The Ghost at the Rufus Stone

The Rufus Stone marks the spot where King William II (William Rufus) was killed by an arrow on August 2, 1100. Whether his death was an accident or assassination has never been determined. His ghost is said to haunt the spot where he fell.

The Death

William Rufus was hunting in the New Forest when an arrow struck him in the chest. The shooter was identified as Walter Tirel, a French nobleman. Tirel fled to France; William’s body was abandoned by his companions. His brother Henry rode to Winchester to seize the treasury and crown.

The Stone

A stone was placed at the traditional site of William’s death in 1745, with an inscription describing the event. The present iron monument dates from 1841. The exact location of the death is uncertain, as is almost everything about the circumstances.

The Apparition

Visitors to the Rufus Stone have reported seeing a figure in medieval dress, sometimes on horseback, near the monument. The figure appears briefly before vanishing. Some describe a look of shock or pain on his face.

The Huntsman

A spectral huntsman has been reported in the surrounding forest, galloping through the trees as if pursuing prey. Whether this is William Rufus or one of his companions, forever continuing the fatal hunt, is unknown.

The Anniversary

August 2nd is considered a particularly active time at the Rufus Stone. On the anniversary of the death, unexplained phenomena are reported more frequently. Some visitors have reported hearing sounds of hunting: horns, hooves, and hounds.

Assessment

The Rufus Stone marks a moment of historical mystery. The unsolved nature of William’s death, combined with nearly a millennium of visitors contemplating the spot, has created conditions favorable to supernatural experience.