This is what inside of Diss Corn Hall now looks like
As reported by Anthony Carroll on the Diss Mercury website 15/12/15 Credit: Lucy Kayne
A major project to restore and improve Diss Corn Hall will see construction contractors take over the site in mid-January to carry out the work.
Pentaco Construction has been awarded the contract, costing almost £1.6m, to restore and upgrade the building.
The work by the Norwich-based company will see the addition of a two story expansion at the rear to provide a box office, foyer, bar, gallery and exhibition areas.
It will take a year to complete and means the Corn Hall will not open as had been hoped next autumn.
As part of £3m Diss Heritage Triangle project, the Corn Hall has been closed since the summer and its furnishings and equipment have been stripped out ahead of the work and the majority of asbestos present removed.
The contract to Pentaco Construction, which was involved in the £1.5m restoration of King’s Lynn Town Hall, was awarded by Diss Town Council as part of the project, which has been largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and town, district and county councils.
Julian Mason, town councillor and mayor of Diss said: “The town council is delighted to have awarded the contract and is looking forward to seeing construction work starting on site in the new year. We are pleased to be working with Pentaco to deliver this significant scheme for the town.”
Corn Hall Progress Update
We are delighted to say that contractors have been appointed to start work on the Corn Hall. They will come on site in early January and start with the demolition of the 1970s extension. The original 1850s Hall will have nothing demolished – in fact when we have finished it will be near to its former glory.
The big change is that we will have a new extension giving us a foyer with an enlarged box office and gallery, leading to a new bar and cafe. The upper floor of the extension will house additional loos, performer’s dressing room, a learning zone with exhibition space and an office and will include lift access.
The Waveney Room and Council Chamber will be improved with additional facilities to make them more flexible spaces suitable for classes, workshops and community activities as well as less formal events.
The Main Hall will be smartened up to give the audience a much better experience with underfloor heating installed and better acoustics. Retractable seating will allow us to make the Hall more intimate for small productions, but able to quickly close the seating so the whole Hall can be used.
We have done lots of testing so we hope we don’t encounter too many snags – always the problem with an old building needing repair. If we don’t suffer major hold-ups, construction should take about 50 weeks, with re-opening in early 2017.
Regular updates on progress will be posted here, so check back here to find out the latest.
Meanwhile – enjoy the Corn Hall On Tour and many thanks for all your support.
The Corn Hall Team
Contact: 01379 652241 or box office@disscornhall.co.uk