Cowes

Cowes, town in Medina Borough, on the Isle of Wight, southern England. It is located on the northern coast of the island on the Solent (a strait of the English Channel), at the mouth of the River Medina. It is the principal port on the Isle of Wight and owes its origins to its excellent harbour. Cowes grew around fortifications that were first built at the mouth of the river by Henry VIII in 1540. The battlements are now part of the headquarters for the Royal Yacht Squadron, base for the famous yachting and social event, Cowes Week, which takes place each June. The port handles mostly fuel imports; shipbuilding is an old-established industry, and there is a number of companies involved in high-technology marine production (from passenger ferries to hovercraft at East Cowes). Manufacturing is the main industry in the town: Siemens, Plessey, and Westland Aerospace are major employers. Nearby is Osborne House (1846), the former seaside home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (its architect). Population (1991) West Cowes 13,028; East Cowes and Osborne 6,891.