Diss, Norfolk

Description
Diss, a thriving market-town and parish in Norfolk. The +own stands on the river Waveney, at the boundary with Suffolk, about 1 mile W from the G.E.R., which passes through the parish, and 19 1/2 miles SSW of Norwich. It chiefly occupies an acclivity, rising from a large sheet of water; presents an airy and prosperous appearance, and has a head post office, a railway station, and two banks. The corn exchange was built in 1854, and is handsome and commodious. The church, a building of flint of about the date 1290, with additions in the Perpendicular style, is a fine edifice. A new organ and choir stalls were erected in 1877. The tower has a peal of eight bells. The interior contains a beautiful reredos of Caen stone, inlaid with coloured marbles and bosses of spar and gold. There are Baptist, Congregational, Free Methodist, Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan, and Unitarian chapels, and a meeting-house of the Society of Friends. A cemetery, with two chapels, was formed in 1869. Markets for corn, cattle, sheep, and pigs are held on Fridays, and there are manufactures of brushes, cocoa-nut matting, ladies corsets, and malt liquors. Friar Walter, confessor to the Duke of Lancaster, and John Skelton, poet laureate to Henry VIII., were natives. The parish comprises 3674 acres ; population, 3763. The manor belonged anciently to the Crown, and was given by Edward I. to the Fitzwalters. Diss-Heywood has a chapel-school, built in 1865. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Norwich ; net yearly value, £371 with residence. There is a town estate of 97 acres; the income of which is applied to ecclesiastical and local purposes. There is also an almshouse with rooms for thirteen aged couples or widows. Westbrook Green and Walcot Green are adjacent .hamlets.