JAN25: Fritham - Rufus Stone Circular

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Fritham is a hamlet in the northern New Forest which is tiny in extent but big in impression. From a mention in the Domesday Book, through its acquisition of a pub (The Royal Oak; one of the oldest in the New Forest and dating to the 17th century), to its name being given to a minesweeper (HMS Fritham), it has acquired a significance disproportionate to its size. But that's easy to understand, as its seclusion and beauty attract many people (but not the hordes who descend on its counterparts in the southern Forest). This walk (click the link to see it at the Ordnance Survey website) sets out to explore the plains and inclosures south and east of the village. 

These include Ocknell, which was used in World War II for the Stoney Cross air base (the concrete runways and turning points for the planes can still be seen, including on the map), to the plains of Fritham itself. While the plains are heathland with heather and gorse still providing colour, the inclosures are thickets of woodland, generally ancient wood, some recent pine plantation and very recent birch. Inclosures include Kings Garn Gutter, Holly Hatch and Sloden. 

Like Fritham, which is at least lovely, the Rufus Stone seems to feature in people's imaginings of the forest to an extent that belies its significance (perhaps that's due to the Rufus Stone Services on the signs on the A31). At least aesthetic significance, because the short triangular pillar to the east of Ocknell records an event of great historical importance. 

King William II (lecher and blasphemer, nicknamed 'Rufus' owing to his red hair or ruddy complexion, and third son of the Conqueror) went hunting in the Forest on the 2nd August 1100. He was killed by an arrow through the lung, but whether this was by accident or by design and by whom, historians disagree. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle noted that the king was "shot by an arrow by one of his own men." Later chroniclers added the name of the killer, a nobleman named Walter Tirel, and events continued to be embroidered.

The Rufus Stone is claimed to mark the spot where William fell. The claim that this is the location of his death appears to date from no earlier than a visit by Charles II to the forest in the 1670s. At the time the most popular account of William's death involved the fatal arrow deflecting off a tree. Letters in The Gentleman's Magazine reported that the tree was cut down and burned during the 18th century. Later in that century the Rufus Stone was set up. Originally it was around 5 feet 10 inches tall with a stone ball on top. King George III visited the stone in 1789, and an inscription was added to the stone to commemorate the visit. It was protected with a cast iron cover after repeated vandalism.

The inscription reads:

Here stood the Oak Tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell at a Stag, glanced and struck King William the second, surnamed Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second day of August, anno 1100.

That the spot where an Event so Memorable might not hereafter be forgotten; the enclosed stone was set up by John Lord Delaware who had seen the Tree growing in this place. This Stone having been much mutilated, and the inscriptions on each of its three sides defaced, this more Durable Memorial, with the original inscriptions, was erected in the year 1841, by Wm [William] Sturges Bourne Warden.

King William the second, surnamed Rufus being slain, as before related, was laid in a cart, belonging to one Purkis, and drawn from hence, to Winchester, and buried in the Cathedral Church, of that City.

Dogs are welcome to join us on this event but we do ask the following: Please ensure you adhere to the Countryside Code at all times (see Keeping Dogs Under Effective Control) If your dog is uncontrolled and strays in open land frightening other animals or livestock, the leader is supported by the OutdoorLads board of trustees to ask you to leave the event as this is not acceptable behaviour.

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