[1] The design involved a main frontage of four bays facing onto Howard Street; the second bay from the left, which slightly projected forward, featured an arched doorway on the left and a mullioned window on the right on the ground floor; there was a tall pointed and mullioned window on the first floor and a gable and finial above.

[4][5] After significant population growth, largely associated with the tourism and fishing industries, North Shields was absorbed into the new municipal borough of Tynemouth in 1849.

[7] As the responsibilities of the council increased the building became increasingly cramped; the council acquired both the Methodist Church to the north west of the town hall, which had been designed by John and Benjamin Green and completed in 1857,[8] and the old Poor Law Guardians' Office to the south east, which had been designed by John and Benjamin Green and completed in 1837.

[3] Some council departments including the town clerk's office moved out to 14 Northumberland Square in North Shields after the First World War.

[9] The building continued to serve as the offices of the Borough Treasurer but ceased to function in any municipal capacity after the enlarged North Tyneside Council was formed in 1974.