26 Sept 1879

Kilner, Edward. Living at Borrer Hill on Plaw Hatch. Labourer. Born 6 November 1811 at Monkshill now belonging to Mr. Arbuthnot. Baptised at East Grinstead.

My father told me he had many years at Maulds (part of Leggs Heath) and removed to Monkshill about 1801. I lived at the house on Monkshill Farm till I was about 23'/2 years old when I married and came out to live on the Forest at the 'Goat' about 3 or 4 years and then at a place now occupied by Benjamin Richardson on the Forest opposite Mudbrooke. It was called Beggarsden but I believe its true name was Waterbury or Huntleberry Castle. I lived there about 16 years and then moved to Boner Hill where I have lived for about the last 26 years. (These dates do not quite tally with his age. He is a little uncertain about the time he lived at the 'Goat' and Huntleberry Castle.) Borrer Hill is on Mr. Arbuthnot's frontage to the Forest and looks down on the Forest.

I went to school from 8 till 12 at Sackville College, East Grinstead, on the foundation going backwards and forwards daily. I then worked about for 1 year, part of the time at Whalesbeech, and at 13 I came to work at Plaw Hatch and have continued to work on Plaw Hatch, Monkshill, Dodge's and Mayes all my life.

When I was a little boy old Mr. Payne of Leggs Heath owned and farmed Leggs Heath, Monkshill, Charlwood, Mauld and Frogshole. In 1824 Payne sold Charlwood to Mr. Taylor and Monkshill to Mr. Blunt who at the same time bought Plaw Hatch. He had bought the Plaw Wood a year or two before. Some years afterwards Mr. Blunt bought Dodge's from I believe a Mr. Futcher. About 28 years ago Mr. Blunt sold these properties to Mr. Allchorn who afterwards sold to Mr. Harrison from whom Mr. Arbuthnot bought them. Payne I believe sold Leggs Heath and Maulds and Frogshole to Mr. Nairn and Mr. Larnach now owns them.

As a boy of 6 or 7 years old I used to go out on the Forest with my Father cutting brakes for our pig and scrub of any kind and turf for firewood. We had these every year from my first recollection and he continued to have these things every year to my knowledge till he left Monkshill which was about 1846.

From my earliest recollection Mr. Payne and all his successors have had litter constantly off the Forest for consumption on Plaw Hatch, Monkshill and Dodge's down to the present time, except perhaps 1878.

When I was carter boy and afterwards carter I often went with the ox team for Mr. Blunt to fetch litter off the Forest.