The contents of a converted garage in Chatham which regularly played host to rock legends are expected to fetch thousands when they go up for auction.

It was the workshop of one of the country's premier guitar-makers, the late Tony Zemaitis, and was visited regularly by superstars such as George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Pete Townsend, Bobby Womack and Tony Visconti, David Bowie’s producer.

While Zemaitis shunned the limelight, his distinctive guitars have been used by some of the biggest names in the music world and continue to be much sought-after by collectors and musicians alike.

Among the lots from Zemaitis’s workshop are documents, books, tools, his workbench, memorabilia and wall panels covered with photographs and designs.

Auctioners believe items could fetch between £20,000 and £30,000. Letters from George Harrison and even one of Harrison’s own sketches for a guitar are some of the memorabilia expected to attract heavy bidding.

Born in Tottenham of Lithuanian descent, Zemaitis was originally a cabinet maker who used his skills to craft some of the most iconic acoustic and electric guitars ever created.

In 1969, he built an oversize 12-string acoustic guitar for Eric Clapton called Ivan the Terrible, reputed to be the biggest of its kind in the world.

His instruments have been played on stage by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mike Oldfield, Donovan and Bob Dylan among others. He died in 2002.

Auctioneer Luke Hobbs said: "This is a unique sale and we’re estimating the items could fetch in the region of £20,000–£30,000.

"Tony’s workshop is virtually a shrine for guitar fans. Tucked away in this quiet, suburban street, he produced some of the finest guitars this country has ever seen.

"I’m surprised the council hasn’t put up a blue plaque on it. Some of the most famous rock stars in the world visited Tony there."

Zemaitis developed an ornate engraved metal shield and also pearl inlays for the front of his electric guitars.

Both made them very desirable for on-stage use. Steve Hackett, formerly guitarist with Genesis, said Zemaitis guitars were "works of art".

"I might come home from school to find Bobby Womack in the workshop, or George Harrison would arrive unexpectedly in his Porsche 944..."

The guitar maker's son, Tony Zemaitis Jr, said: "We’re incredibly proud of what dad achieved and don’t want the contents of his workshop, which has remained untouched since his death, to just disappear.

"The auction is a way for people who loved dad’s work to have something of his."

Commenting on his father’s famous visitors, he added: "I might come home from school to find Bobby Womack in the workshop, or George Harrison would arrive unexpectedly in his Porsche 944 then compare notes with dad, who had the same model car.

"At other times, I’d find various rock stars in the kitchen enjoying mum’s homemade pizzas.

"Our neighbours had no idea who was visiting."

Harrison famously asked Zemaitis to build a guitar large enough for John Lennon to climb into and play from the inside. Zemaitis declined.

Limiting his production to maintain quality, the high demand for Zemaitis guitars in the 1990s led to his instruments changing hands for £20,000 each on the second-hand market and the manufacture of fakes.

The original 1975 promotional film for Greg Lake’s I Believe in Father Christmas features Lake playing a Zemaitis acoustic guitar.

The auction will take place at Gardiner Houlgate, in Corsham, Wiltshire, on Thursday, December 8.

Contents of Tony Zemaitis’ workshop will be available for public viewing between December 5-7 from 9am to 5.30pm and on the day of the sale itself.

For more information, email auctions@gardinerhoulgate.co.uk.