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:

Gorringe, Charles. 54. Living close to Old Land. Born in Buxted. I have been cutting litter on the Forest for 14 or 15 years past for anyone who wanted it. I have cut for Mr. Patmore and Mr. Weinholt at Puxty. Also for Mr. Whitewood at Perryman's Grove for 10 years. Also for Mr. J. Baker Baker for Bebbingford. I have also cut for Shadwell and Chillies, belonging to Mr. Saunders, for Claypits for Mrs Gilbert and for Clifton and Taylor, for Fairwarp, Osborn, for Lady Shelley for the Park Farm [and] for Oldlands - Mr. Patmore and Mr. Nesbitt.

I was cutting on Saturday 1st November on Camp Hill for Mr. Whitewood of Perryman's Farm when Pilbeam, one of Lord De La Warr's lookers, told me not to cut. I told him he had nothing to do with it and that I should be cutting for another couple of months.