Ashbourne Townhall is in the heart of Ashbourne; this building was built in 1861 and stood on the previous built Talbot Inn. This location is a hidden gem with an array of many rooms. The ballroom here is known for its disembodied voices; on many occasions, the door has been seen and heard slamming shut from unforeseen hands. The upper floor kitchen dark tall black figures have been seen, and some have reported seeing figures in the upper floor windows. The main hall is known for its sudden drastic temperature changes; many people feel extremely uncomfortable here alone. Are you ready to unlock the doors and see who and why is haunting Ashbourne Townhall?

There have been hundreds of reports of strange unexplained happenings within these walls at Ashbourne Townhall. There have numerous reports of footsteps coming up and coming down the stairs when nobody is present. Doors heard and seen slamming shut from unforeseen hands. The sound of disembodied voices and even child's laughter and singing have been heard. Items have been left in a particular position, and staff members have found these items moved upon their return—sudden and unexpected drastic temperature changes. Dark tall figures are seen. Many believe its location is home to many lost souls. We invite you to join us this evening to see who haunts this vast place. 

The building is faced with ashlar stone with the over-fussy decorative embellishments typical of the mid-Victorian period.

A purpose-built meeting room was first suggested in 1852 and was combined with a proposal to build a Market Hall. Subscriptions were collected, and various premises in the Marketplace were considered, but the scheme was postponed through insufficient funds. Several local tradesmen formed a trust to purchase a property in St John’s Street, which was rebuilt as a lecture and meeting room (now St John’s Gallery and Café). The Market or Town Hall went ahead as a separate project, and, eventually, another property was purchased in the Market Place and rebuilt as the Market Hall. The stone pediment shows the date 1861 along with the names of the Trustees.

The Hall was built on the site of the Talbot Inn, mentioned in Izaak Walton's and Charles Cotton's "The Complete Angler". In the book, Piscator Junior and Viator stopped here for a drink on horseback before heading for the River Dove at Milldale, an early form of a "drive-through".

Just above the entrance to Townhall Yard is a small memorial to Mr Tom Fearn, aged 40, killed when the balance bar fell from the fire bell, which used to be situated above this entrance and was being rung because of a report of a fire. The bell was used to alert the fire crews to man the fire engine, then kept at the rear of the George and Dragon. Sadly, the alert proved to be a false alarm on this tragic occasion. The phone call was traced to Ella stone, but the culprit was never discovered. Mr Fearn's descendants still live in the Town and arrange for this memorial to be erected in his honour.