Hare's new building included new premises for Oxford's Crown and County Courts, central public library and police station as well as the city council.

[4] A young law don, FE Smith, who had taken no part in the violence, saw police mishandling his college servant.

Smith was charged with obstructing police officers in the execution of their duty, but at his trial the young lawyer was found not guilty.

It was completed later than the rest of the building, but the Oxford City Police force was able to move there from its former station in Kemp Hall by the turn of the century.

[5] In the First World War the building was converted into the Town Hall section of the 3rd Southern General Hospital.

[9] Works of art in the town hall include a portraits of King James II,[10] Queen Anne[11] and the Duke of Marlborough by Godfrey Kneller,[12] a painting depicting the Rape of the Sabine Women by Pietro da Cortona[13] and a painting depicting Saint Peter by Francesco Fontebasso.