The sheer beauty of a historic building has been revealed as it undergoes major refurbishment.
Diss Corn Hall closed earlier this year as part of the town's £3m Heritage Triangle project and is set to reopen in the Autumn of 2016.
Yesterday, in the process of clearing the building, the portrait of founder Thomas Lombe Taylor was ceremoniously taken down from the hall's council chamber.
As technical equipment, memorabilia and furniture is removed the building has been stripped back to reveal a structure that has seen virtually no intervention since it was built.
David Case, chairman of Diss Corn Hall Trust, said: 'It is a fantastic building, we will take the hall back to what it used to be like. It is very exciting.'
The refurbishment will see a 1970s extension demolished and replaced with a new building connecting the hall and current toilet block to a new box office, gallery and foyer.
In the main hall high-tech lights that replicate natural light will be installed in the ceiling to mirror the original roof windows.
The council chamber room will be transformed into a multi-purpose space which will be used for council meetings, youth activities, film screenings and yoga.
Work to date has been supported by the hall's loyal crew of 90 volunteers and Diss Town Council.
The building, dating from 1854, was built, paid for and given to the town by Thomas Lombe Taylor cited as 'Lord of the Diss Manor and grantee of the fairs and markets'.
Mr Case said: 'The hall was built as a symbol of civic pride and became the centre of civic life in Diss. It has always been an entertainment centre, we will be bringing it back as an entertainment hub for Diss.'
Although the hall has closed the venue has taken its events 'On Tour'this summer to venues across the region.
The weekly film screenings have transferred to Diss High School and the popular comedy club has moved to Diss Rugby Club and a range of theatre and music events have taken place across indoor and outdoor venues.
The Hall's box office has moved across the road to the DesignerMakers studio at 21 St Nicholas Street.
Mr Case said; 'The tour is proving very exciting, audiences have been great and we hope that they will be encouraged to come to the hall in the future.'
The tour has been made possible thanks to a £30,000 grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to help keep events operating during the work.
Last year 27,000 people attended events at the hall and it is estimated that by 2018 audience totals will hit 50,000 people.
Mr Case said: 'Diss has a lot to offer and we want to promote that. We are working closely with traders and South Norfolk Council to make Diss a tourist destination.'
Building work on the new extension is set to begin at the end of the year.
For the full programme of summer events visit www.disscornhall.co.uk
Are you restoring a community building? Email kate.royall@archant.co.uk
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