Diss Museum

29/05/2026

Hurry only 1 week to go!

Don’t miss our current community cabinet display.

Around the World in 33 Objects is now at Diss Museum.
Pop in to marvel at this fascinating collection, gathered over nearly 40 years of travel across every continent.

Each object tells a story—reflecting the richness and diversity of cultures around the world, offering glimpses into different ways of life and moments in history.

They’re reminders of unforgettable journeys, meaningful encounters, and the unique perspectives that only travel can bring.

Perhaps they’ll spark your own travel memories… or inspire your next adventure! ✈️
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Don’t miss our children’s activity: Return the treasures to their homeland—a fun way to explore the collection together.

📍 Right in the centre of the marketplace

🎟️ Free entry

🕚 Open Monday–Saturday, 11am–3pm
We’d love to see you there!

04/05/2026

🌍✨ Our Community Cabinet has a brand new display!

Around the World in 33 Objects is now at Diss Museum.
Pop in to marvel at this fascinating collection, gathered over nearly 40 years of travel across every continent.

Each object tells a story—reflecting the richness and diversity of cultures around the world, offering glimpses into different ways of life and moments in history.

They’re reminders of unforgettable journeys, meaningful encounters, and the unique perspectives that only travel can bring.

Perhaps they’ll spark your own travel memories… or inspire your next adventure! ✈️

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Don’t miss our children’s activity: Do you know your Penguins from your Trilobites?- a fun way to explore the collection and improve your geography.

📍 Right in the centre of the marketplace

🎟️ Free entry

🕚 Open Monday–Saturday, 11am–3pm

We’d love to see you there!

04/05/2026

GENERAL STRIKE (1926)

On the centenary of the General Strike, it is interesting to recall how the local press covered it.
The Diss Express of 7 May 1926 reported that locally there was little evidence of the strike.
Some railway staff were involved, while other transport workers had experienced intimidation when visiting large centres to collect goods.
After the strike, Sir John Mann described it as “a colossal attack on the liberties of the country”.
There was at least one fatality. The newspaper reported that Kenneth Reavell (20) of Nethergate, Thorpe, Norwich, had volunteered during the General Strike to act as a volunteer fireman. He was thus engaged on a cattle train running from Norwich to Romford when, whilst upon the tender and in the act of shovelling coal towards the engine, his head came in contact with the railway arch at Rose Lane, Palgrave, and he was instantly killed.
His uncle said that “he died for his country as truly as if he had died in the trenches.”
The paper was published as usual and also issued a daily supplement featuring news of strike events around the country.
There was no shortage of food supplies, in solid or liquid form, and Diss & District was carrying on much as usual.
The tone of the editorials was very much on the side of the establishment, at a time when the rise of Socialism was feared, with memories of the Russian revolution still fresh.
“In conclusion,” said a leading article, “we would urge all loyal citizens to remain calm and above all to keep a cheerful courage up. Let your watchword be Courage and Determination.”

01/05/2026

Diss Museum Actors opened the DissCover Book Festival with a walk entitled Down to the Dark Waters that attracted over 50 people. Left to right: Ann Reeder, Keshar Whitelock, Jenny Bacon, Joe Bernard, Basil Abbott, Gill Danis.

20/04/2026

Just over a week to go! Don't miss.....
🌊 Down to the Dark Waters

Step into the past with a lively and imaginative guided walk through Diss, led by the Diss Museum Actors!

📍 Market Place (near Boots)
9 Market Place, Diss IP22 4AB

🗓️ May 1st
⏰ 2:00 PM

As part of the Corn Hall’s DissCover Book Festival www.thecornhall.co.uk/disscover, this unique walking experience brings the town’s rich history to life.

Inspired by the idea that Mere Street was once called Tem Street — from the Celtic for “dark waters” — this journey uncovers fascinating literary and historical connections hidden in plain sight.

✨ Expect stories and surprises featuring connections to figures like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, J.B. Priestley, John Betjeman, and Mary Wilson.

📖 Discover tales of the 1945 general election, 18th-century conspiracies, Thomas De Quincey, Matilda Fitz Walter, and even Diss’s very own 1700s Book Club!

🚶‍♂️ The walk lasts about 1 hour and finishes with light refreshments outside Diss Museum.

🎟️ Tickets available at Diss Museum or online:
https://www.dissmuseum.co.uk/event-details/down-to-the-dark-waters

Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of history, storytelling, and discovery!

13/04/2026

🌊 Down to the Dark Waters
Step into the past with a lively and imaginative guided walk through Diss, led by the Diss Museum Actors!

📍 Market Place (near Boots)
9 Market Place, Diss IP22 4AB

🗓️ May 1st

⏰ 2:00 PM

As part of the Corn Hall’s DissCover Book Festival, this unique walking experience brings the town’s rich history to life.

Inspired by the idea that Mere Street was once called Tem Street — from the Celtic for “dark waters” — this journey uncovers fascinating literary and historical connections hidden in plain sight.

✨ Expect stories and surprises featuring connections to figures like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, J.B. Priestley, John Betjeman, and Mary Wilson.

📖 Discover tales of the 1945 general election, 18th-century conspiracies, Thomas De Quincey, Matilda Fitz Walter, and even Diss’s very own 1700s Book Club!

🚶‍♂️ The walk lasts about 1 hour and finishes with light refreshments outside Diss Museum.

🎟️ Tickets available at Diss Museum or online:
https://www.dissmuseum.co.uk/event-details/down-to-the-dark-waters
Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of history, storytelling, and discovery!

Diss Museum Actors will lead a lively and imaginative walk which will feature actual literary and historical connections with Diss.

06/04/2026

🌊 Down to the Dark Waters

Step into the past with a lively and imaginative guided walk through Diss, led by the Diss Museum Actors!

📍 Market Place (near Boots)
9 Market Place, Diss IP22 4AB

🗓️ May 1st

⏰ 2:00 PM

As part of the Corn Hall’s DissCover Book Festival, this unique walking experience brings the town’s rich history to life.

Inspired by the idea that Mere Street was once called Tem Street — from the Celtic for “dark waters” — this journey uncovers fascinating literary and historical connections hidden in plain sight.

✨ Expect stories and surprises featuring connections to figures like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, J.B. Priestley, John Betjeman, and Mary Wilson.

📖 Discover tales of the 1945 general election, 18th-century conspiracies, Thomas De Quincey, Matilda Fitz Walter, and even Diss’s very own 1700s Book Club!

🚶‍♂️ The walk lasts about 1 hour and finishes with light refreshments outside Diss Museum.

🎟️ Tickets available at Diss Museum or online:
https://www.dissmuseum.co.uk/event-details/down-to-the-dark-waters

Don’t miss this unforgettable afternoon of history, storytelling, and discovery!

04/04/2026

DOWN TO THE DARK WATERS

As part of the Corn Hall’s DissCover Book Festival, Diss Museum Actors will lead an entertaining walk down and back up Mere Street.
This will be on the afternoon of Friday 1st May, starting at 2.00pm from the Market Place, outside Boots.
The event is called Down to the Dark Waters and takes its cue from a theory that Mere Street’s original name, Tem Street, came from the Celtic for ‘dark waters’.
Waterways all over the country, the Thames, Tame, Tamar and many others, may have a similar derivation.
The event will feature actual literary/historical connections and also reflect the dates of particular sites.
An afternoon of surprises will include: the work of Charles Dickens, the 1945 general election, Rudyard Kipling, J.B.Priestley, 18th century conspiracy, John Betjeman & Mary Wilson, the tale behind a medieval cross, John Skelton, Matilda Fitz Walter, Thomas De Quincey, the Diss Book Club of the 1700s and their opinion of Thomas Paine; and more.
Some empty premises have surprising stories to tell. The Annals of the RAF recount the death of the son of the Nat West Bank manager, while piloting a Liberator on a 15 hour flight. Even the old Woolworths building is included, with extracts from the ‘Woolies’ novels of Elaine Everest.
In recent years, the actors have given presentations on The Roydon Riots, Thomas Manning, the American World War Two airmen, the Victorian part of the cemetery and the museum’s popular Ghost Walk.
The tour, which promises to be equally fascinating, will last about an hour, followed by light refreshments outside the museum. Tickets £5 from the museum.

01/04/2026

Looking for something fun (and a little different) to do with the kids this Easter? 🐣✨

Come and visit us at Diss Museum – where history comes to life for younger visitors too! Because our history is their history.

📚 In celebration of the Year of Reading, children can design and colour their own bookmarks, then personalise them using two old-fashioned writing tools – a typewriter or even a quill pen!

🔍 Head to our Discovery Corner to explore drawers full of fascinating fossils, or become a history sleuth with our museum exhibits quiz (grown-ups can join in too!).

🏠 Don’t miss our famous doll’s house – ask one of our stewards why it crossed the Atlantic twice…

🍬 Our shop is now even more child-friendly, with extra sweets and toys to enjoy.

🎩 And before you go, create a fun souvenir by snapping a photo wearing one of our comedy hats!

📍 Diss Museum is right in the centre of the marketplace
🎟️ Free entry
🕚 Open Monday–Saturday, 11am–3pm

We can’t wait to welcome you this Easter – see you soon!