[2] In the late 18th century, local merchants decided to commission a purpose-built "corn market": this was a rectangular structure built in brick and completed in 1791.

[3] After the north and south sides of the corn market were demolished to facilitate road widening in 1825, the building was remodelled, to a design by John Bowen in the neoclassical style, and encased in ashlar stone in 1834.

The central bay featured a prominent circular portico formed by a colonnade of Ionic order columns supporting an entablature, a cornice, and a parapet.

[5] The outer bays, which were slightly projected forward, contained openings flanked by Ionic order columns in antis supporting an entablature and a parapet.

[12] A major programme of refurbishment works, which allowed additional retail units to be introduced into the complex, was completed in 1985,[2] and the statue of Blake was moved further to the east, as part of a pedestrianisation scheme, at that time.