Diss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diss |
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 Town coat of arms |
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 Diss
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| Area | 5.32 km2 (2.05 sq mi) |
| Population | 7,572 (2011 census) |
| • Density | 1,423/km2 (3,690/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TM1180 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DISS |
| Postcode district | IP22 |
| Dialling code | 01379 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Diss is a lively market town in Norfolk, England. It's very close to the border with Suffolk. In 2011, about 7,572 people lived here.
The town is in the valley of the River Waveney. It's famous for its large lake, called a mere, which covers about 6 acres (2.4 hectares). This mere is quite deep, up to 18 feet (5.5 meters), with a lot of mud below that!
The name Diss comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word, dic. This word means either a ditch or a raised bank of earth. Diss has many old buildings, including a church from the early 1300s and a museum.
Contents
History of Diss
Early Days and the Domesday Book
Long ago, around the time of King Edward the Confessor, Diss was part of an area called the Hartismere hundred in Suffolk. A hundred was like a local government area. Diss was mentioned in the famous Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England made in 1086.
At that time, Diss belonged directly to the King. It had a church and some farmland. It was considered quite valuable, and its worth grew even more by the time William the Conqueror was king. Diss was still small, but it grew when it joined with a nearby area called Watlingsete Manor. This area later became known as Walcote.
Important Owners and Market Rights
King Henry I gave Diss to Richard de Lucy before 1135. Richard de Lucy was a very important person, serving as a chief advisor to King Stephen and King Henry II.
In 1152, Richard de Lucy received special permission to hold a market in Diss. This was a big deal because markets helped towns grow and become busy trading places. Later, part of Diss and the market were given to his daughter, Dionisia, when she married Sir Robert de Mountenay.
After Richard de Lucy passed away in 1179, other parts of Diss went to his daughter Maud. Her family, the FitzWalters, later took over the whole area. In 1299, Lord FitzWalter got permission to hold a yearly fair in Diss around October 28th. This fair would last for several days.
It seems the main church in Diss was built by this same Lord FitzWalter. You can see his family's symbols carved into the stone of the church's south porch.
Changes Over Time
After a big battle called the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the Duke of York, Edward Plantagenet, came to own Diss. This included the manor, the hundred, and the market. The title of Lord FitzWalter became connected to this estate.
Later, the Ratcliffe family took over the land. They owned Diss until at least 1732.
Dolphin House and the Market Place
Right across from the old St. Mary the Virgin church is a building from the 1500s called Dolphin House. This was once a very important building in Diss. Its strong wooden beams show it was built for someone important, maybe a wool merchant. It used to be a pub called The Dolphin for many years. Today, it has different small businesses inside.
Next to Dolphin House is the town's market place. This is the heart of Diss, where people gather. A market is held here every Friday. You can find local traders selling fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and cheeses. The right to hold this market was first given by King Richard the Lionheart. The town's post office and main shopping street are also located near the market place.
A Hoard of Coins
In 1871, during some building work on a house in Mount Street, workers found something amazing! They were digging under the floor when they discovered an old pot. Inside the pot were over 300 coins! Most of them were silver, but there were also two valuable gold coins.
Local Landmarks
About four miles east of Diss, you can visit the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum. It's located at an old airfield called RAF Thorpe Abbotts. This museum tells the story of a brave American bomber group from World War II.
The train journey from London to Diss is even famous! A well-known poet, Sir John Betjeman, wrote a poem about it called 'A Mind's Journey to Diss'.
Religion in Diss
Diss has several churches for different faiths. These include the Church of England (St. Mary the Virgin), the Catholic church (St. Henry Morse), Methodist, Baptist, and other community churches.
Sport and Culture
Diss is home to many sports teams and clubs.
- The local football club, Diss Town FC, won a big competition called the FA Vase at Wembley in 1994.
- The rugby club, Diss RFC, has also been very successful, moving up to higher leagues.
- There are also clubs for cycling, bowls, netball, and athletics.
Some famous sports stars have come from Diss, too!
- Matthew Upson played football in defense for England and for big clubs like Arsenal.
- Colin Oates was a member of the Great Britain judo team.
The town has two local newspapers: the Diss Mercury and the Diss Express, which started way back in 1864. There's also a local magazine called Your Local Magazine.
Images for kids
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A street scene in Diss.
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A signpost in Diss.
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