A landmark town building has sold for more than double its asking price at auction.

The Old Town Hall in Gravesend High Street was put on the market for £300,000 with Clive Emson in August, following a grassroots campaign to safeguard it.

However, it was sold to an unknown buyer for £791,000 at the end of last week.

It is described as a “stunning and iconic period building” with potential to become a restaurant, wine bar, wedding venue, indoor market or retail facility.

The Grade II* listed property is spread across three floors and includes the Mayor’s lobby, main hall, anterooms, cells, plant room, store room, hallways and toilets.

The listing highlighted the classical building feature of the four-columned porch, stained glass windows and fish and boat mosaic.

The approximately 10,550 sq ft site, which was owned and maintained by Kent County Council (KCC), does not include the adjacent Borough Market, now known as Hatch.

In July, a grassroots campaign was launched by residents and councillors calling for the opportunity to repurpose the Old Town Hall to safeguard its future for the community.

Campaigners accused the council of abandoning its duty to safeguard local heritage by selling the site, and said they were looking at alternatives.

Cllr Diane Morton (Reform), who was also backing the campaign, said the sale was needed as KCC could not afford to continue maintaining the site.

She hoped that whoever has bought the building will work to restore it and keep it in the community.

In October 2023, scaffolding was erected around the building after its roof was damaged by lead thieves.

The Old Town Hall was first built in 1573, but has been remodelled several times throughout its history and has previously been used as a court, a police station, and a venue space.

The building also has historic cells, which were used to hold prisoners.

It is understood that the hall was being used for charitable storage, as KCC currently had no operational use for the space.