Diss sign

Diss Corn Exchange

(Illustrated London News, 20 January 1855)

“A HISTORY OF NORFOLK IN 100 PLACES”
This is the title of a new book which Jill Wright has discovered in the library.
Jill comments “To make the Illustrated London News with an illustration and such wonderful comments was pretty good going.”


Diss Corn Exchange

This handsome edifice has recently been erected through the liberality of Mr Thomas Lombe Taylor, who has placed it at the disposal of the public under the following circumstances.

For a long time the want of a commodious Corn-Exchange had been felt by the farmers of the wealthy agricultural district around Diss; when Mr T. L. Taylor, who is lord of the manor of that town, conceived the design of erecting one for their use, and of attaching to it reading rooms and a library. The building is not only admirably adapted to its purpose, but beautiful in the harmony of its proportions, and its ornamentation. The design is by a young architect of Diss, named Atkins, by whom also the carpenter’s work was executed. The workmen employed in the other departments were also inhabitants of Diss, with the single exception of the Ransomes, of the neighbouring town of Ipswich, who supplied the finely-wrought iron girders of the roof.

“It is surely (says a contemporary) no slight proof of the diffusion of science and art throughout the country that a population of between two and three thousand souls afford men capable of designing and executing a work of such beauty and utility.”

The opening of the Corn-Exchange took place earlier than was intended, in consequence of the desire among some young musical amateurs of Diss to give a concert for the benefit of the Patriotic Fund. Application was accordingly made to Mr. Taylor for the use of the Hall; when volunteers, vocal and instrumental, presented themselves in unexpected numbers, and a concert of sacred music was speedily arranged. The orchestra was composed of between eighty and ninety performers; and among them were the contractor, builder, and many of the workmen employed in its erection.

[According to ‘The History of Norfolk in 100 Places’, David Robertson et al, The History Press, 2022. The architect, George Atkins, designed ‘a striking classical building and a copy of the Ilisus temple in Athens…’ It originally had a glass roof, like Dereham Corn Hall (built 1856-7). Corn Halls were also built in King’s Lynn (1854) Fakenham (1854-5); Swaffham (1858); Norwich (1861) and Attleborough (1863). Diss was one of the last to close its Corn Exchange, in the 1990s. Before Diss had its Corn Hall, grain merchants did their business in local pubs.]



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Page last updated: 15 Jul 2022
© Diss Family History Group & Nigel Peacock 2022