The Rufus Stone
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The Rufus Stone is an iron clad stone located close to the village of Minstead. It is said that it was placed to mark the spot where William Rufus, the third son of William the Conqueror, was shot and killed in a hunting accident on the 2nd August 1100 AD.
William Rufus was King William II, known as Rufus for his red hair and ruddy complexion. He was an unpopular king with his subjects due to the way that he treated them & he alienated many of his noblemen. It is said that the residents of the New Forest must have hated and feared him.
Much speculation has taken place amongst historians over what happened, but the most commonly accepted version of the story is that William Rufus found himself alone with Sir Walter Tyrrell, they both spotted a stag, Sir Walter fired an arrow which deflected from a tree trunk and struck the king in the chest, killing him instantly.
The original stone was erected in 1745 by John Lord Delaware, although it was replaced in 1841 by the stone which stands today. The original oak tree is also long gone but there is one close-by, perhaps a descendant.
The location of the Rufus Stone is an ideal base for walking with open forest woodland walks and lush green fields. There is a convenient car park just across the road which makes it accessible for all to enjoy.
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