24 Sept 1878

Turner, Robert. Of Tablehurst Farm. Farmer and miller. 70 years of age. Born at West Hoathly and lived there till about 25 years old, then went to Balcomb for 6 years and then took Tablehurst Farm where he has remained ever since.

My Father farmed Ludwell Farm in West Hoathly when I was at home. We used to cart turf for fuel off the Forest for the cottagers on the terms that we had the ashes for manuring our pasture. We had no litter that I recollect nor do I recollect our turning out. I recollect Hobbs who used to use the Great House Farm in West Hoathly which my brother John now uses. He used to take litter from the Forest. I have seen his teams with it. I know Bunts Grove but recollect nothing about the tenants exercising rights on the Forest.

I succeeded at Tablehurst Edward Heaver whose family was tenant of it, I have heard, for 60 years. As long as I have been tenant I have taken litter every year from the Forest, including 1878 and 1879, 20 loads a year, more or less. I have never paid for it or been interfered with. By litter I mean what is mown including heath, furze or whatever comes.

I have had a few loads of fern but found that cutting came too expensive. I have never turned out because during my time the pasture has been too poor. If it were properly managed the Forest would be worth a deal more. I have always taken turf from the Forest for fuel till the last 3 or 4 years. I have not burnt it myself but my cottagers on the farm have had it for fuel. Lately the cottagers have not cared to use it as coal is so cheap and wages high.

I have had stone from time to time, some over 20 years ago and some since, for paving about the house and for a new boiling house I built. I got it from Pentecost, a man who used to dig for the parish. I paid him l Id. a load. The gravel we use for bottoming our yards we get from our own pit. When Lord Colchester my landlord has had stone for repairs he has got it from Blackstone's quarry. For roads we used to get rough stone out of the Warren which belonged to Lord Colchester. We have used loam but took it from this property where it is very good.

In the late Lord Colchester's time his lordship used to shoot over the piece of Forest between his two properties, Kidbrooke and the Warren. I have shot over it with him on more than one occasion. I believe he had an arrangement with old Lord De La Warr. They were very friendly.

Old Edward Heaver's son George Heaver is still living as a labourer in or near Lindfield.

I have often seen the teams of Mr. Augustus Elliott Fuller carrying litter from the Forest to Ashdown Farm at the time Jenner farmed it as his Bailiff. I know Mr. Larkin the late tenant of that Farm has had litter; I have seen it. In fact everybody about has taken it and that has been a great hurt to the Forest. The squatters make more money at cutting it than they can harvesting. I have occasionally seen the teams [off old Stephen Langridge of Upper Farm in the Forest carting litter, also his son's, the present tenant, who is my son-in-law.

I have kept no entries connected with litter or stone.