Hills, Edmund. Living at Newbridge, Hartfield. Labourer aged 70, 29 April last. Born at Coleman's Hatch, Hartfield. My father William Hills was bailiff of the Holly Hill Estate for Squire Breton and afterwards Colonel Young. When he sold to Mr. Jackson my Father resigned the place on account of age and continued to live at the Hatch till his death about 1843. From the earliest recollection my Father was Bailiff. As soon as I could run about I was about with my Father. When I was 9 years old I milked and looked after the cows and I worked there till I was 14 or 15. I then went to Ashurst Wood 2 years, then to Mr. Henry Isted at Charmers Farm, Hartfield, 2 years, then to Broadstone Farm under Mr. Brooks 2 years, then back to Charmers for a year. Then I returned to Holly Hill for about 10 years, then I went to Pippingford under Mr. Mortimer 26 years and Mr. Gray 1 year, then back to Holly Hill 6 years ago.

I can recollect that when I was milk boy at Holly Hill 62 years ago we regularly had fern and litter from the Forest and my Father used to pay the men for cutting it at our house which was an Inn. Amongst the men who cut for the property was William Hudson (father of witness Charles Hudson), Thomas Wickings, Stephen Jenkins, Edward Mitchell, Samuel Heasman, all of whom are now dead.

We regularly had turf for fuel at our house which was part of the estate and in all the cottages.

We burnt a great deal of it and Mr. Hale has used it for his greenhouse fires and some lies there now. We used heath from the Forest for thatching buildings at Holly Hill, also gravel for filling bottoms of yards and for garden paths. Never paid anything. The Reeve used to demand money but as he would never give a receipt for it we never paid him.

I recollect that Colonel Young, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hale and the tenants of Suntings and Shawhurst and Shepherds have always turned out stock on the Forest until lately.

I do not remember any timber or other wood being taken from the Forest for the cottagers. They used to take marl for manure from the Forest in my Father's time and we have had it in Mr. Hale's time when required.

Mr. Jackson used to have large quantities off the Forest for building stables at Holly Hill and other buildings and for repairs. I have brought a great many loads off the Forest for him. William Wheatley dug it; he is dead. When I lived on the Forest House property my wife always cut faggots on the Forest for fuel and we have done it since we moved on to the Forest. Most cottagers do the same.