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:

Rose, William. Langridge Farm, West Hoathly. Farmer, born 27 July 1814 at West Hoathly or Horsted Keynes. Father used Riceland Farm belonging to the Nairns and I was born there. I have heard my Father say he came there in 1802. He farmed it till he died about 30 years ago. I always lived and worked with him till his death except for 3 or 4 years when I was 20 and went into Kent. When he died I carried on the Farm till about 1864 when I gave it up and came to my present farm. He also had an adjoining farm called Allgates till I was probably 15 years old. As far back as I can remember anything, that is from the time I was 4 or 5 years old, my Father used to turn out bullocks (only) on the Forest, not every year, but most years. He used to say Allgates had rights on the Forest. He never said Riceland had or had not. He continued turning out after he gave up Allgates til his death and I turned out bullocks after his death.

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