A historic town centre building has been sold at auction to help out the cash-strapped Kent County Council.

The former Adult Education Centre in St Faith’s Street in Maidstone was sold for £604,000 by auctioneers Clive Emson.

The building had been called many names over the decades since its foundation stone was laid in 1887. It has been known as The School of Science and Art, The Maidstone Municipal Technical School, The Maidstone School of Arts and Crafts, and The Maidstone College of Art.

It had always had an educational purpose.

Among the many famous pupils who have passed through its doors was Tony Hart, the children’s TV presenter of Vision On and of Take Hart, from the 1960s and 1970s.

Other pupils included sculptor James Butler and architect Frederick Ruck, who designed parts of Sessions House in Maidstone.

It’s teaching staff also included many famous denizens of the arts world: artists David Hockney and Ruskin Spear, lithographer Edwin La Dell, sculptors Elisabeth Frink and Herbert Dalwood, printmaker Alistair Grant, and portrait artist Carlos Sancha.

It is not known what the new owner intends for the building, but conversion to housing is thought the most likely

Currently vacant since the adult education classes moved to Oakwood in April 2023, the building has three storeys and a separate spacious pottery studio at the back.

Maidstone Green Cllr Derek Eagle had made a last-ditch attempt to persuade Maidstone council to bid for the centre, but had failed.

He said: “It’s a great shame. The council is looking for somewhere to house an arts and crafts hub and this would have fitted perfectly with the building’s former use.

“A piece of Maidstone’s history has been lost.”

KCC deputy cabinet member for finance, Cllr Harry Rayner said: “When buildings become redundant, their sale relieves the council of a maintenance burden and creates revenue we desperately need.”