After Sunderland became a municipal borough in 1835,[1] civic leaders initially held their meetings in the Exchange Building on High Street East which had served as the local market hall as well as the courthouse since it was completed in 1814.

[2] Following the expansion of the borough council's responsibilities in the latter half of the 19th century, civic leaders decided to procure a purpose-built town hall.

[4] It was designed by Brightwen Binyon in the Italianate style, was built by John and Thomas Tillman at a cost of around £50,000 and was officially opened by the mayor, Councillor Robert Shadforth, on 6 November 1890.

The central bay, which was slightly projected forward, featured a round headed doorway, flanked by brackets supporting a balcony; there was a rounded headed French door on the first floor flanked by two pairs of Corinthian order columns supporting an entablature and a small pediment.

The first floor windows in the end sections were flanked by Corinthian order columns supporting entablatures and modillioned cornices.