[5] The new building, which was designed by Bryan Oliver in the Gothic style, was built in limestone rubble and was opened in 1886.

[1][6] The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Cox's Hill; the left-hand bay featured a pair of three-light windows on the ground floor, a carved panel and pair of two-light windows on the first floor and a large gable containing a small three-light window above.

[1] Internally, the principal rooms were a panelled council chamber on the left-hand side of the building, a public hall (subsequently referred to as the "Large Hall ") at the rear of the building[1] and a corn exchange.

[10][11] A small building behind the town hall was home to the fire service until 1966[12] when it moved to Wenhill Heights.

[16][11] The Prince of Wales called in at the town hall on his way to visit an environmental project at a local farm on 25 March 1988[17] and Queen Elizabeth II entered the building and signed the visitors' book on 7 December 2001.