The Springboard group newsletter can be found further down the page. I thought you might like to read this piece from the newsletter. Although I am sure not even trustee Paul Smithies can recall this far back it is an interesting engrained piece of Oldham history.
The Oldham Bell man
Before any newspaper hit the Oldham streets the BELL MAN was the service for the news and any announcements.
Joseph Howard – known as BLIND JOE held the position for the town until his death in 1862. Although blind, he would recite passages from the bible and memorise the day’s notices. He would often keep control of rowdy crowds who had gathered to hear him. One of his responsibilities was to lock up the market when it closed on a Saturday night at 11:30.
In 1868 a statue was erected in Alexandra Park. It was believed at that time to be the only one in the country where the figure wears only a top hat. This, however, was not true. It is, however, one of the few, If only, statues of a town crier. Joe was succeeded by Tom Whitworth. Known as the ‘Rhyming Bellman’, he was the last to wear the dark green coat with scarlet braid and brass buttons. He retired in 1869
Read the Springboard newsletter here: 2021 02 Final
