Archaeological evaluation in the courtyard suggested the area on and around the Council House had been in regular use since the Middle Ages. The previous building on Corn Street was adjacent to the church of St Ewen, which had been founded in the late 12th century. In 1704, the old Council House was rebuilt expanding its footprint to encompass the guild chapel of the Fraternity of St John the Baptist, which had occupied the south aisle of St Ewens. St Ewen's stopped being regularly used as a church towards the late 18th century and was heavily altered in 1791, when the upper half of the church tower was removed The present building was constructed for the City Council and Treasury between 1824 and 1827 on the site of the old building but also including the footprint of 2 houses to the west and to the north, St Ewen's. It was designed by Sir Robert Smirke in a neoclassical design including a sweeping staircase. The statue of Justice over the entrance is by Edward Hodges Baily. The Council House was extended to hold a magistrates court on the south-west side of the building in 1828-9 by Richard Shackleton Pope and George Dymond, demolishing two further properties on Corn Street, whose basements were reused as holding cells for prisoners. The Grand Council Chamber was added in 1899. It was opened by Queen Victoria and can accommodate up to 150 people. By the 1930s, the Council House was too small for regular use, and a new site on College Green was proposed. Construction began in late 1936 with the clearance of many 17th and 18th century houses on the west side of College Green, including the blocking off of College Place, but was delayed until after World War II, and the new premises did not open until 1956.
Modern use
The Old Council House is used as a register office for Bristol City Council for registering births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and citizenship. Every year over 1000 marriages and civil partnerships take place in the building which is often used as a wedding venue. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building.
