[1] The site was previously occupied by Grace's Castle, a structure dating back to the 13th century.

[3] The current building, which was designed by Sir Jerome Fitzpatrick in the neoclassical style and built in ashlar stone, was completed in 1792.

[2] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage facing Parliament Street; it was arcaded on the ground floor with flights of steps leading up to the end bays; the central section featured a tetrastyle portico on the first floor with Doric order columns supporting an entablature and a modillioned pediment.

[2] The building was originally designed as a judicial facility, but following the implementation of the Local Government (Dublin) Act 1993, it also became the meeting place of Kilkenny County Council.

[4] By the second half of the 20th century the county council had moved to new offices at John's Green House.