Historians have lost their last-ditch effort to save a Grade II-listed building in Rochester High Street.

This comes after cabinet members agreed to sell the council-owned Conservancy building as it was deemed to be “surplus” to requirements.

Medway council plans to sell the annexe of the Guildhall museum to fund maintenance of other historical buildings, such as the Corn Exchange.

Members of the City of Rochester Society and Friends of the Guildhall Museums appealed to the council to reconsider this decision, which they argue would put free educational facilities under a “paywall”.

When the Conservancy building closes the council say the 8,000 artefacts will be moved to the Guildhall or the East House, which charges for entry.

A plea from a local history enthusiast, Richard Moss, was greeted with applause at the business and support overview and scrutiny committee on August 23.

He said: “The museum is a very successful tourist attraction, at the worst figures it attracts 97,000 visitors per annum, at least half of those visit the Conservancy building.

“The friends of the Guildhall museum worry about what message the closure is going to have on Medway’s reputation.

“Medway advertises itself as Dickens’ country, it is inconceivable there will be no free access to Dickens’ items in this area if the Conservancy building closes.

“We believe this will lose the council’s reputation for heritage.

“We will lose a community resource, it will make the museum less attractive to visitors and we fear it will increase the expenditure of the council to store these artefacts.”

Mr Moss told councillors how he and his fellow Friends of the Guildhall Museums feel “conned” and “upset” after spending five years reviving the building’s popularity only for part of the building to be closed.

Member of the Rochester Civic Society, Stuart Froment, attended the meeting reading out an open letter to the council, raising concerns the “elegant staircase” will be lost to the public if sold privately.

He also added his fears the loss of the Conservancy building will damage the “vibrancy of Rochester High Street”.

More than 850 people have signed a petition to retain the Dickens display and its educational facilities.

"The museum is a very successful tourist attraction, at the worst figures it attracts 97,000 visitors per annum" - Richard Moss

However ward councillor Cllr Stuart Tranter (Cons) told the committee how the money from the sale will be ring-fenced to ensure the heritage of the Medway towns will be protected.

He said: “One of the reasons why I wanted to become a councillor is I love Rochester and I care very deeply about its future.

“A huge part of that is its heritage buildings.

“Anything this council proposes, which is to the detriment overall to Rochester and its heritage and its future, will not have my support.

“Sale of assets without the value staying in Rochester, I will fight tooth and nail against.”

However Labour councillors say they “called-in” the issue to the meeting due to a lack of information and scrutiny as the decision to close the building was made by the Conservative-led cabinet.

Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab) called into question an email Cllr Tranter sent to both of their constituents assuring residents he can “explain more about this later”.

Cllr Paterson said: “I don’t want an explanation later or a promise of an explanation later. If Cllr Tranter is in possession of those facts and he is privy to discussions, let’s hear it.

“I think it is unacceptable to hold those discussions behind closed doors.”

Vice-chairman of the committee Cllr Mark Joy (Cons) asked for council officers to provide further details of the purchase in the next meeting on October 25.