[5] Appleby-in-Westmorland had a very small electorate and a dominant patron, William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, which meant it was recognised by the UK Parliament as a rotten borough.

[8] During the second half of the 18th century, the lower hall was converted for retail use, and the stocks, which had been situated at the north end of the building, were removed to make way for the town weighing machine in 1835.

[1] As the responsibilities of the council grew, the town clerk's office re-located to The Cloisters at the north end of Boroughgate,[10] although the town clerk's office moved back to the moot hall again in 1970, when the open-fronted shelter at the north end was enclosed.

[13] The interior of the building was remodelled at the north end in 1995, in order to create exhibition space and also to establish a home for the local tourist information office.

[14] An extensive programme of refurbishment works, financed by Historic England and Eden District Council, was completed in July 2022.