Haunted England

Submitted by James Barr(16th September 2007)

The Rufus Stone in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Near Minstead in the New Forest stands the Rufus Stone marking the site where William Rufus, (William II) met his untimely death. On August 2nd 1100 William was part of a hunting party in the New Forest and at one point found himself alone with Sir Walter Tyrrell. It is said an arrow fired by Tyrrell at a stag, glanced off an oak tree and struck Rufus “on the breast of which he instantly died”. Whether the killing was accidental or murder remains a mystery. Tyrrell fled abroad but apparently washed the blood from his hands at a pond in nearby Castle Malwood which subsequently was said to turn red, each year on the anniversary. After the incident the Kings lifeless body was placed onto the cart of a local charcoal burner named Purkiss and transported to Winchester for burial. As the cart moved along the rough country tracks it left a trail of blood which the ghost of Rufus follows each year on the anniversary of his sudden death.

A picture of: The New Forest, Hampshire

Photograph taken with a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D80

This picture also appears in the following picture tours:
The New Forest, Trees & Woodlands, Ancient England, Remembrance, Hampshire

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