Emma And The Vanishing Huts
I've received a shocking e-mail from an Arts student in Dundee who needs help in preserving a piece of local history. It's shocking to me because it seems that a huge chunk of my childhood is about to be wiped out. The student's name is Emma McGregor and her project involves the little huts that are scattered on sites between Monifieth and Carnoustie. One such hut was where I spent most Easter and Summer holidays as did my parents, six brothers and one sister.
Emma contacted me because she discovered an old blog posting in which I'd described listening to the radio in the hut because there was no electricity to power a telly. Lighting was by gas, candle or paraffin and water came by way of a trek to a stand-pipe.
As I recall there were two big sites off the Barry Road. Our hut was in the 'Lucknowe' near the piggery. A half a mile north of that there was the 'Downs' site which was tucked behind the riding stables. Our hut was demolished about fifteen years ago and now Emma tells me that most of the others are likelyto go the same way. It seems there's more money to be made by renting the land to caravan owners either as static camps or winter storage.
In the meantime, Emma is trying to collect as many memories and photographs as possible.
She's not had a lot of luck so far so has asked me to include her e-mail address in this posting. I must also put her in contact with our sports reporter Jim Spence who also remembers days of childhood fun with friends at the huts.
My original blog on The Hut can be seen by clicking here. There's also on the subject from The Big Issue.
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