Ripon, The Wakeman

In Ripon, the Wakeman was dressed in a three cornered hat, brown overcoat with brass buttons, and for 1,100 years, without missing one night, at 9:00 PM a man blows a horn to tell the town-folks, all is OK. There is a statue in the town square, and he goes to each corner and blows one loooonng note. Then he must go to the Mayor’s home and blow it again. Years ago the Wakeman was responsible to see no one broke into any of the stores on the town square. He was paid something by each merchant whose store had a door that opened onto Ripon’s square. Some of the Ripon merchants built their store on the square, but placed the door just to the side, and far enough away not to qualify for the Wakeman-tax.

The first horn lasted 800 years, and is now carefully displayed on special occasions. This one is about 125 years old. Some of the Wakeman have had the job for many years, and some for just a short time. This one was the substitute for awhile before becoming the main horn blower. We visited the Cathedral in Ripon. Small but interesting.