In the 1820s, married men living in Hanley who spent their time drinking in ale houses feared Molly Albin.
Molly, who lived in Tontine Street, was Hanley’s town crier. She used her job to publicly shame men who went drinking during working hours or neglected their families.
Men who frequented ale houses were terrified when they heard Molly ringing her bell and calling out their names. Large crowds gathered to listen to what she had to say about them.
She told the crowd everything she knew about a man she had named.
Molly pulled no punches when she described a man’s character. She listed all his defects. She told the crowd how much he earned each week and how much he spent on drinks. It heard how much money he gave his wife to buy food and clothing for herself and the children. All aspects of his life were made public. If a man had borrowed money that he hadn’t repaid, she gave details of the amount he owed.
Sometimes, a man whose lifestyle she was describing threatened her with violence. Molly was not afraid. It was unlikely that he would assault her. She was physically fit and capable of defending herself.
She knew that a man who attacked her would be arrested and brought before the Petty Sessions (Magistrates’ Court). The court sat in a room at the Swan Inn. It had the power to fine him, put him in the stocks or send him to prison. Men who attacked women were usually sentenced to two or three weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour.
North Staffordshire Heritage 