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:

Thomas Osborn aged 53 farms Fairwarp Farm in Maresfield containing about 30 acres for 11 years. Before that farmed Whitehouse about 33 acres under Lady Shelley for 9 years. Owns house and 4 acres at Duddleswell, copyhold of Duddleswell Manor, quarterly rent 6d., and bought it about 18 months ago. Never had any stone off the Forest. Always understood that the Lord of the manor was entitled to charge 6d. a load for stone etc., off the Forest. Has had turf and litter for all 3 places without paying anything. Has never had any gravel, marl or wood.

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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:

Osborn, Thomas. 56. Born on Clapwater Farm, Fletching. My grandfather used Woodcock Farm under Sir Thomas Wilson and when I first remember he used to turn his stock from Woodcock on to the Forest and used regularly to have litter and turn from the Forest. I used to go out with the teams on to the Forest for a ride when I was a child and when I was big enough I went as carter boy and afterwards as mate with my grandfather Osborn's horses.

My grandfather died at Woodcocks when I was 19 and the following summer I went to work for old Mr. Harry Card at Fords Green on a farm of about 30 acres which he owns. I was 6 months with him and then I went to live at Alchorn's Farm, about 60 acres, in Fletching and Maresfield (Shelley property) which my maternal grandfather Gibbons and afterwards my Father and afterwards my uncle George Horn farmed and I remained there till 23 years ago when I took Whitehouse Farm at Duddleswell belonging to Lady Shelley which I farmed 9 years. Then I took Fairwarp Farm for 14 years till last Michaelmas when I removed back to Whitehouse Farm. After my grandfather Osborn died Sir Thomas Wilson and after him Sir Spencer have used Woodcocks Farm themselves.

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