The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 |
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George Tester (continued) |
I know Wall Hill Farm. First tenant Thomas Martin, afterwards Borrer, afterwards his sons George and Henry, afterwards Charman. Afterwards Captain Bartelot bought it and Henley had the farm. I have seen Martin, the Borrers and Charman taking litter from the Forest. I have seen Charman loading it by the quarry. Martin used to turn out a great deal of stock. George and Henry Boner also turned out. I know Tablehurst, it also belonged to Lord Colchester. First tenant old Heaver who died soon after I came to this side of the Forest and afterwards Ned Heaver [and] afterwards Robert Turner. I have seen Ned Heaver loading 2 teams with litter on the Forest at a time. He could not get enough. He kept a deal of stock. He is dead. He told me he had as many as 60 load of a winter. He turned out a good deal of young stock to run all the summer. I have seen Robert Turner loading litter but he never had half as much as Heaver. All the people about the Forest that wanted litter have always had it as long as I remember the Forest. I knew Colonel Moor's property. I knew several of the old tenants. First Neale, then a dark man who had a negress servant, afterwards Edgar. I knew he had litter. He sold to Colonel Moor. I have seen the Colonel's team loading many a time at Tompsetts Bank. The two Heasman twins used to cut for him. I remember Augustus Elliott Fuller of Ashdown House, then called Lavertye. He used to keep a small pack of harriers and used to hunt over the Forest. I have seen him several times. I know the Priory now belonging to Mr. Birch. It was formerly called Clay Pits Farm. The first occupier I remember was a widow named Collett, when I was in Kidbrooke garden. I have seen her wagon taking in litter from the Forest. After her death her son Jerry did the same many a time. His team used to do what carrying was wanted at Kidbrooke. After him Mr. Wright of Brambletye bought it. Betchley was his bailiff. He had a beautiful team of strawberry coloured horses which Betchley let down. I have seen them several times on the Forest carrying litter. After him Mr. Finch bought the property and built the present house. I have seen Finch's team on the Forest carrying litter. He sold to the present owner Mr. Birch. Mrs Collett and Jerry turned out young stock on the Forest. I knew Burnt House Farm close to Kidbrooke. It changed tenants a good deal. I remember Isted the butcher of Forest Row (now dead) had it for several years and was followed by Payne. I have seen Isted taking many a load of litter down the lane to the farm. Isted used to turn his stock out the Forest. I have seen him driving them out. Payne never kept anything beyond one or two little calves. When I went to live at Mrs Rowland's Warren, the brickyard at Chuckhatch was in existence. At that time old Harry Mitchell carried it on for Lord Whitworth. I knew him very well. |
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