Come and explore the historical, majestic Sand House!

The majestic Sand House has been finished, so what are you waiting for? It is your chance to explore. Even though many people are waiting in line, it is worth it! This magnificent phenomenon is in Balby, Doncaster. You might think it is just a house, but it isn’t. It’s carved out of sandstone and has many interesting statues and carvings. Wow! Let’s not give away too much here – just come and see for yourself!

Have we got a challenge for you! When you get here, explore the cloisters (tunnels). Can you find the cherub, statues of Queen Victoria, Biddy (an old lady), Pat (a huge man), the magnificent elephant and mahout. It’ll make your paintings at home look terrible. The king looks like the true protector of Doncaster – but beware of the clown, it’ll make you run out screaming!

by Gabriel, Gab and Oliver, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School

The eye-catching, extraordinary Sand House,

Awaits below Doncaster’s deepest, darkest depths, Perfectly chiselled monuments lie patiently under the ground

Safe and sound.

The king, Queen, clown, created by Henry Senior Stand as the Earth goes round and round

The twisting and turning tunnels

Like a labyrinth frozen in time.

by Ayla, Balby Central Primary Academy

The sands of time are not eternal

The extravagant part is the internal

The Sand House is a place to be

For the statues are a sight to see

Down underground a dull, dim, dwelling where mysteries lie

It may be a while until you see bright blue sky

Down in the labyrinth-like sand tunnels

Twisting and turning like hamster funnels.

by Sophie and Layla, Balby Central Primary Academy

It was a blustery day and my dog was so excited. I chased him down the street, through a broken fence and was just in time to see him disappear.

As I cautiously crept deeper into the tunnel, looking up I saw an amazing and beautiful cherub. It looked down at me and I realised it had been carved out of the sandstone ceiling. Worried and frightened, I carried on down the tunnel.

by Levii, Town Field Primary School

Artwork by Matilda, Balby Central Primary Academy

The extraordinary, eye-catching Sand House

Awaits below Doncaster’s deepest depths

There is a colossal quarry wall,

Descending into the deep, dark, dull cave

The amazing sculptures underground

Mysterious monuments all around

Exploring patterns everywhere

There’s certainly something in the air

The wonderful, creative, carved stones

Stare at me while I go below

Deep down the turning tunnels

Feels like I am in a sparkly world

Down under the dim, dull tunnels of Doncaster

The delicate, detailed statues lie in the sand tunnel

A secret underground mansion made of sand rock

Twisting, turning tunnels beneath our feet

Curious children sneak into the mystical, magical cloisters

Of this mysterious place.

by Nathaniel and Connor, Balby Central Primary Academy

In the deep, kooky Sand House cloisters I sneaked slowly into the creepy caverns. It sounded like sand was falling onto the bumpy floor. I went to an archway until I looked next to me and saw a clown sculpture. Its mouth, nose and eyes were squashed together. It was so creepy I stopped dead for a few minutes. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. Luckily, I walked around and saw an Indian man with ancient clothes on alongside a giant elephant. Now I was calm.

by Scarlett, Town Field Primary School

In the dim, rather spooky cloisters of the Sand House, I crept down to explore. I was partly afraid for the mysterious tunnels because I hadn’t been before. I heard dripping around me. Suddenly, towering above me, was an absolutely humongous man – about 30 times bigger than me! It held a massive club in his hand and did not look at all friendly. I was so frightened because I thought it was real, but then I realised… it was just a statue. I took a closer look – he looked as strong as iron.

Turning a few corners, emerging from the wall was a clown! It was gritting its teeth and look full of anger. I reached out to touch it again and again and again. It felt sandy, hard and rough.

by Zoe, Town Field Primary School

7th August 1879

Extraordinary Sand House Newly Built

Victorian businessman Henry Senior has carved his own house into a solid block of sandstone. Located in Balby, just across the road to Hexthorpe, the Sand House is just like a museum with a magnificent fireplace, a ballroom and intricate sand chairs carved into the walls. The Sand House’s construction officially started in the year 1832. The reason behind the building of the Sand House is the creative genius of its owner.

Henry Senior made the Sand House, carving it from sandstone. Beneath Victoria Street, there are tunnels nearby. Statues have been carved out of sandstone in the tunnels. In these catacombs, there are various statues such as: a cherub, Queen Victoria, an elephant and mahout, a king and a clown.

Henry Senior – the Sand House creator – told the paper: “I invented the Sand House to create something special for Doncaster. I can’t wait for the people of Doncaster to see my beautiful creation and its fascinating catacombs.”

Mr Hemingway was a primary part of the construction of the Sand House and its cloisters. He told the paper: “The Sand House and its cloisters are truly a genius invention. It wasn’t a promising one at first, but we pulled through and were able to create cloisters as well. It is truly a wonderful and magnificent structure.”

by Misan, Inioluwa and Sophie, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School

Down under the deepest, darkest parts of Doncaster

Lies a delicate, detailed dwelling

The secret Sand House.

Hopelessly waiting under town

Disintegrating faster and faster

The stories it could be telling

Deep down

by Thomas and Colby, Balby Central Primary Academy

In the rather spooky underground sand cave cloisters, I crept into the beautiful but scary caverns. As I looked up, a little bit of water dropped on me. It was from a massive sculpture of a man with a frowny face, two beady eyes and a bat in his hand as strong as metal. Next to it was a king statue. It felt dusty, hard and as cold as ice. It looked as real as can be.

by Remi, Town Field Primary School

Artwork by Dominic, Balby Central Primary Academy

The luxurious, immaculate Sand House awaits a reply from above

It sleeps down below the soil, concrete, trash and all sorts

Getting thrown over the magnificent, detailed, intricate house.

This house awaits a reply every day

Waiting for more than 150 years to be called up.

This home, oh this home, carved and carved and carved, Until it is completed, just to be left alone for so long.

Why, oh why, did we leave you?

by Carlos, Balby Central Primary Academy

Daily News, 1879

The Journey Begins!

But how will it end?

A businessman named Henry Senior has decided to make the Doncaster Sand House in his sandstone quarry located in Balby. The Sand House was first carved in 1857 – and it turns out that it was excavated as well! This house is exactly like a mansion. Visitors come from miles to visit this extraordinary achievement.

Decoration

Nearby the quarry, Henry Senior’s trusted men have dug tunnels, extending the Sand House officially underground. The tunnels (known as cloisters) are filled with weird statues, but at the same time they are… stunning! Through the tunnels, visitors are greeted by a cherub, peering down at them. Inside, you would also be greeted with a carving of a king, Queen Victoria and a 3-metre-high Irish woman named Biddy.

Interviews

Henry Senior reported that: “Finally, the Sand House is set” I cannot wait to introduce the Sand House to the visitors!”

After the visitors finished seeing the Sand House, they were shocked. Most visitors had a couple of compliments they would like to share: “This is amazing! All these months of waiting were worth it!”

by Bella, Zuzanna and Jasmine, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School

Down under Doncaster, a dwelling lies untouched and undiscovered. The magnificent Sand House.

A creation

Led by pure imagination.

Carved by a living embodiment of determination.

Beneath the ground awaits extraordinary catacombs

We present a mystery of time.

by Lewis and Mohammed, Balby Central Primary Academy

It was a hot summer day and I was bored so I followed my cat to see where he went on his daily walks. I followed him down the road and through a bush that spiked me all over my arms. I found a mysterious house through a broken fence. I got through the fence and took a few steps until I slid down a really scary, black hole. When my cat noticed I was there, he jumped down and wandered off.

I was curious but scared at the same time. I wandered around and saw an old lady statue looking down at me. She was carrying a handbag. I looked at her handbag and saw a name tag on it saying ‘Biddy’. I tiptoed away from Biddy and found my cat. It led me to an elephant and mahout. This sculpture was lovely to see. I went to find more round the corner. I eventually found the cherub – it was a boy as an angel. I was super curious now. I walked on and saw a creepy clown looking down at me… now I was running, trying to find a way out.

by Elizabeth, Town Field Primary School