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 and at that time my grandfather used to have litter, turf and peat off the Forest and continued to do so till his death. His son had litter and turf till his death 8 years ago. The[y] both turned out on the Forest. As a child, before I was old enough to get about from home, I used to fetch the turf and peat indoors from the lodge for my grandmother to put on the fire and when I was a little older I used to go along with my grandfather and his team on to the Forest to help load both litter and turf till I was married. I used to have to go up there at 2 in the morning loading turf. And after I was married, down to the death of the last Diplock I was constantly across at the farm and saw litter and turf used there constantly and know it came from the Forest. I never heard of my grandfather or uncle being interfered with or interrupted in cutting litter turf or peat or turning out except that when I was a youth my grandfather told me he was the first to break into the bounds (reserved under resolutions of 1816) and cut turf and the Reeve of the Forest took his name down and said he would be prosecuted, but he cut notwithstanding and never heard anything more about it. I used to have to tend the cattle on the Forest for my grandfather for days at a time when they were first turned out until they got used to it and I used to have to hunt them up in the morning. Terribly lonely work it was.

I know the house and land adjoining Piltdown Common and Barkham Farm. When I was a boy Franks used it and after him Henry Smith and then James Mepham who still uses it. I know that Franks and Smith both had litter from the Forest regularly. Their teams used to bring it home past where I live. (Note. The Pond Farm about 15 acres joins Piltdown opposite the pond and lies at the able of the road to Newick and the road by Piltdown to Barcombe. Behind it adjoining the road to Barcombe and the land leading to Barkham and and adjoining up to Piltdown lies the above mentioned farm occupied by Mepham. Morris' farm and copyhold adjoining next to Mepham's and on both sides the road leading off Piltdown to Barcombe.)