This month I finally began my one-place study. It’s something I have wanted to do for a few years now, and it felt like the right time to get it off the ground.
What is a one-place study?
A one-place study is a combination of genealogy and social history. The place itself can be anywhere and anything. Some examples are:
- A house
- A burial ground
- A street, village or town
- A building, such as an old school or church
- An institution, such as an old asylum
- A railway station
- A marina
It can be anything – the idea is for the research to encompass the place and the people that have a connection to the place, whether it be the people who previously lived in a house, people buried in a churchyard, or people who spent time in an asylum, for example.
The parameters for a study are fluid – you decide on the timeframe you’re researching, the physical boundaries of your study (e.g. a line of headstones, or two specific streets), and what you aim to achieve.
Humberston Fitties
My one-place study is an all-encompassing deep-dive into an area called Humberston Fitties, which is technically a holiday park near Cleethorpes on the Lincolnshire coast. There are c330 chalets on the park, and the Fitties began as plotlands in the inter-war period.
People built their individual chalets on their plots, and most chalets are still there today. Some have been replaced, and some have been repaired and improved over the years. Each chalet is unique in design and size, and the plot sizes vary, with some larger and some smaller plots.
Some people live in the chalets for 10 months of the year – they have to vacate during January and February, as the Fitties is classed as a holiday park. Others rent out their chalets as holiday homes.
I have holidayed on the Fitties for many years – my family (me, my husband and two children) have spent several weeks every year on the Fitties, and we love the area. We have stayed in four different chalets, and tend to stick with our favourite one, which is a one-minute walk to the sea.
Fitties heritage project – aims
The aim of my study is to record stories, memories and photographs of people that have either lived or holidayed on the Fitties. I want to create a potted history for each chalet, so each one will have stories and photographs attached to it.
I think it’s important to capture the history of such a unique place, and I want to create a space where people can see old photographs and read stories of life on the Fitties.
I want to learn more about the people who have lived there, and those that have holidayed there. Have people bought their plot because they love the area, or has it been handed down through generations? Why do people holiday there? What draws them to it? I’m intrigued to know. I am drawn to the uniqueness of the chalets and the calmness of the place. It’s also a conservation area, and owners look after their surroundings. The whole concept of the place appeals to me.
I plan to research the history of the Fitties. I want to trace the history of the plots, from allocation to building the first chalets, and then researching the occupants from that point onwards. I also want to research the area before the chalets were built, and the historical research of the land is currently work in progress.
Fitties heritage – beginning the research
When I first decided to research the Fitties, I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure whether it had already been done, or whether it could be done. I did some research on other one-place studies that are registered with the Society for One Place Studies (https://www.one-place-studies.org) and I discovered that nobody had a done a study quite like the one I wanted to do, and nobody had studied the Fitties.
So, I joined the Society and read through their research tips and guidance, and I realised that I just needed to get on and start it, so here I am!
I decided to start with social media, and see whether people wanted to engage. I have set up a Facebook group (Humberston Fitties Heritage) so that people can submit their stories and photos.
There are several Facebook groups with an interest in Cleethorpes and the Fitties, and I hope that people will want to submit their stories to the Humberston Fitties Heritage group.
I know that some owners don’t have Facebook accounts, so I am also going to write to them. I will add a page to my website where people can submit their stories and photos, and these will then either be linked to a particular chalet, or kept in a section for general memories.
Potential issues
There are a few potential issues with my study:
1. People might not want to submit their stories or photographs.
I might have a handful of replies, or there may be some chalets where nobody submits a story.
2. I might have a huge influx of stories and photos.
That would be ideal! I don’t have a time limit on this study. It could take months or years, but it’s something I’m happy to work with over time.
3. People may not respond to my letters, or the letters may not reach the owners.
Initially I will hand-deliver letters to every chalet on the Fitties. Plan B will be to contact the management company for the site if I get a low response.
4. Historical records might be difficult to find.
The time period I am looking at is mainly from c1920 when the plotlands were first allocated, to present. As such, historical records may be restricted in the archives. Wilh a house study, for example, you would use records such as electoral records and census returns. The Fitties are not classed as permanent dwellings, and it’s highly unlikely that any traditional records containing owner-occupier information will be found. I intend to visit the local archives and have a look at the records they have – I know there are planning records, which could be interesting, and should provide names of early owners. I will also look at records such as parish magazines or newspaper articles – anything that will give me an insight into the people and the place.
Next steps
My next steps are to publicise the Facebook group, and create a record for each chalet. I will then write to chalet owners, and work on their replies.
I am also working on my website, so that I have a page dedicated to the Fitties project.
If anyone would like to join the Humberston Fitties Heritage group on Facebook and either submit a story or just follow progress, click here: Humberston Fitties Heritage
I will report back on progress in a few months, once the first steps have been completed.
Thanks for reading!
