The structure, which served as the headquarters of Angus County Council, is a Category C listed building.

[4] The new prison building was designed by David Smith in the Scottish baronial style, built in ashlar stone and was completed in 1843.

[1][5][6] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with thirteen bays facing onto Market Street; the end sections of four bays each, which slightly projected forward, were three storeys high and featured battlements at roof level and turrets at the corners.

The central bay, which also slightly projected forward, was also three storeys high and featured a lancet window on the second floor and a twin-shaft chimney at roof level.

[7] The prison building was converted into offices, to a design by John Carver, in 1883 and the gatehouse, which had formed part of the original construction, was demolished in 1884.