Tovil

{{Infobox UK place

|country = England

|static_image= Tovil0129.JPG

|static_image_width= 250px

|static_image_caption = The Royal Paper Mill on Tovil Hill

|official_name= Tovil

|coordinates = {{coord|51.2642|0.5096|display=inline,title}}

|population= 3,542

|population_ref = (2011 Census){{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11129799&c=Tovil&d=16&e=62&g=6437810&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1474106194484&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=17 September 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics|archive-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020211441/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11129799&c=Tovil&d=16&e=62&g=6437810&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1474106194484&enc=1|url-status=live}}

|shire_district= Maidstone

|shire_county= Kent

|region= South East England

|constituency_westminster= Maidstone and Malling{{cite web|title= Location of Maidstone and Malling |url= https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4164/location |website=parliament.uk|access-date=24 February 2025}}

|post_town= MAIDSTONE

|postcode_district = ME15

|postcode_area= ME

|dial_code= 01622

|os_grid_reference=

|london_distance={{Convert|33|mi|km|0}} NW

|website= [https://tovilparishcouncil.co.uk/ Tovil Parish Council]

}}

Tovil is a civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone, in Kent in the South East of England. It is a mixture of residential and industrial zoning, with an increase in commercial usage towards the centre of Maidstone, and more arable use on the outskirts.

History

Tovil is mentioned in the Cecil Papers with the leasing of a tenement at Tovil to Thomas Peene, commencing at Michaelmas, 1628.{{cite web |title=Cecil Papers: 1615-1619 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol24/pp231-237 |website=British History Online |access-date=29 April 2024 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828155010/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-cecil-papers/vol24/pp231-237 |url-status=live }}

Tovil has a history of paper mills on the Loose Stream near the River Medway, the last of which ceased operation in the 1980s. These included Great Ivy Mill, Hayle Mill, Upper Tovil Mill, Lower Tovil Mill and Bridge Mill. These and other mills located along the Loose Stream which flows through Tovil were formerly used for fulling, corn and in one case gunpowder. The Tovil Bridge connects Tovil to Barming over the Loose Stream and the Medway.

The church of St Stephen was built in around 1840. The architect was John Whichcord Snr. It was built of ragstone ashlar in the Early English style{{Cite web|website=Images of England|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=173278|title=Church of St Stephen, Church Road (north side)|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021036/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=173278|archivedate=9 January 2017}} but demolished in about 1990.

Alabaster Passmore had an important printing works in Tovil and there were other small industries and a railway siding.

Modern Tovil

Many of the industrial units have since been replaced by housing. Loudspeaker manufacturer KEF is based on Eccleston Road. Goachers microbrewery is also based there.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters is based in Tovil on Straw Mill Hill.

Governance

Tovil is in the South ward of Maidstone Borough Council, represented as of 2025 by two Liberal Democrat councillors.{{cite web|url=https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/council-and-democracy/primary-areas/your-councillors?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbWVldGluZ3MubWFpZHN0b25lLmdvdi51ayUyRm1nTWVtYmVySW5kZXguYXNweCUzRkZOJTNEV0FSRCUyNlZXJTNETElTVCUyNlBJQyUzRDAmYWxsPTE%3D |title=Your Councillors by Ward |website=Maidstone Borough Council |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610071429/https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/council-and-democracy/primary-areas/your-councillors?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbWVldGluZ3MubWFpZHN0b25lLmdvdi51ayUyRm1nTWVtYmVySW5kZXguYXNweCUzRkZOJTNEV0FSRCUyNlZXJTNETElTVCUyNlBJQyUzRDAmYWxsPTE%3D |archive-date=10 June 2024}} It is in the Maidstone South division of Kent County Council, represented as of 2025 by one Conservative councillor.{{cite web|title=Paul Cooper |url= https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=28949 |website=Kent County Council |access-date=24 February 2025}} The local MP is the Conservative, Helen Grant.{{cite web|title=Helen Grant |url= https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4164/overview |website=parliament.uk|access-date=24 February 2025}}

References

Category:Civil parishes in Kent