[3] However, it failed to recover after a French raid in 1377[4] and Queen Elizabeth I awarded the town two parliamentary seats to try to stimulate economic development in 1584.

[3] In the late 17th century, the mayor and burgesses decided to commission a town hall in order to be able to exercise the privileges afforded to them of holding dinners at which they would confirm the names of the candidates for the two seats.

[12] After many years of decline and neglect the building was repaired in 1933 under the supervision of John Eric Miers Macgregor, a specialist conservation architect who managed to save the derelict structure.

The repair was funded by Ferguson's Gang, a mysterious group of young, anonymous, women benefactors who endowed Newtown Old Town Hall to the National Trust and agreed for it to be run as a Youth Hostel for fifteen years.

[13] An exhibition of the exploits of the Gang was put on display in the building, which became a local tourist attraction, open to the public during the summer months.