During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Thorp, Henry. Living at Killick's Cottage, New Bridge. Labourer aged 92. Born at Nutley. At 14 years old I went as carter boy for a year under a Mr. Diplock, tenant of Broadstone Farm and Warren. I then went for a year as carter boy to Mr. Gilbert at Barkham Farm, belonging to a Sir J. Wilson. Then I went vie a year as odd boy to Broomlye Farm under Mr. Snashall. Then went back to Mr. Gilbert at Barkham Farm for 1/2 a year. I was then too big for carter boy and too small for a man. I then went to Mr. Carmanah at Homesdell's Farm belonging to Lord Sheffield about 1/2 a year. Then I went to Allchins Farm under Mr. Humphrey (now used by Mr. Turner at Nutley, belonging to Lady Shelley) for about 1/2 a year. Then back to Homesdell Farm for 1/2 a year, then went with a team under Mr. [?] at Spring Farm belonging to Lord Sheffield. I married at about 21 and after about 1 year I went to Old Lodge near Pippingford and worked there about 6 years.

Then went to Sir Thomas Wilson at Fletching 3 years, then went to Beacon Farm beyond Maskett under Elliott about 2 years, then to Admiral Henniker's at Ashdown Park and after his death to Mrs Henniker for 37 years. Soon after that I came to New Bridge 20 years last April.

My father worked at Masketts Farm in Maresfield under a Mr. Anthony Wheeler for 28 years. When I was a child he was there, he used to cut litter on the Forest for the farm. From 6 or 7 years of age I used to go with him for the day when he was cutting on the Forest. No one ever interfered with us.

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