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:

Edwards, Robert. Of Lines Farm, Hartfield. Farmer. 73. Born at Andrews Bank, 14 December 1805.

My father's name was Robert. He died about 1848. He was employed on the Buckhurst Estate as sawyer and woodman for many years and when I was 14 or 15 years old he was appointed Wood Reeve and Bailiff and Reeve of the manors and so continued till his death. He also attended to all the forest work under the Steward. He succeeded one Eves, whom I remember. We lived at Andrews Bank till I was about 8 years old when we moved to a house in the middle of the 500 where he lived till he died. I married when I was 21 or 22 and moved back to Andrews Bank and 4 or 5 years after I took Lines Farm where I have ever since continued to reside. I went to Hartfield School till I was about 12 years old then I went under my Father at first sawing for him and afterwards assisting him in his appointments.

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