Events
Here’s what one person had to say: “If anyone hasn’t been to a presentation featuring The Sand House, or even a tour of where it used to be, I’d like to recommend you to go and give either a look. I found both absolutely fascinating!”
This page provides details of the events that The Sand House Charity has arranged and others that it will be involved in. Click on any event that has a pale grey background in order to expand the description and see all the details.
Where the event is an illustrated talk at the request of a host group (for example, at a local history society or a Women’s Institute branch) we suggest that you make contact with that group to check that they allow visitors, before attending.
If you are interested in arranging an illustrated talk about the Sand House for a group that you are involved with, please note that, for the time being, our talks are mostly restricted to daytimes only. For more details please contact us.
Please keep checking back on this page for updates. Thank you.
The Sand House at Doncaster Family History Fair - Saturday 18th July 2026, 9am to 2pm
For the second year running, Doncaster & District Family History Society will be holding their Family History Fair at the Corn Exchange, Market Place, Doncaster. Once again, The Sand House Charity will be exhibiting there and keen to answer your questions and share the unique story of Doncaster’s lost Victorian marvel.
Please pop the date (18th July) in your diary and come along to see us and a whole range of other family and local history organisations who will be there.
Sand House History Podcasts - Starting Friday 11th September 2026
We are launching a new season of podcasts during Heritage Open Days 2026. Including clips from our audio archive, we take you through the history of Doncaster’s lost Victorian marvel, the Sand House, from the early 19th century to the present day.
Our recordings of people who had first-hand knowledge of the Sand House and its tunnels, along with a comprehensive collection of newspaper articles, provide an invaluable source of information for telling the Sand House’s story. When combined with the knowledge gathered by Richard Bell in over 40 years of research, The Sand House Charity is ideally equipped to tell the story of this amazing dwelling, carved from rock, and once standing near the centre of Doncaster. Richard and fellow charity Trustee, Mick Jenkinson, host this new season of podcasts that is launched during the Heritage Open Days 2026 festival.
As well as being made available via the Sand House’s YouTube channel and main website, the podcasts can be accessed through many of the major hosting platforms. Whatever your preferred podcast platform is, just search for “Sand House – A Unique Victorian Marvel” and go to Season 2 to start listening. Season 2/Episode 1 is a trailer. Further episodes will be released during the HOD festival, with the remainder following on at intervals thereafter.
"Sand House" - A Song-writing Workshop - Saturday 12th September 2026, 10:30am to 1:30pm (BOOKING ESSENTIAL)
You will have the opportunity in this workshop, working with experienced songwriters, to be part of creating a brand-new song that helps preserve the memory of the Sand House, Doncaster’s unique, former Victorian marvel.
No prior experience of songwriting is required. This workshop is for beginners and beyond.
The event mentors are the experienced, local songwriters, Mick Jenkinson and Ian Parks. They will talk through an overview of the history of the Sand House, and you will have the opportunity to view the Sand House display and projected images in Doncaster Museum (in the same building as the workshop) for inspiration. Together with the mentors, you will discuss ideas for a song inspired by what you have seen and learned, and they will lead you through the process of turning those into lyrics and a melody. This will be a communal endeavour, but there will be the option of working alone if preferred. This event is for adults.
PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL due to limited capacity. To book, please CLICK HERE.
The event is free of charge, as are all Heritage Open Days events. However, donations to The Sand House Charity are always greatly appreciated.
"The Sand House - In their own words", illustrated talk to the Doncaster U3A - Monday 19th October 2026, 1:30pm
Richard Bell will be giving an hour-long illustrated talk tracing the history of Doncaster’s lost Victorian marvel, the Sand House. The slideshow includes audio and video recordings of people who had first-hand knowledge of the place.
The venue is the PowerHouse, Christ Church, Thorne Road, Doncaster DN1 2HG. Doors open at 12:45pm, giving chance for a cuppa and chat before the talk.
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.