After plans are revealed for a new waterfront pub alongside Diss Mere, we thought we'd have a look back through our photo archives.

Eastern Daily Press: Places - D Children feeding the ducks at Diss Mere during the winter, the ducks gather in open water near the banks, while most of the mere looks like it is covered with ice. In the distance the Parish Church and other town buildings can be seen. FOA Jan 2016 Dated 14th January 1959 Photograph C3792 NicholasPlaces - D Children feeding the ducks at Diss Mere during the winter, the ducks gather in open water near the banks, while most of the mere looks like it is covered with ice. In the distance the Parish Church and other town buildings can be seen. FOA Jan 2016 Dated 14th January 1959 Photograph C3792 Nicholas

While you certainly don't see many cars like these in the town these days, the Mere itself hasn't changed a lot since 1953 when its car park was half full on a sunny afternoon.

Feeding the ducks was as popular a pastime then as it is today. The birds probably appreciated a bit of extra grub when the lake froze over, as it often did when South Norfolk's winters always seemed much harsher than today.

Eastern Daily Press: Diss mere - snow pic taken 18th feb 1969 m10653-24a pic to be used in lets talk feb 2016Diss mere - snow pic taken 18th feb 1969 m10653-24a pic to be used in lets talk feb 2016

One of the chilliest of them all was the great freeze of 1963, when the Mere became an improvised ice rink.

Now do you reckon they'd let you do that in today's health and safety-conscious climate?

Eastern Daily Press: PLACES DISS - MERE DATED 1950'S ? PLATE P5175PLACES DISS - MERE DATED 1950'S ? PLATE P5175

Eastern Daily Press: A skating rink created on Diss Mere by Adrian Bloom and his brother, Robert, in the winter of 1963.A skating rink created on Diss Mere by Adrian Bloom and his brother, Robert, in the winter of 1963. (Image: Adrian Bloom)

Eastern Daily Press: CHRISTMAS DISS MERE DATED 1971 NEGATIVE 32604-8CHRISTMAS DISS MERE DATED 1971 NEGATIVE 32604-8