10.10.1879

Underwood, John. 74. Living at Glen View, East Grinstead. Born 1 January 1805 at Ashurst Wood, East Grinstead. Baptised at East Grinstead.

I have heard my Father say that when I was 1 1/2 years old he bought the land now belonging to Mr. Slack at Tompsetts Bank, Forest Row, from a Mr. Prentice and we moved there. (This is apparently an enclosure not entitled to Common.) When I was 9 or 10 I went to school for 2 years to Sackville College to and fro every day. After that I worked about our place at home and cut litter for ourselves. My Father cut the litter on the Forest and I recollect from the time soon after I left school he cut litter for about 12 years for Mr. Cranston of East Court Farm, East Grinstead. I helped cut and load. After my Father's death the property came to me and I continued to live there till 1870 when I sold it to Mr. Slack the present occupier. From the time I left school I cut litter every year on the Forest without missing one year and used it on our land till I left and we constantly turned out two cows and at times a heifer or two and a horse. We had a little peat and turf for firing every year dug generally at Stone Bridge between Kidbrooke Farm and Warren.

I remember Edward Heaver and Robert Turner, successive tenants of Tablehurst and Pigstyes Farms and the Tablehurst Mill. My Father used to get his corn, etc. ground at the mill and I continued to do the same till I left. I remember for many years seeing the teams of both come out on the Forest for litter because it was considered that both these farms had rights. Heaver would have 20 or 30 loads a year.

I remember Borrer who used Wall Hill Farm used to have a few loads of litter of a year. I used to see his team. Charman came after but I do not remember what he did. I have seen Henley (his successor) team carrying home Forest litter. I could distinguish forest litter.

I remember Thomas Waghorn who rented a little farm opposite Kidbrooke which belonged to Dr. Collins and afterwards to Dr. White. I used to see his cart taking home litter from the forest.

For 7 years previous to my leaving Tompsetts Bank I hired a farm of 22 acres from Mr. Couchman. It lies on the edge of the forest adjoining Stonehouse. I cut litter on the forest and carried it every year and turned out my stock from it every year.