Town Crier

Town Crier – England – 1540

As in England, town criers were the means of communication with the people of the town since many people could not read or write. Proclamations, local bylaws, market days, adverts, were all proclaimed by a bellman or crier.

Criers were not always men, many town criers were women. Bells were not the only attention getting device – in Holland, a gong was the instrument of choice for many, and in France a drum was used, or a hunting horn.

O and yes, there still is a town crier world championship competition held today.  

Source: http://www.ahgtc.org.uk/