Aylesford
Aylesford is a village and civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, England, 4 miles (6 km) northwest of Maidstone.
| Aylesford | |
|---|---|
Medieval bridge over the River Medway at Aylesford | |
Aylesford Location within Kent | |
| Population | 10,660 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TQ729589 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region |
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| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | AYLESFORD |
| Postcode district | ME20 |
| Dialling code | 01622 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Originally a small riverside settlement, the old village comprises around 60 houses, many of which were formerly shops. Two pubs, a village shop and other amenities are located on the high street. Aylesford's current population is around 5,000.
The Parish of Aylesford covers more than seven square miles (18 km2), stretching north to Rochester Airport estate and south to Barming, and has a total population of over 10,000 (as of 2011), with the main settlements at Aylesford, Eccles, Blue Bell Hill and (part of) Walderslade.
Aylesford Newsprint was a long-established major employer in the area and was the largest paper recycling factory in Europe, manufacturing newsprint for the newspaper industry. In 2015, Aylesford Paper Mill, as it was known by local residents, was closed down and stripped of all its assets.