[1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing southwest down Market Street; the central bay, featured a projecting two storey structure consisting of a rusticated base which supported a portico with Tuscan order columns and a pediment accessed by fine curved staircases on either side.

[4] It was outside the guildhall that, in 1886, a local man, John King, murdered a councillor, Horatio Hamilton, who had advised him that, unless he found the funds to purchase a boat, his licence as a harbour pilot would be withdrawn.

[7] During the Second World War, the guildhall was used as a canteen and meeting room for American troops preparing to take part in the invasion of France.

[9] After some 16 years of disuse and increasing dilapidation, an extensive programme of refurbishment works was carried out to a design by HGP Conservation in the early 21st century.

The works, which cost of £800,000, involved the conversion of the building for use as a register office and a venue for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.