Welcome to
the Sand House
A Victorian Marvel, and a unique and fascinating but little-known part of Britain’s heritage.
The Sand House was a prominent feature in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, from the 1850s until the Second World War. It was a mansion-sized dwelling carved from solid sandstone by Victorian businessman Henry Senior. As well as carving the house itself, which stood in a former quarry, Senior excavated into the adjacent ground and created a network of tunnels, decorated with fine and unusual carvings.
Although the Sand House is no longer physically present, its tunnels, particularly, are remembered by a great many people. They survived for decades after the house was lost and they became an unofficial playground for local youngsters from the 1940s until the 1960s.
The unique Sand House plays an important role in the history of Doncaster. Moreover, it is a subject that quickly fascinates all who learn about it, wherever they may be. This has led to the creation of The Sand House Charity, through which this Victorian marvel is being given a new lease of life, inspiring educational projects for new generations.
Multimedia
Our Mission
The Sand House Charity exists to share the unique legacy of Doncaster’s Victorian Sand House with as wide an audience as possible, and to encourage learning and engagement through presentations, performances, and other creative activities.
The overall aim of The Sand House Charity, as approved by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is “To advance the education of the public in history, art, sculpture and other related subjects having a link to the former Victorian Sand House of Doncaster.”
The Charity
The Sand House Charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 02 March 2017 (Reg. No.1171875). The Patron of The Sand House Charity is the eminent Doncaster-born concert pianist, Matthew Schellhorn. The charity is run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff.
Donate
You can donate to The Sand House Charity by clicking on the PayPal ‘Donate’ button below. You do not need to have a PayPal account to donate this way: a debit or credit card is sufficient. We thank you most sincerely for any financial help that you may be able to provide.