The current building was designed in the Georgian style, built in red brick with stone dressings and was completed in 1769.

The central bay contained an doorway with an ogee-shaped fanlight, flanked by elaborate pilasters, described by English Heritage as being in the style of Batty Langley, which supported an open pediment.

There was also a mayor's parlour, which contained the civic regalia and the official brass yard, on the first floor,[3] and a "carvings room", which contained elaborate carvings which had been created by petty criminals when they were incarcerated in the room, on the ground floor.

[4] The building continued to serve as the meeting place of Harwich Borough Council throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century,[5] but ceased to be local seat of government when the borough council moved to the former Great Eastern Railway Hotel at Harwich Quay in October 1951.

[15] Other artefacts in the building include the ship's bell from the passenger ferry, SS Brussels, which was registered at Harwich but was captured by the Imperial German Navy in June 1916 during the First World War.