Aylesford is a town as well as civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, 4 miles NW of Maidstone in England. Initially a little waterfront negotiation, the old town consists of around 60 homes, much of which were previously shops. 2 bars, a village shop and other amenities including a hairdresser, estate representative, two dining establishments, a chiropodist as well as a cafe are located on the high street. Aylesford's current population is about 5,000. The Church of Aylesford covers more than seven square miles, stretching north to Rochester Airport estate as well as southern to Barming, and has an overall population of over 10,000 (as of 2011), with the primary settlements at Aylesford, Eccles, Blue Bell Hill Town as well as (part of) Walderslade. Aylesford Newsprint was a long-standing significant employer in the area and was the largest paper recycling factory in Europe, manufacturing newspaper for the paper market. In 2015, Aylesford Paper Mill, as it was recognized by local citizens, was shut down and also removed of all its possessions. Several regional families that had been employed there, in some cases for a number of generations, were affected.