| Tovil | |
|---|---|
 The Royal Paper Mill on Tovil Hill | |
  Tovil Location withinKent | |
| Population | 3,542 (2011 Census)[1] |
| • London | 33 miles (53 km)NW |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDSTONE |
| Postcode district | ME15 |
| Dialling code | 01622 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Tovil Parish Council |
| 51°15′51″N0°30′35″E / 51.2642°N 0.5096°E /51.2642; 0.5096 | |
Tovil is acivil parish in theBorough of Maidstone, inKent in the South East ofEngland. 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.
Tovil is mentioned in the Cecil Papers with the leasing of a tenement at Tovil to Thomas Peene, commencing at Michaelmas, 1628.[3]
Tovil has a history ofpaper mills on theLoose Stream near theRiver Medway, the last of which ceased operation in the 1980s. These includedGreat Ivy Mill,Hayle Mill,Upper Tovil Mill,Lower Tovil Mill andBridge 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 toBarming over the Loose Stream and the Medway.
The church of St Stephen was built in around 1840. The architect wasJohn Whichcord Snr. It was built of ragstone ashlar in the Early English style[4] but demolished in about 1990.
Alabaster Passmore had an important printing works in Tovil and there were other small industries and a railway siding.
Many of the industrial units have since been replaced by housing. Loudspeaker manufacturerKEF is based on Eccleston Road.Goachersmicrobrewery is also based there.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters is based in Tovil on Straw Mill Hill.
Tovil is in the South ward ofMaidstone Borough Council, represented as of 2025 by twoLiberal Democrat councillors.[5] It is in the Maidstone South division ofKent County Council, represented as of 2025 by oneReform UK councillor.[6] The local MP is the Conservative,Helen Grant.[7]
