[1] In the mid-18th century, Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch launched an initiative to raise enough money, through public subscription, to commission a purpose-built corn exchange for the town.

[3] The building was designed by David Cousin in the Jacobethan style, built in rubble masonry with ashlar stone dressings at a cost of £3,800 and was officially opened on 10 August 1854.

The central bay contained an arched doorway with an archivolt and a hood mould which enclosed two small shields and a large stone panel carved with the coat of arms of the Buccleuch family.

[10] A major programme of refurbishment works, financed by grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, was then carried out to a design by Michael Laird Architects.

The works, which cost £3.5 million,[11] involved the conversion of the building for use as the headquarters of Melville Housing Association and for exhibition space for the Dalkeith Museum.