An attempt by villagers to have their old National School and associated school master’s house listed has failed. Historic England has rejected the listing application for the building which stands in a prominent position overlooking Bearsted Green, near Maidstone. The Bearsted and Thurnham Society applied for the listing in February 2022 at a time when there were concerns for the future of the building as it had been offered for sale at auction by Kent County Council, the previous owners. In the meantime, however, the new owner has converted the school – which had last seen service as the vil…