[1] The site they selected on the northwest side of the Market Place was purchased from the Unwin family of Sutton Hall who were significant landowners in the area as well as proprietors of the local textile mills.

[2][3] The foundation stone for the new building was laid by William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland, whose seat was at Welbeck Abbey, on 10 December 1888.

It was designed by J. P. Adlington of High Pavement in Sutton-in-Ashfield in the Victorian style, built in red brick for £3,500 and was opened, with a performance of "Messiah" by George Frideric Handel, early the following year.

The hall behind featured a modillioned gable, which contained a large oculus and was surmounted by a small clock tower.

The entrance was on the Market Street frontage, which was fenestrated by six segmental headed windows flanked by pilasters supporting voussoirs, and was surmounted by a modillioned cornice.