Diss Town Hall
| Diss Town Hall | |
|---|---|
 The building in 2015 | |
| Location | Market Hill, Diss |
| Coordinates | 52°22′38″N 1°06′28″E / 52.3771°N 1.1078°E |
| Built | c.1830 (houses first combined) |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical style |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | 11 and 12, Market Hill |
| Designated | 29 December 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1170035 |
  Shown in Norfolk | |
Diss Town Hall is a municipal building on Market Hill in Diss, Norfolk, a town in England.The building, which currently accommodates the offices of Diss Town Council, is a Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The complex has its origins in two houses constructed in the 18th century. In around 1830 the two were united under the ownership of Thomas Leach, a local manufacturer of worsted and woollens.[2] In about 1850, he redivided the property, and let one of the properties, No. 10, to his son-in-law, John Pennington, who was a wine salesman. After Leach died, probably in the 1870s, ownership passed to Pennington, who continued to live in No. 10, letting the other property, No. 11, to a local school mistress, Susan Dix. In 1887, Pennington sold both houses to a consortium of three property owners, who then let No. 11 to a pharmacist, John Cadge. In 1920, No. 11 was sold to a greengrocer, Albert James Cooper.[3]
After the local rural sanitary authority was succeeded by Diss Urban District Council in 1894,[4] the new civic leaders established their offices at The Terrace in Diss.[5][6] As the responsibilities of the council increased, it sought larger premises and, in 1938, the council decided to acquire both No. 10 and No. 11 Market Hill to accommodate a dedicated council chamber and municipal offices.[7]
The building continued to serve in that capacity for much of the next four decades,[8] but ceased to be the local seat of government when South Norfolk District Council was formed at Farthing Green House in Loddon in 1974.[9][10] The building on Market Hill subsequently became the offices of Diss Town Council,[11] although the town council held its meetings at the Corn Hall.[12][13]
The council chamber continues to be used for public events. In November 2012, a ceremony was held there during which the Royal Anglian Regiment received the Freedom of Diss.[14]
Architecture
The brick building has two storeys and an attic, with a pantiled roof. Each floor has six windows, but the leftmost bay has been incorporated into the neighbouring building. There are two doors, one up stone steps with a wrought iron rail. Each has a doorcase with a pediment. At roof level, there is a
References
- ^ a b Historic England. "11 and 12, Market Hill (1170035)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Pigot's Directory of Norfolk". Pigot & Co. 1839. p. 463.
- ^ Emery, Giles; Licence, Tom (2016). A Community Archaeological Investigation of Gardens to the rear of Nos. 11 to 12 Market Hill, Diss, Norfolk (PDF). Norvic Archaeology. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Diss UD". Vision of Britain. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Stone, materials and stores. The Builder. 16 February 1907. p. 203.
- ^ List of Tenders open. Vol. 112. The Building News and Engineering Journal. 1917. p. 178.
Diss Urban District Council – A . Cooper, Surveyor, March 10 – Supplying Materials, Stores, Steam – The Terrace, Diss
- ^ Diss Urban District Council. Vol. 48. Municipal Journal, Public Works Engineer and Contractors' Guide. 27 January 1939. p. 197.
- ^ "No. 45167". The London Gazette. 7 August 1970. p. 8798.
- ISBN 0-10-547072-4.
- ^ "No. 47192". The London Gazette. 7 April 1977. p. 4815.
- ^ "About us". Diss Town Council. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Royall, Kate (11 August 2015). "Historic Diss hall starts its journey on the road to refurbishment". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Council Meetings". Diss Town Council. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Freedom of Diss for Royal Anglian Regiment before parade". BBC News. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2024.