[1] By the mid-19th century, it had become "dirty looking building" and the town commissioners decided to demolish it and to erect a new structure on the same site.

The new building was designed in the Victorian style, built by a local contractor, J. H. Burns, in red brick and was completed in 1886.

Significant public events included a controversial debate in November 1936 when the trade unionist and politician, Harry Midgley, talked about the Spanish Civil War, urging support for the left-wing government of Spanish Republic and strongly criticising the Catholic Church for its support for the Nationalists led by General Francisco Franco.

[5] At the north end of the building a new two-storey wing, which extended the structure to the west, was completed in the mid-20th century.

[8] A programme of works costing £1.4 million to improve the area around the town hall was undertaken by the contractor, F. P. McCann, and completed in spring 2021.