The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 |
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Susannah Rice |
Rice, Susannah. Infirm. Living with John Blackstone at High Gate. Widow. Age 78 next birthday. Husband John is dead. We went about 43 years ago [and] took a house and 4 acres on the Forest (no name) belonging to Plaw Hatch, Mr. Blunt's property, opposite Leggs Heath. Lived there 10 years. Turned out our cows and sheep and cut brakes and litter and `scrub' (underwood) for the fuel all the time and paid nothing. Also turf for fuel. Used to buy straw for thatching or take rushes from the gills on the Forest. Then we moved to a house and 6 acres called the `Goat', formerly a beer house. This was on the Twyford estate. Lived there 27 years. Always turned out stock and sheep and cut brakes myself and my husband cut litter and underwood for fuel and turf. Never were interfered with [and] never paid anything. Never turned any pigs out because they would stray too far. Never saw a goat on the Forest except one belonging to Plaw Hatch. Never had stakes and binders. |
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