Rowland's Castle is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) north of Havant, on the Hampshire/West Sussex border. The focal point of the village is the village green which is shaped somewhat like a lung. Surrounded by roads it is about long and about wide at its eastern end while tapering to almost a point at the western end near the railway arch. The village takes its name from a motte-and-bailey castle, the remains of which are situated to the south of Redhill Road and west of the railway line, east of the current centre of the village. History Evidence the Romans made pottery, brick and tiles in the Rowland's Castle vicinity has been uncovered, and this would have been aided due to the availability of suitable clay. The castle was built at some time between 1066 and 1199 and is first documented under the name ROLOKECASTEL in 1381. It was in good repair in the twelfth century, when Henry II spent several days there in hunting and amusement, but was abandoned by the 15th century. The site was damaged by the railway and quarrying in the 19th century, and now only the earthworks and a few small areas of wall remain. Governance Rowland's Castle is a ward and a parish council area within the East Hampshire local government district. It is also part of the East Hampshire UK Parliament constituency. Geography The village lies in the area of the former Forest of Bere on the eastern boundary of Hampshire. To the east in the parish of Stoughton is Stansted Park. Rowland's Castle lies on the northern edge of the Neogene deposits of the Hampshire Basin. The north of the village lies on the chalk of the southern South Downs. In the south is the Reading Formation which gave rise to the former local brick industry. Economy It is largely a quiet residential village, with four pubs and a few small shops, including a hardware store and a local convenience store. Culture and community Rowlands Castle Association The Rowlands Castle Association has its own website at https://www.rowlandscastle.com. Rowlands Castle Heritage Centre A model railway depicting the village during the war has been created and is on display at nearby Stansted House. Transport Rowland's Castle is served by Rowlands Castle railway station on the Portsmouth Direct Line between London