The first record of the society is in the Norwich Mercury on  May 7, 1831. It grew out of the success of The Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society after some of its members, the local gentry and dignitaries of Diss and district, decided to start a Society of their own. This was formally founded in 1844.

The early meetings were like small flower shows and read like a who’s who of the nobility but ‘Cottagers’ (working class people who earned less than £7 per annum) also had a show table present. 

On 12 July, 1881, the society held its 37th annual show in the grounds of Hall Hills, a large country house on the outskirts of Diss.

The society then continued to flourish even throughout the war years to the present day.

The 175 anniversary was held in July 2019, making it one of the oldest societies in the country.