History of Diss with Dennis Cross

History of Diss

Here, avid Postcard collector and local historian Dennis Cross shares some of his historical postcards from his extensive collection…

Farming was the foundation of the area’s wealth and helped build the prosperity of towns like Diss. Diss is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a moderately sized Royal Manor of no great importance. But when a market was established it brought wealth to the town. Flemish weavers came from across the Channel and for many centuries wool and linen were the chief industries. These continued to flourish throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and many of the town’s historic buildings from the era remain intact, for example the Dolphin Inn in the Market Place and Fair Green houses.

A focal point of the town through the years has been the Mere and in fact Diss gets its name from Dic or Disce which is Saxon for ditch of standing water. When a serious fire broke out in Mere Street in 1640, it was only the water from the lake, which covers five and a half acres, that saved the houses in the street. The greatest event of all came more than 250 years later in 1891, when the Mere completely froze over. The highlight was a carnival on ice when hundreds of skaters donned fancy dress to dance to the strains of a 30strong band playing in the middle of the ice.

Gostling’s Oil Stores c1903

Gostling’s Oil Stores was situated opposite the Council Offices at the end of Drapers Row. They sold everyday household items. Dennis Cross

© Dennis Cross Collection

Auction Day 1913

This postcard looking towards Roydon Road conducted by Thos Gaze and Son Auctioneers shows a special sale of sheep (rams and ewes). These were normally held in August with sales for lambs only held in June. At these sales, between 15,000 and 20,000 sheep were sold.

© Dennis Cross Collection

Park Road c1920

When travelling along Park Road towards Victoria Road today, the houses and chapel have gone and you will see John Grose’s garage on the left and the Bus Station, car sales, the park and the Fire Station on the right.

© Dennis Cross Collection

Diss Hospital c1905

Diss Hospital was formerly a young ladies school which was opened in 1862. It became a hospital at the turn of the century. It later became the Headquarters of the British Legion. It was demolished in the early 1960s to make way for a new Conservative Club named Grasmere.

Shelfanger Road c1909

Aldrich Bros Brush Factory erected an arch over Shelfanger Road at the crossroads with Sunnyside and Factory Lane to advertise the Royal Norfolk Show being held at Walcot Hall. Aldrich Bros at this period were rapidly expanding and were a major employer in Diss.

© Dennis Cross Collection

Mere’s Mouth c1920

Looking towards the Mere’s Mouth in the 1920s from the park you would see The Ship Public House and Denny’s Cafe and Restaurant. They were demolished in roughly 1968 to make way for a new supermarket “Fine Fare.”

© Dennis Cross Collection

Hall Hills House 1909

This Victorian residence shown in this postcard scene was off Roydon Road. In the late 1960s, the house was demolished to make way for a modern housing estate named Hall Hills.

© Dennis Cross Collection

© Dennis Cross Collection

Market Place 1904

The Parish Church of St Mary’s dominates the town and the Market Place, being a fine example of 13th Century ecclesiastical architecture. In 1135 King Stephen granted the townspeople of Diss the right to hold a weekly market on a Friday and a fish market on Tuesday mornings. In this picture note the Dolphin Public House is still thatched, this being so until 1914 when its roof was tiled.

© Dennis Cross Collection

Denmark Street c1910

These delightful thatched cottages overlooking Fair Green were demolished in the 1960s. Some years later, new houses were built here.