Diss Clay Survey
The East Anglian Regional Telluric Houses Association (EARTHA) was founded in 1994. With the aims of promoting the maintenance and conservation of existing earth building and encouraging the revival of earth construction in East Anglia, EARTHA applied in 2007 for funding to enable it to undertake a survey of clay buildings in the town of Diss. EARTHA agreed to place £1,000 into the financing of the survey in return for £4,000 of funding from the Cittàslow Diss Programme.
Although the Cittàslow documentation makes reference to clay-lump buildings, Diss also has a heritage of wattle and daub construction. Both types of construction are a lost skill to all but a few specialist professionals and enthusiasts. Therefore, all types of clay construction in Diss and the surrounding areas are under threat due to a lack of knowledge amongst property owners, building trades people and built environment professionals. As a result, many such buildings are being adversely affected, irreversibly altered, damaged or destroyed through the application of inappropriate building techniques, the use of unsuitable materials or a lack of recognition of what these buildings are. Therefore, it is essential that these buildings are identified and recorded so that in future steps may be taken to assure their conservation.
As a result, many such buildings are being adversely affected, irreversibly altered, damaged or destroyed through the application of inappropriate building techniques, the use of unsuitable materials or a lack of recognition of what these buildings are. Therefore, it is essential that these buildings are identified and recorded so that in future steps may be taken to assure their conservation.
Diss Town Survey Map
