During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Wood, James. 72. The Star Inn Piltdown. Innkeeper. (A very active and intelligent man and will make a good witness.) I was born at Malling Down Farm in Fletching. My grandfather Thomas Diplock owned and farmed it. It now belongs to Sir S. M. Wilson. I lived there till I was 24. I then married and took the Star Inn close by where I have lived ever since. My grandfather carried on Malling Down Farm till his death 44 years ago. Then his son Thomas Diplock carried it on till he died 8 years ago and about a year [ago] his son Thomas Diplock sold it to Sir Spencer Wilson who then let it to Mr. John Fleet, the present tenant. I can remember back over 60 years.

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