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The Piece Hall was opened on 1 January 1779, building having begun in 1775. According to a contemporary handbill, the hall was built for �the purpose of depositing and exposing to sale the worsted and woollen goods manufactured in this town and neighbourhood". The advantages were seen as the bringing together of buyers and sellers at a fixed time and place, saving time and money, and discouraging fraudsters. The word 'piece' referred to the pieces of cloth which were sold.

The Piece Hall was designed as a quadrangle with a series of individual rooms along each side and a principal entrance through the North Gate, leading from Caygill Square. A lack of documentary evidence means that the architect of the Piece Hall has not been conclusively identified, although it has been attributed to Thomas Bradley.

The building is a rare surviving example of a large-scale, purpose-built cloth hall; it is a Grade I-listed (List Entry Number: 1273056 Link Historic England).

The steeple rising behind the building is from the former Square Congregational Church. It is Grade II* listed.