The Rufus Stone

The Rufus Stone is one of the New Forests most ancient monuments, as well as a reminder of the origins of the Forest itself. The stone, which is clad in iron, marks the supposed spot of King William II (or King William Rufus as he was also know) death.

During a hunting trip on the 2nd August 1100 William and his men were in pursuit of a stag when he and Sir Walter Tyrell, the Kings best archer, became separated from the group. When the King and Sir Tyrell came upon the stag Sir Tyrell shot an arrow after it, unfortunately though the arrow hit an oak tree and ricocheted off straight into the chest of the King were the arrow killed him almost instantly. Sir Walter Tyrell then understandably fled to France fearing he would be charged with murder. Allegedly, along the way Tyrell stopped at a black smith and had his horse shod with backward facing horseshoes in order to confuse those after him.

King William's body remained undiscovered until the following morning when a group of local discovered him on the forest floor with an arrow in his chest. The nobles had abandoned him fearing that the death of the King would lead to a claps of law and order so fearing for their own estates they fled. It was then left to a local peasant to take the Kings body to Winchester Cathedral for burial, or so legend has it.

There is another version of events however. The alternate telling of the story says that sir Walter Tyrell deliberately murder the King who was disliked by his own court, his people and the church and was regarded as a ruthless tyrant. Norman ambition and the general dislike of Rufus make a strong and compelling conspiracy theory, though after hundreds of year and the only two witnesses' long dead, it is perhaps a story where we will never know the truth.

Although the oak tree that played such a pivotal role in the death of a King no longer stands, a mature oak believed to be a direct descendant stands in its place.

After visiting the stone why not head to the near by Sir Walter Tyrell pub where you can muse over a drink whether it was an accident or not and whether the pubs namesake was a murderer, a liberator or just a very unfortunate man.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Knightwood Lodge New Forest Hotel offering New Forest Holiday Accommodation for your next UK getaway.

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