The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Maltravers Street with the end bays slightly projected forward and structured as towers. The central section of three bays was formed a loggia with a parapet on the ground floor; on the first floor, the central section was deeply recessed, fenestrated by round headed windows which were flanked by columns supporting architraves, and decorated with panels above the windows containing carvings. The towers were fenestrated by two-partite round headed windows on the ground floor, by single round headed windows on the first floor and by lancet windows on the second floor. Internally, the principal room was the assembly room, which was on the first floor and became known as the Atherley Chamber after the former mayor: there was a lock-up for petty criminals as well as storage space for the horse-drawn fire engine in the basement.
