Rowland's Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rowland's Castle |
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 Rowland's Castle Green |
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 Rowland's Castle
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| Population | 2,770 2,747 (2011 Census including Idsworth) |
| OS grid reference | SU733106 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROWLANDS CASTLE |
| Postcode district | PO9 |
| Dialling code | 023 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Rowland's Castle is a village in Hampshire, England. It is about 3 miles (4.7 km) north of Havant. The village is close to the border of Hampshire and West Sussex.
The heart of the village is its green space. This green is shaped a bit like a lung. It is surrounded by roads and is about 250 yards (228 meters) long. The green is wider at one end and gets narrower at the other.
The village gets its name from an old castle. This castle was a type called a motte-and-bailey castle. Its remains are found south of Redhill Road, near the railway line.
Contents
History of Rowland's Castle
People have found proof that Romans made pottery and bricks here. This was easy because there was a lot of good clay. The castle was built sometime between 1066 and 1189. It was first written about in 1381 as "ROLOKECASTEL".
The castle was in good shape in the 1100s. King Henry II even spent time there for hunting. But by the 1400s, people stopped using it. The railway and quarrying damaged the site in the 1800s. Today, only earth mounds and small parts of walls remain.
How Rowland's Castle is Governed
Rowland's Castle is a local area with its own council. This council helps manage local services. It is part of the East Hampshire area. The village is also part of the East Hampshire area for the UK Parliament. This means people here vote for a Member of Parliament.
Geography of the Village
The village is located in an area that was once the Forest of Bere. It sits on the eastern edge of Hampshire. To the east, in Stoughton parish, is Stansted Park.
Rowland's Castle is on the northern edge of the Hampshire Basin. The northern part of the village is on the chalk of the South Downs. In the south, there is a type of clay called the Reading Formation. This clay helped the local brick-making industry in the past.
Village Facilities and Shops
Rowland's Castle is mostly a quiet place to live. It has two pubs and a few small shops. These include a hardware store and a local convenience store.
There is also a model railway that shows the village during wartime. You can see this model at nearby Stansted House.
Transport Links
Rowland's Castle has its own Rowlands Castle railway station. Trains run between London Waterloo and Portsmouth. These trains are usually hourly and are run by South Western Railway.
There is also a bus route that runs every two hours. It goes through Leigh Park, Havant, and Denvilles to Emsworth.
Several long walking paths cross the village. These include the Monarch's Way and the Sussex Border Path. National Cycle Route 22 also passes by the village green. It runs from Havant to Petersfield.
Religious Sites
St John the Baptist Church
The Church of England church, St John the Baptist, is west of the village center. It has a special stained-glass window. This window shows the Crucifixion and was made by Francis Austin.
Church on the Green
The Church on the Green is a United Reformed Church. It stands out at the west end of the village green.
St. Hubert's Chapel
St Hubert's chapel is in the far north of the village area, in Idsworth. It was built in 1053. It was first named after St. Peter and St. Paul. This chapel is a Grade I listed building, meaning it is very important.
The chapel has old paintings from around 1300. These include paintings of St Peter, St Paul, and two angels near the altar window. On the north wall, there are paintings of St. Hubert and St John the Baptist. The entrance area has an old stone font. Above it is a gallery with the church organ.
Sports and Leisure Activities
The village has an 18-hole golf course. The golf club started in 1902 with a 9-hole course.
In 1994, Stage 5 of the Tour de France bike race came through Rowland's Castle. This event brought many people and a fun, carnival-like mood to the village.
Notable People from Rowland's Castle
Herbie Armstrong, a guitarist who played with Van Morrison, once ran The Fountain Inn. This pub is in the village center, next to the green. His weekly music nights drew many fans. Sometimes, famous musicians like Mick Hucknall would even join in.
Chris Wilkinson, a former top British tennis player, is still active in tennis. He plays at local, county, and national levels.
Gallery
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The Church on the Green
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Parish Hall
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The Fountain (live music venue)
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Bowes Hill Junction
See also
In Spanish: Rowlands Castle para niños
