The upper room was used for meetings of the borough council, for the Quarter Sessions court and for public gatherings.

Not long afterwards, in 1860-62, the building was significantly altered:[3] the arches on the ground floor were bricked up, a semi-circular extension was added to the north and a new portico and clock tower were built around the entrance on the south side (the new clock being provided by James Astley Hall, a former mayor).

[5] The council was accused of "selling off the family silver" when the guildhall was converted for use as a public house in 1999.

[10] The guildhall fell into a state of disrepair before being refurbished in the early years of the 21st century and re-opening as a customer service centre in December 2008.

[11] However the guildhall fell vacant after the customer service staff relocated to Castle House in Barracks Road in 2018.