[3] The administrative centre then moved to the municipal buildings, which contained council chambers and offices, further to the east along the High Street.

[8] The foundation stone for the town hall was laid by Mrs Clarke, the benefactor's mother, on 22 October 1879.

[10][11] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with nine bays facing Abbey Close; the central section of five bays featured three glass doorways on the ground floor; there was a huge hexastyle portico with Corinthian order columns on the first floor with a pediment above.

[1] The north elevation featured two towers, the taller of which contained a clock designed and manufactured by Gillett and Bland.

[14] In February 2019 proposals were announced to convert the town hall into a centre for performing arts.