The foundation stone for the new building was laid by George Charles Cherry of Denford Park on 7 September 1870.

It was designed by John Money in the Italianate style, was built by a local contactor, a Mr Hoskins, at a cost of £4,000 and was opened without ceremony on 11 October 1871.

[1] The right-hand bay, which slightly projected forwards, contained an arched doorway on the ground floor, a balcony and a double-arched window with an elaborate carving in the tympanum on the first floor and a clock tower with a lead cupola and weather vane above.

[6] The chiming clock, made by J. Moore & Sons of Clerkenwell,[7] had been presented by the magistrate's clerk, Mr W. R. Hall, in 1866;[8] it had initially been housed in a newly-built clock tower atop the Georgian town hall, before being transferred (along with the bells) to the new building in 1871.

[2] The corn exchange was converted for use as a large meeting hall in 1923 and it served as a British Restaurant during the Second World War.