'The Old Corn Market House stood in the North Street, on the West side; it was pretty long from South to North, one side of it was close to the Gutter in the middle of the street, and the other was within about six or seven feet of the Houses, it stood upon posts or fram'd timbers. Pannel'd up about Breast high, it had an Entrance on each side, but its Chief Entrance was at the south end about half its width next the Houses, the other Half being the Cage which was Boarded up Breast High, and wood Barrs Perpendicular above. Behind the Cage was the stairs up to the Council Chamber, which was low, and had low old windows, it was a very old Building; the North End was nearly opposite the South End of the new Market House' (Spershott, Records of Chichester (1710) quoted in Morgan, Chichester 79).

The construction date of the council house is unknown.