Wow! eBook
The Sand House: A Victorian Marvel Revisited 2nd UK ed. Edition
Author(s): Richard Bell (Author), Peter Tuffrey (Author)
- Publisher: Amberley Publishing
- Publication Date: September 15, 2010
- Edition: 2nd UK ed.
- Language: English
- Print length: 128 pages
- ISBN-10: 1445601176
- ISBN-13: 9781445601175
Book Description
The majority of South Yorkshire’s twenty-first century residents are oblivious to the unique and fascinating Sand House that graced Doncaster from the mid-1850s until the Second World War. It was created by excavating the ground from around a massive block of sandstone and then hollowing out rooms within, in order to create a 40-metre-long, 12-metre-wide residence equipped with all the mod cons that a wealthy Victorian businessman would want. And yet there is nothing to be seen now of this incredible Sand House. The two authors show how the idea for the Sand House arose from its creators’ combined business interests of property development and sand extraction. From its modest beginnings as a two-up-two-down dwelling, it grew to become a ten-roomed mansion, complete with stable and ballroom. Not only dances but other major social events took place in the house and its ‘sunken garden’; guests were allowed to explore the property’s extensive tunnels and admire the abundance of carvings hewn from the sandstone within. The Sand House’s sad demise in the mid-twentieth century means that this marvellous creation is no longer available for visitors to admire, but its story lives on through the pages of this book.
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Peter Tuffrey was born in Doncaster in 1953. He studied Fine Art at Doncaster College of Art from 1970 to 1971 and then at Leeds University until 1974. He held the position of Keeper of Fine and Decorative Arts at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery 1975-1995, was a freelance writer 1995-2000 and PR Media Consultant for Doncaster Rovers 2000-2002. He was Area Manager for the Music Ground Group of Companies 2003-2010. He is now working as a freelance writer. In his spare time, he has built up a massive photographic archive of the region’s towns and villages. With this he has produced over fifty publications. He has also written many articles for local and regional newspapers. He lives in Doncaster.
