Retford has had two known moot halls, and two town halls (including the current building). The earliest known moot hall dated from 1388. The building was in the old market square, North of the current market square. Like many early buildings the moot hall was almost certainly badly damaged in the 1528 fire. It was replaced in 1528 but according to Piercy by 1754 was in such a poor state of repair that the corporation decided to demolish it. It was replaced in 1755 by a town hall designed in the neoclassical style by Messrs White and Watson. This hall was demolished in 1868 because it had become an obstruction to traffic.