Sand House – A Unique Victorian Marvel
Sand House - A Unique Victorian Marvel
Podcast Description
Standing not far from the centre of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK for 80 years, the Sand House was a mansion-sized, private dwelling whose walls were carved from solid rock. It stood within a former quarry that later became a sunken garden surrounding the house. The associated tunnels that ran through the ground near the quarry were at least as impressive. The section known as the Cloisters tunnel was decorated with many fine carvings, including one of a full-size Indian elephant.
The Sand House was home to four families in all. It’s creator, Henry Senior lived there with his family between 1857 and his death, in 1900. The final occupants, Harry and Alice Briggs, moved out in 1934.
The Sand House Charity was formed in 2017. It exists to share the unique legacy of the Sand House with as wide an audience as possible, and to encourage learning and engagement through presentations, performances, and other creative activities.
In 2024, an audio drama was produced by The Sand House Charity, telling the true saga of this remarkable, yet little-known, feature from the UK’s history. It marks the latest in a series of projects aimed at providing a fitting legacy for the Victorian marvel that was the Sand House.
You can find out much more about the Sand House by visiting ＜www.thesandhouse.org.uk＞.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Centers around the history and legacy of the Sand House, with themes of community engagement, creative expression, and heritage conservation. Episodes provide insights into the creation of the audio drama, explore the intriguing narrative of its former inhabitants like Alice and Jim, and discuss the significance of the Sand House in local and national history.
Standing not far from the centre of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK for 80 years, the Sand House was a mansion-sized, private dwelling whose walls were carved from solid rock. It stood within a former quarry that later became a sunken garden surrounding the house. The associated tunnels that ran through the ground near the quarry were at least as impressive. The section known as the Cloisters tunnel was decorated with many fine carvings, including one of a full-size Indian elephant.
The Sand House was home to four families in all. It’s creator, Henry Senior lived there with his family between 1857 and his death, in 1900. The final occupants, Harry and Alice Briggs, moved out in 1934.
The Sand House Charity was formed in 2017. It exists to share the unique legacy of the Sand House with as wide an audience as possible, and to encourage learning and engagement through presentations, performances, and other creative activities.
In 2024, an audio drama was produced by The Sand House Charity, telling the true saga of this remarkable, yet little-known, feature from the UK’s history. It marks the latest in a series of projects aimed at providing a fitting legacy for the Victorian marvel that was the Sand House.
You can find out much more about the Sand House by visiting ＜www.thesandhouse.org.uk＞.
This episode is a recording of an interview on BBC Radio Sheffield, on 30th January 2025, when the writer of the Sand House audio drama, Peter Spafford, spoke to presenter Paulette Edwards.
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