[2] The current building was commissioned by Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham, whose seat was at Wentworth Woodhouse, as a butter market for the town.

The central section of three bays, which was slightly projected forward, featured a doorway with a rectangular fanlight, flanked by two small bi-partite widows.

The bays in the central section were flanked by pilasters and by large brackets supporting a wrought iron balcony.

[5] Following significant population growth, largely associated with the status of Malton as a market town, the area became an urban district in 1894.

[10] The town hall then remained vacant for five years, after which it was extensively refurbished to a design by Folium Architects.