Glory of Doncaster's Sand House to come under spotlight at fresh talk

Following the successful launch a few weeks ago of a new talk about Doncaster’s amazing lost Sand House, there will be another opportunity to hear all about it on Saturday 19 November, at 11am.

Richard Bell, Chair of Trustees of The Sand House Charity and a direct descendant of the man who created the Sand House, will return to Doncaster’s Danum Gallery, Library and Museum to tell this fascinating story. This recently updated talk makes extensive use of audio and video recordings of people who had first-hand experience of the Victorian marvel.

It even includes the personal recollections of a man who lived in the Sand House a century ago.

The house was carved from solid rock in the 1850s, in a small quarry just south of Doncaster city centre.

It also had a network of tunnels connected to it. Although the house was destroyed around 1938, local people still remember the tunnels, many of which survived until the 1980s.

Some of them were decorated with wonderful carvings, including one of a full-size elephant.

Once the house had gone, the site stood empty for three decades.

It became an unofficial playground for a generation of local children.

Then, in the late-1960s, flats were built on the site. They form part of what is now known as the Balby Bridge Estate.

Places for the talk must be pre booked, as attendance is limited for safety reasons.

Please phone Richard Bell on 07777 688438 to book a place.

The 60-minute talk is free of charge, but donations to support the work of The Sand House Charity are greatly appreciated.

Find out more at www.thesandhouse.org.uk.

Speaking about the forthcoming talk, Richard Bell said: “It was fantastic to have a full house to hear this new talk last time around. It is important to share the story of this unique part of Doncaster’s heritage as widely as possible, so our charity wanted to provide this new opportunity for even more people to come along”.