Transcript Historical Minute Book 1906 to 1913
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1906 - 1913 A meeting of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest duly convened and held at the Nutley Inn, Nutley on Friday the 10th day of August 1906 at 2 p.m. Present Mr. George M. Maryon-Wilson in the chair The Honourable H.B. Portman Mr. William Carr Mr. Douglas W. Freshfield Mr. Robert Kenward Mr. Edward Martin Mr. Llewellyn Midgley Mr. Joseph Ridley (Horney Common) Mr. Mark Sandford Mr. Albert Turner The minutes of the last meeting are read and confirmed. The Chairman expresses to the Board his sincere thanks for the vote of sympathy with him which they passed at the last meeting on connection with the serious illness of his brother and which he assures them he appreciated greatly. The Bank Pass Book is produced showing a balance in hand of ₤140:2:1. Fires The Clerk reports that pursuant to the resolution passed at the last meeting, he wrote to Mr. Nicholson for permission to divide up into blocks the gorse and coarse heather too large for litter and to burn it, and that Mr. Nicholson replied on 22nd May last that the Board is authorised to do so with the concurrence of the Lord’s Reeve. Dividing up and burning large furze and heather On the proposition of Mr. Martin recorded by Mr. Midgley it is resolved that it be referred to the Forest Row and Maresfield Committees to consider and report to the next meeting of the Board, with a rough plan what rides they recommend should be cut, for dividing up the big gorse and heather into separate blocks, and who is willing to cut the rides or blocks gratuitously in consideration of being permitted to carry away what is cut and further, to report whether any areas of big heather should be burnt, and if so, which. Burnt gorse stems removed On the proposition of Mr. Freshfield, seconded by Mr. Sandford, it is also resolved that, subject to permission being obtained from the Lord, the said Committees be empowered to remove the dead gorse along each side of the high road from Pippingford to Nutley, the expense to be paid out of the Protection and Improvement Fund. W.H Cowan road licence completed The Clerk reports that the licence to Mr W.H. Cowan to make a road in connection with his Crows Nest property has been completed. J. Walters and L. Tester police prosecution for arson failed The Clerk reports that Thomas Walter and Laurie Tester charged at the Uckfield Petty Sessions on the 10th May last, with firing the Forest on the night of Good Friday last, that he attended to watch the case on behalf of the Board, and found that the Chief Constable had not instructed any solicitor to prosecute, and the prosecution was, therefore, conducted by the Superintendent. Mrs. Eliza Warnett gave most clear and circumstantial evidence that she saw both men together and away from anyone else, and that one of them set fire to the furze, and that one of them threatened, if her fagot stack did not catch fire, to pour paraffin upon it. The two other female witnesses, who were called to support her, broke down. Mr. Buckwell defended and called seven or eight local men, who swore they were with Defendants, that fires were 1 Ashdown Forest Historical Minute Books burning close by before they arrived on the scene, that the dependants did not go near the spot indicated by Mrs. Warnett and did not light a fire there. Eventually the bench stated that no jury would convict on the evidence before them, and dismissed the summonses. Police prosecutions urge employment of solicitor On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Portman, it is resolved that the Clerk write to the Chief Constable urging most strongly upon him that, should any similar case arise hereafter, he will employ a solicitor to conduct the case for the police. Brigade camp Crowborough The Maresfield Committee report that on the 22nd June last, they met the Commanding Officer Crowborough, and explained their requirements with regard to the Camp such as that at the close of the Camp all broken crockery and glass and other such refuse should be removed altogether or buried, all trenches filled in and the surface restored as nearly as possible to its former condition and that a written undertaking had been given to the Clerk to comply with their requirements. They also gave permission to the Young Men’s Christian Association to have a tent on the Forest during the Camp week. The Committee visited the Camp on the 7 th instant and gave further directions as to clearing up after the Camp breaks up tomorrow, which the Commanding Officer undertook to comply with. They also instructed the Ranger to see that their requirements are complied with. Engineers Camp The Forest Row Committee report that the Royal Engineers Telegraph Corps held their camp on the Forest near Kidbrooke between 1st June and 12th July last, and that they afterwards removed all refuse and restored the surface properly. Pathway near Broadstone repair The Forest Row Committee report that a pathway from Broadstone Warren, towards Chapel Lane, has been cut through and rendered dangerous by the scour of water. It is resolved that the Committee be authorised to do such work as is necessary to repair it, and prevent future scouring, the cost to be paid out of the Protection and Improvement Fund. Foresters’ application to admit as Conservators A letter is read from the Forestry Protection Association stating that they are prepared with some of the information required by the Board, but that there is a disposition on the part of many of the claimants, to think that the Conservators do not mean to admit them. Mr. Joseph Ridley states that the view of the Association is that all occupiers of land within the Forest pale (excluding land enclosed under the Decree of 1693, and land sold under the award of 1887), whether held as freehold, copyhold or on tenancy at will, who and whose predecessors in occupation can show that they have turned out stock on the Forest and taken litter and brakes therefore continuously for 60 years last past, in respect of such land should be admitted as legal Commoners and pay the Forest Rate. On the invitation of the Chairman, Mr H. Jesse Ridley, the Hon. Sec. of the Association, is called in and agreed that the above statement of Mr Joseph Ridley, which is carefully read over to him, correctly expresses the view of the Association. The Chairman reminds Mr H. Jesse Ridley that the Board have no power to admit persons as Commoners who are not regularly entitled as such without the consent of the Lord and the Commoners and he can assure him that the Board have every intention as they have already expressed to give the fullest consideration to the claims and that they will meet them as far as they possibly can and that the application will be therefore fully and fairly submitted to the Lord and Commoners as soon as the Board are furnished with the information asked for in the letter which the Clerk wrote to him on the 11th April last. 2 Ashdown Forest Historical Minute Books The Clerk states that he informed Mr. H. Jesse Ridley some time ago that, as soon as the claimants were ready in batches of 20 or more, to meet him with their documents he would fix a day convenient to them to meet them at Nutley, in order to work our the particulars which the Board require and Mr. Ridley promises to arrange with the Clerk accordingly. Cart Road near Boring Wheel Will Mr H.J. Ridley applies on behalf of the Association for payment of £2:6:0 the balance of the contribution promised by the Board out of the Protection and Improvement fund, towards the repair of the cart road on the Forest adjoining the Boring Wheel Well. It is pointed out that the Board’s consent to the work was given on condition that the consent of the Lord was also obtained and the balance of the contribution was to be paid on the satisfactory completion of the work, that the work had not been completed and the Board had now learnt that instead of the Lord giving his consent he had objected to his well being interfered with. Having considered the representations made by Mr. Ridley, the Board resolves that the Clerk write to the Lord’s representative pointing out that the repair of the road will be a great convenience to the Commoners on which ground they gave consent and expressing the hope that he will see his way to sanction the work being continued and completed. Forest Row Golf club application to clear course The Forest Row Committee report that the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club having applied last month for permission to cut the course within the same boundaries as last year, they had taken upon themselves to sanction the cutting (so far as the Board is concerned) on condition that no litter is cut, and that the cutting is not commenced before the day fixed last year. It is resolved that the action of the Committee in this matter be approved and confirmed. Forest Row Golf club application to do works. A letter is read from the Club, dated 4th inst. asking the consent of the Board to the Club carrying out the following works during the next winter, viz:- Holes 1st Improve the course for tee shots and approach taking up and re-laying turf where necessary 2nd Improve ground above the road by patching 4th Cut and roll grass to make new temporary tee to left and back present medal tee 7th Make up path leading to the green.