Search my many thousands of pubs and London history
Listed as Tovil in 1862; At 42 Church Street in 1881 census
Maidstone pub history index
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Maidstone, Kent .
Residents at this address
1861/George P Smith/Retailer of Beer/44/Tovil, Kent/Census
1861/Elizabeth Smith/Wife/42/City, London/Census
1862/George Philpot Smith/../../../Post Office Directory
1867/John Harding/../../../Post Office Directory
[There is a marriage recorded in Cranbrook in 1873 between a George Drowley and an Eliza Rofe. It would appear that she is daughter, aged 16, of Decimus Rofe of the Kings Head, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook in 1861.]
1874/George Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1881/George Drowley/Licensed Victualler/36/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1881/Eliza Drowley/Wife/36/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1881/Lillie A Drowley/Daughter/5/Maidstone, Kent/Census
1881/Rosa F Drowley/Daughter/4/Maidstone, Kent/Census
1891/Geo Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/George Drowley/Licensed Victualler/46/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1891/Eliza Drowley/Wife/46/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1891/Lillie Anne Drowley/Daughter/15/Maidstone, Kent/Census
1891/Rosa Florence Drowley/Daughter/14/Maidstone, Kent/Census
1891/Hubert Arthur Drowley/Son/7/Tovil, Kent/Census
1892, George Drowley of Tovil, Maidstone Licensed Victualler died 9 March 1892 Probate London 25 March to Eliza Drowley widow. Effects £96 10s 6d.
1901/Eliza Drowley/Licensed Victualler, Widow/56/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1901/Lillie A L Drowley/Daughter, Assistant/25/Tovil, Kent/Census
1901/Rosa Flo Drowley/Daughter, Drapers Assistant/23/Tovil, Kent/Census
1901/Hubert A Drowley/Son, Cabinets Makerss Apprentice/16/Tovil, Kent/Census
1911/Eliza Drowley/Licensed Victualler, Widow/66/Cranbrook, Kent/Census
1911/Rose Drowley/Daughter/33/Tovil, Kent/Census
1911/Hubert Drowley/Son, Cabinet Maker/27/Tovil, Kent/Census
1913/Mrs Eliza Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1918/Mrs Eliza Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1922/Mrs Eliza Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1930/Mrs Eliza Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
1934, Eliza Drowley of the Victory Public house Church street Tovil Maidstone widow died 23 January 1934 Administration London 6 March to Hubert Arthur Drowley Licensed Victuallers manager. Effects £558 14s 1d.
1938/Hubert Arthur Drowley/../../../Post Office Directory
In 1939 electoral register at the Victory Inn, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent are :
Hubert A Drowley, Licensed Victualler, born Nov 26 1883
Lillie A L Harrington, Widowed Unpaid Domestic Duties, born Sep 6 1875
From 1976 to 1981 Thomas Stimson and Heather Stimson were the landlord and landlady at the Victory Inn; and before that was John and Marg and they took over the Fox pub in Hartnup road, Maidstone. *
Tom and Heather Stimson, and one of their sons, went to Spain to live in 1981, and since then they have had 4 more pubs.
Two were in Spain, one in Lincolnshire, the String of Horses in Holbeach and the Cornucopia, in Southand on sea.
They are now retired this year at the age of 89 years old
* Provided by Adam Stimson