Transcript Historical Minute Book 1913 to 1923 - Ashdown Forest

Military CampsThe Chairman states that as the present position of the Military camp at Forest Row has caused a good deal ofdissatisfaction to some of the Commoners in the neighbourhood he wishes to make it clear to the Commoners thatthe Board are in no way responsible for the position in which the camp has now been placed which is entirelydifferent from the plan originally submitted by the Military Authorities to the Forest Row Committee whom theyconsulted and whose recommendations they accepted at the time, and he requested Mr. Freshfield, as Chairman ofthe Forest Row Committee, to state what had taken placeMr. Freshfield explains that the position which the military camp at Forest Row now occupies is not that originallyagreed upon by the Military Authorities in consultation with the Forest Row Committee on behalf of the Board,and that the Military Authorities are solely responsible for the alteration of the site, and the change from theposition originally agreed upon.Boring Wheel Mill track thanks of CommonersMr. Sylvanus Ridley states that he wishes to thank the Board of Conservators, on behalf of all the Commoners inthe vicinity of the Boring Wheel Mill, for what has been done to the road there, and all who so generously helpedespecially Mr. Portman, Prince Munster and Mr. Findlay, as it is a great benefit to all who use the road.Mr. Sylvanus Ridley claim to rightsMr. Ridley then states that he is the owner of a little property called Chestnut Cottage, situate on the Forest, beingpart of a property which was granted to Richard Turner about 1846, that it was subsequently divided into two parts,one part was owned formerly by Mr. Albert Turner, and the Board recognised that rights of common on the Forestattached to that portion, the other portion now belongs to him (Mr. Ridley) and he wishes to [know] why no rightsof common are acknowledged to belong to this portion.Forest track interference withMr. Ridley also complains that the Uckfield Rural District Council have cut a road drain across the Forest trackwhich comes out on the Boring Wheel to Fairwarp Road causing inconvenience to Commoners using the track.Forest track improvementHe also states that it is desirable a drain should be put in at the cart track by the Spring Gardens Wood to take offthe road water.The Chairman promises that the matter Mr. Ridley has referred to shall be brought to the notice of theConservators.On the proposition of Mr. Sandford, seconded by Mr. Turner, a hearty vote of thanks is passed to the Chairman forthe admirable manner in which he has conducted the business of the meeting.The Chairman, on returning thanks, states that he has now occupied the position of Chairman of the Board ofConservators for some 15 years, and has tried to carry out his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned, andthough the Board have been the subject of criticisms sometimes perhaps not altogether fair, they have to take theone with the other, and he can assure the Commoners that in the coming year the Board will continue to look afterthe interests of the Commoners to the very best of its ability without partiality or favour.G.M. Maryon-Wilson ChairmanA Meeting of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest duly convened and held at the Nutley Inn, Nutley, onFriday, the 18th December 1914 at noon.PresentMr. Geo. M. Maryon-Wilson in the chairThe Honble H.B. PortmanMr. Wm. CarrMr. D.W. Freshfield33Ashdown Forest Historical Minute Book