There were two rooms on the first floor of the building, which were endowed by the local tradesman and philanthropist, William Cadge of Bochards Farm, and made available for use as a free school in 1668.

[5] The use of the building as a corn exchange declined significantly in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century.

[6] In the early 20th century, civic leaders decided that the old corn exchange should be demolished and replaced by a town hall for community use, as part of the celebrations for the coronation of George V.[7] The structure was rebuilt in brick with a cement render finish, to a design by Percy Monroe Beaumont, at cost £1,317, and then re-opened as a town hall in 1913.

[8] St Edmundsbury Borough Council have described the structure as "a unique building... of a traditional style with the front elevation of render and dark stained timber with a large overhanging gable".

[10] The building was primarily used for parish level meetings; the local rural district council was based at Stonehall in Nethergate Street.