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.
