 years. Grave Reference : K37. (Knighton Old Cemetery)
Dylys was the granddaughter of Richard & Ann. She was the daughter of Geoffrey Charles & Mary Price, (nee Harman)
In 1939, living at 1 Market Street, we find one Geoffrey Charles Price, son of Richard Price, above, as town crier. On the register of 1939 he is entered as an "Advertising Agent". He was also a Fireman with the A.R.P.
1, Market Street
Geoffrey died on Monday, 11th November 1968. His occupation on his death certificate is that of 'Bill Poster.' He was 64 years old.
After Geoffrey's death his son Derrick took over the role of Town Crier.
Derrick has been the town crier for over 50 years, as well as being the Mayor and Town Councillor for Knighton.
In the Queens' Birthday Honours of 2004, Derrick was awarded an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) For services to the community in Knighton.
If anyone has further, DOCUMENTED PROOF, that they would like to share, of any others that have been bill posters or town criers I will gladly add them to this list.