The town hall, which was the headquarters of Jarrow Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by Lady Gertrude Palmer, the wife of the local Member of Parliament Sir Charles Palmer, on 9 October 1902. The building was designed by a local architect, Fred Rennoldson, in the Baroque style, built in red brick with terracotta facings at a cost of £12,000 and was officially opened by Sir Charles Palmer on 15 June 1904. A three-face clock was added above the main entrance in 1951, possibly to mark the Festival of Britain in that year.