Cowplain: a Hampshire village shaped by the road north of Portsmouth

Cowplain is a village in Hampshire, north of Waterlooville and within the wider Havant area. The modern settlement grew in the 19th century at the edge of the former Forest of Bere, and its name is generally linked to the Spotted Cow inn that stood on the old London to Portsmouth road. Over time it developed into a substantial roadside village, closely tied to Waterlooville and the south Hampshire corridor.
Population: 9,353 inhabitants (2011 census, ward).
Distance: immediately north of Waterlooville and about 8 miles north-east of Portsmouth.
Traditions and culture: Cowplain's identity is closely linked to its schools, local shops and the wooded landscape around Queen's Inclosure and Park Woods.
Highlights: Queen's Inclosure, local woodland walks, the village centre along the old A3 route, and easy access to the South Downs and Portsmouth area.