Chester Town Crier

A Chester tradition and one not to be missed is the regular midday proclamation.  Chester is the only place in Britain to have retained this tradition of regular midday proclamations at a fixed place and time.

You will find the Town Crier, David Mitchell or Julie Mitchell every Tuesday to Saturday, June to August, at noon, at the Chester Cross (11am on Race Days). Chester Cross is located at the intersection of the four main streets of Chester and the site of proclamations since the Middle Ages.

It has been said “At the Cross we are upon ground hallowed by as long a succession of civic incidents as any spot in our kingdom.” .

Chester’s Town Criers, David and Julie Mitchell, have been appointed to continue the tradition of historic proclamations from the Cross. The crowds that gather at the heart of this popular tourist destination are drawn from many nations, which is why the Town Crier greets visitors in as many as fifteen languages.

The proclamation is fun and interactive: you can request for visitors to welcomed by name, anniversaries to be announced, or some mock charges can be theatrically brought against someone in your group. At least one unsuspecting visitor is usually detained in the stocks in the name of a bit of fun so, if you have a visitor to be welcomed or surprised, an anniversary or birthday to celebrate, or a villain to punish, get in touch with the criers and they will oblige!