The collections on display at Market Hall are primarily focused on objects in the fields of archaeology, geology and natural history, and particularly those local to Warwickshire.

The building was constructed with a large, open-plan ground floor with wide open arches, to allow easy access to the stalls.

These objects were placed on display in the Market Hall for public viewing, on payment of one shilling (an amount which excluded many of the poor of Warwickshire), or an annual one guinea subscription, which also constituted membership of the society.

Members additionally had the benefit of being invited to free lectures on natural history or historical topics, and partaking in lunches at the Woolpack Inn across the road.

The Society held a free event in 1847 (and repeated in subsequent years), when members of the public were allowed to view the collections without charge.

Nevertheless, the ground floor was still used for market activities until around 1900, by which time the museum's collection had grown to such an extent that it required the entire building.