The material from which the Council House is built is Portland Stone from the same quarry used by Christopher Wren for St Paul’s Cathedral. The keystone of the central arch in the entrance arcade was salvaged from a London church after the Great Fire of 1666, but lay unused for centuries on a Dorset beach.

The terrace overlooking the Old Market Square has eight massive columns above which are 21 figures, including Justice, representing the activities of the Council. They were also modelled by Joseph Else. The frieze behind the columns depicts traditional local crafts such as bell founding, mining and alabaster carving.