Watson, James W. B., basket maker and reed merchant, Millgate
Williamson, Henry, the Bull inn, Red Lion street
Wright, William, day and boarding school for young gentlemen, Commercial road
DISS
Diss. A neat and well-built market town, in Diss hundred, East Norfolk, with a railway station 26½ miles N. of Ipswich, 24 miles E. of Bury St. Edmund’s, 19 S.W. of Norwich, and 94½ N.E. of London. It is separated from Suffolk by the river Waveney. The town is flourishing, and contains some good shops. The population is 3,600, and the area in acres is 3,382, including Westbrook green, Walcot green, and Diss Heywood. The Earl of Albemarle is lord of the manor of the latter, a large farming district, to the N. of Diss. There are two fairs held here, on the third Friday in September, and on the 8th of November. It has also a weekly market held on Friday. The town is lighted with gas. The Church of the Virgin Mary is a large, handsome structure, with a fine square tower and eight bells, upon which a set of chimes play every four hours. The rectory produces an annual income of £900, and the patron and incumbent is the Rev. W. Manning.
The Wesleyans, Independents, Primitive Methodists, Baptists, Unitarians, and Quakers, have chapels here. There is also a National School for boys and girls.
The petty sessions are held every alternate Monday, at the King’s Head Inn. The Excise office is held at the same place; likewise the Diss Horticultural meeting.
The Eastern Union extension railway passes through the parish, at about a mile E. of the town.
The New Corn Hall is in the Grecian style of architecture, with a lofty stone portico, approached by a flight of steps from St. Nicholas’ street; the interior is 77 ft. long, 42 ft. wide, and 27 ft. high; it has a glass roof with a ground glass ceiling beneath it, to prevent the glare of the sun.