It was built with financial support from a legacy left by the former local member of parliament, Brooke Robinson, and his wife, Eugenia, and included several courtrooms, a museum and a memorial tower.

[5] The memorial tower was intended to commemorate the lives of local service personnel who had died in the First World War.

[6] This part of the complex was designed by Harvey and Wicks in the Neo-Georgian style, built with red brick and stone dressings and was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, on 20 October 1928.

[9][10] Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the council house and had lunch with civic leaders on 23 April 1957.

[11] The assembly hall became a popular concert venue: performers included the band, The Who, in June 1965.