View source for Corn Hall, Diss

{{Short description|Commercial building in Diss, Norfolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Corn Hall, Diss
| native_name =
| image = Diss Corn Hall (geograph 4493333).jpg
| caption= Corn Hall, Diss
| locmapin = Norfolk
| map_caption =Shown in Norfolk
| coordinates ={{coord| 52.3776| 1.1072|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| location =St Nicholas Street, [[Diss, Norfolk|Diss]]
| area =
| built =1854
| architect = George Atkins
| architecture = [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical style]]
| governing_body =
| website=
| designation1 =Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = Corn Hall
| designation1_date =8 June 1972
| designation1_number = 1083969
}}
The '''Corn Hall''' is a commercial building in St Nicholas Street, [[Diss, Norfolk]], England. The structure, which is now used as an arts centre, is a Grade II [[listed building]].<ref name=listed>{{NHLE|num=1170255|desc=Corn Hall |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
==History==
The building was commissioned by the [[lord of the manor]], Thomas Lombe Taylor, whose seat was at Starston Place in [[Starston]]. The site he selected was on the north side of St Nicholas Street.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/21716518.descendant-man-built-diss-corn-hall-hold-celebratory-concert-town/  |title= Descendant of the man who built Diss Corn Hall to hold celebratory concert in the town |date=19 January 2018|newspaper=Diss Mercury|access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref> It was designed by a local architect, George Atkins, in the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical style]], built in [[ashlar]] stone at a cost of £10,000 and was completed in 1854.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vc4HAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA233   |title=Royal Illustrated History of Eastern England|first=A. D.|last=Bayne|year=1873|page=233|publisher=James Macdonald and Company}}</ref>
The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of three bays facing onto St Nicholas Street. The central bay featured a [[tetrastyle]] [[portico]] formed by four [[Ionic order]] columns supporting a [[modillion]]ed [[pediment]]. At the back of the portico there was a doorway with an [[architrave]] and [[Bracket (architecture)|brackets]] supporting a [[cornice]]. The outer bays were decorated by blind windows with [[window sill]]s and brackets supporting pediments. Internally, the principal rooms were the main hall, which was {{convert|77|feet}} long and {{convert|42|feet}} wide, and a library with between 2,000 and 3,000 volumes.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=E1PRV6LgMBcC&pg=PA769   |title= The National Gazetteer A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Compiled from the Latest and Best Sources, and Illustrated with a Complete County Atlas, and Numerous Maps|year= 1868|publisher=Virtue and Company|volume=1  |page=769}}</ref> The official opening was celebrated by a concert performed by an orchestra of between 80 and 90 local people, with all the money raised being donated to the [[Lloyd's Patriotic Fund|Patriotic Fund]].<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fJZQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA10-PA60   |title=The Diss Corn Exchange|page=60|date=20 January 1855|publisher=The Illustrated London News|access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
The architectural historian, [[Nikolaus Pevsner]], was impressed by the design and remarked on the "remarkably civilised facade" and comment that "the effect...[of this]...is striking".<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qsqx_SK3bzUC&pg=PA302   |title=Norfolk 2 (Buildings of England Series)|first1= Nikolaus|last1= Pevsner |first2=Bill |last2=Wilson   |page=302|year=2002| publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0300096576}}</ref> Shortly after it opened, the building also became the venue for the local [[petty session]]s.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=m6pbAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA6-PA17-IA2   |title=Return from each county in England and Wales of the names of the various petty session divisions in such county|page=7|year=1856|publisher=House of Commons}}</ref> The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the [[Great Depression of British Agriculture]] in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obn5AQAAQBAJ|first=T. W. |last=Fletcher|title= 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in ''British Agriculture 1875-1914'' |location=London|publisher= Methuen|year= 1973|isbn=978-1136581182|page= 31}}</ref> Instead, it became a community events venue hosting dances, [[whist]] drives and [[Contract bridge|bridge]] drives.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=S58aAAAAIAAJ   |title= Official Handbook 1948/49  |page=16|publisher=Diss Urban District Council|year=1948}}</ref>
The owners of the building, Diss Town Council, transferred the responsibility for the management of the building to the Diss Corn Hall Trust when the trust was formed in July 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06964297  |title=The Diss Corn Hall Trust|publisher=Companies House| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/21127517.diss-town-council-renew-corn-hall-grant/  |title=Diss Town Council renew Corn Hall grant |date=20 November 2011|newspaper=Eastern Daily Press| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref> An extensive programme of refurbishment works, involving the conversion of the building into an arts centre to a design by Hudson Architects,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/diss-corn-hall-refurbishment-by-hudson-architects  |title= Diss Corn Hall refurbishment by Hudson Architects|date=21 November 2017|newspaper=Architects' Journal| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref> commenced in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20882599.restoration-work-start-diss-corn-hall/  |title=Restoration work to start on Diss' Corn Hall|date=16 January 2016| newspaper=Eastern Daily Press| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref> Following completion of the works, which were undertaken at a cost of £1.7 million with financial support from the [[National Lottery Heritage Fund]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/projects/diss-heritage-triangle-diss-corn-hall  |title=Diss Heritage Triangle and Diss Corn Hall|date=4 November 2018 |publisher=National Lottery Heritage Fund| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref> the new arts centre was opened by the mayor, Mike Barwell, on 5 May 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/pictures-work-at-diss-s-famous-corn-hall-coming-to-an-end-as-reopening-date-is-set-1-7901973/  |title=Work at Diss's famous Corn Hall coming to an end as reopening date is set|date=5 April 2017|newspaper=Diss Express| access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
Works of art in the building include a portrait by the English portrait painter, [[William Boxall|Sir William Boxall]], of the benefactor, Thomas Lombe Taylor.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/thomas-lombe-taylor-334  |title= Thomas Lombe Taylor|publisher=Art UK| first=William|last=Boxall|access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Corn exchanges in England]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1854]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Norfolk]]
[[Category:Corn exchanges in England|Diss]]
[[Category:Diss, Norfolk]]