Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 13th February 2014 Kings Garn Gutter Inclosure Rob Rob, Peter, Ray 7.2 mile Sir Walter Tyrrell Sir Walter Tyrrell ★★ |
This turned out to be an excellent decision Wednesday was one of the worst days we had had recently with loads of rain and strong winds. Thursday was bright and sunny apart from one very short shower.
We parked at the pub where we were befriended by a dog that wanted to play "fetch the stick". Luckily he did not try to follow us as we started walking along the roadside and up the slope past the Rufus Stone memorial. The original stone was actually replaced by a cast iron monument in 1841 and this has copies of the original wording which you can read below.
The first part of the cycle track was surprisingly poor but it improved for a while before we reached a section that was being trenched to lay a new water main. This work continued along the road until we turned off at Janesmoor Pond. A strange find by the road was a small collection of apples and oranges which looked in good condition. Not knowing their providence we resisted any desire to try them!
We found a conveniently blown over tree, one of many, for our coffee break just before leaving Kings Garn Gutter Inclosure and crossing into Coppice of Linwood. The ground seemed quite reasonable here so we had left the cycle track and made a short diversion into the unknown.
There were quite a few places where there was a lot of water flowing across the paths and down the narrow streams. There was however nothing difficult until we reached Coalmeer Gutter. This was quite deep and the only way to reach the other side was to use one or more of the trees that had fallen across the river. This was an interesting experience particularly when having all arrived safely at the far side we realised Rob's map had been left behind! It was recovered safely by the youngest walker.
The pub was not very busy. It was lovely and warm and we had a very good meal of sausage, mash, onion gravy, chips and four different vegetables for £8.95. There was also a plentiful supply of tea for under £5.
Here stood the oak tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrrell at a Stag, glanced and struck King Williamthe second, Surnamed Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second day of August, Anno 1100. | 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. | 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 Sturges Bourne Warden |