[1][2][3] A market hall was commissioned by the lord of the manor, Philip Hollman, in the mid-17th century: it was a timber-framed building designed by John Abel, which was completed in 1654.

It was originally tile-hung but, in 1841, on instructions from the then lord of the manor, James Thomas Woodhouse, the tiles were removed and replaced by slates.

[7] The design of the complex involved an asymmetrical main frontage in three sections facing onto the High Street.

[8] The left-hand section of two bays was originally constructed in a different style and was only integrated into the complex and given a stucco finish in the early 20th century.

The complex remained in that use throughout the first half of the 20th century,[9] but it ceased to be the local seat of government when the council moved to Mill Street in around 1960.