Traditionally Weymouth and Melcombe Regis were rivals for trade and industry, until the two towns were united in an Act of Parliament in 1571.

The clock above the main door of the building was presented by Sir Henry Edwards upon completion of the work;[1] the clockmaker was Thwaites & Reed.

[4] By this time, the Weymouth Guildhall, which had opened in 1838 on the site of the former Melcombe Regis Town Hall, was now the council's main place for meetings.

[8] The Guardians of the Old Town Hall formed that year as a community interest company to manage and operate the building.

[11] Further restoration was undertaken in 2015, funded by McCarthy & Stone, who then temporarily used the building as a sales office for their nearby Harbour Lights Court development.