The Obelisk In The Market Square In Ripon Yorkshire Editorial Image

For hundreds of years, the Wakeman of Ripon has blown his horn daily in the Market Place. He dresses in a uniform with tricorn hat and blows three blasts at each corner of the obelisk at 9pm every day of the year. Originally the Wakeman was appointed by the church to keep the peace a sort of early policeman but now he is appointed by the Mayor of the town and can be seen performing his civic duties at other local events like the St Wilfrid Feast in July. He gives an entertaining history of the custom when his duties are done for the day, and on days when the Mayor isn’t at home the Wakeman also blows his horn at the Town Hall steps opposite the obelisk.