The design involved an asymmetrical main frontage facing onto the High Street.

There was an external staircase at the back and, at roof level, there was a large square bellcote with a weather vane.

[6] A bell was installed in the bellcote at the expense of the Scottish writer and local laird, Sir James Dalrymple, 1st Baronet, on completion of the building.

A clock made by Roger Parkinson of Richmond, North Yorkshire[7] was installed in 1735 and replaced at the expense of a member of parliament, Sir Hew Dalrymple-Hamilton, 4th Baronet in 1810.

[6] The building continued to serve as the meeting place of the burgh council for much of the 20th century but ceased to be the local seat of government when the enlarged East Lothian Council was formed in 1975.