[2] Civic leaders decided this arrangement was inadequate for their needs and that they would procure a new town hall: the site chosen, which was already on the council's ownership, had been occupied by the local fire station.

[3] The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Councillor William Walter Gilson, Chairman of Ilford Urban District Council, on 17 March 1900.

[1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto High Road; the central section featured a triple-round-arched entrance on the ground floor; on the first floor there was alcove and a balcony flanked by Ionic order columns; there was a cupola with Ionic order pavilions at each corner at roof level.

[1] There were also separate porches on either side at the front of the building giving access to the public hall to the east and the council offices to the west.

[5] The building went on to become the headquarters of the Municipal Borough of Ilford when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived to present the Royal charter on 21 October 1926.