Efforts by Bearsted villagers to stop the village’s original schoolhouse being sold at auction have failed.

The building, which dates back to 1839 and was most recently used as a library, was put up for sale by Kent County Council (KCC).

The auction, conducted by Clive Emson, went ahead last Wednesday and the hammer was brought down at £702,000.

The guide price had been £380,000 to £400,000.

The building is located in a prominent position opposite the village green, within the Bearsted Conservation Area.

It had been the village school and in 1847 a wing was added for the school-master’s house. Later, in 1975, after the school had moved to new premises, it became the village library.

It moved from that location in 2017 because it was discovered that there were serious problems with dry rot in the building and a floor was deemed at risk of sudden collapse.

Subsequently, KCC found new premises for the library at the nearby old station masters house adjacent to next to Bearsted Station

The school building has stood empty for the last four years.

The Bearsted and Thurnham Society had opposed the sale, fearful that an important piece of their village history could be lost.

The new purchaser’s details are being kept confidential.

The society is submitting an application to Historic England in an attempt to have the property added to The National Heritage List for England.

A listing would prevent the new owner from demolishing the property.

The red-brick building sports a central cupola to the original school and the school’s foundation stone is prominently visible.