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Town Crier, 12noon and 2pm daily Tuesday to Saturday from April to October.
Chester town crier has been awarded the additional title of city beadle.
Beadle dates from the Middle Ages when they functioned similarly to parish constables, long before the evolvement of Britain's police force in the 19th century.
Appointed to this honorary position by Chester City Council in a ceremony led by the city sheriff, Beadle Maguire can claim to be one of a rare breed.
There are only five beadles, including Maguire, in the world, all of them in this country. Earliest records of a beadle in Chester date back to 1599.
The beadle was a parish officer whose original function was to supervise at court and serve writs. A general keeper of law and order, the beadle also served as rent collector, town crier and mace bearer. Traditionally a fairly unpopular figure, he was recognised by his long blue coat and staff of office. Hence the familiar cry now popularised by a TV show: "Watch out, watch out, there's a beadle about!"
As with beadles before him, one of the Beadles' official roles is to check and taste the ale in Chester's many historical inns. As town crier in his red Georgian
- Type:
- Cultural & History