The Guildhall, which initially accommodated a market hall on the ground floor and a courtroom on the first floor, was built around 1550.[1] It was substantially remodelled with a new facade and a new council chamber being installed on the first floor in 1683.[2][3] The external design involved three doors on the ground floor, three mullion windows flanked by Ionic orderpilasters augmented by a balcony with iron railings on the first floor and an ornamental cupola on the roof.[1] The projecting clock, erected at that time, was presented to the council by a London clockmaker, John Aylward, in return for being allowed to trade in the borough.[2][4]
The interior design involved a courtroom on the ground floor and a council chamber on the first floor.[3] The panelling in the council chamber was taken from Stoughton Manor House shortly before it was demolished in the late 17th century.[2] The ornamental cupola was replaced in 1882.[1]
During much of the 20th century the town hall served as the meeting place of the Municipal Borough of Guildford but it ceased to be the local seat of government in 1974, when the amalgamation of the municipal borough of Guildford and Guildford Rural District to form Guildford Borough Council took place; the amalgamated Borough Council decided to hold its meetings at Millmead House.[5]