Sand House?

[fluffytail10]

Hello everyone,
I've just been looking at the bill of sale for my property in 1845. As well as the house, the bill included stabling for 3 horses, a piggery, chicken house, wash house and a sand house.

Does anyone know what a sand house is/was?

Looked on line but just got lots of pictures of sand castles :roll:
thanks
fluff

 

[Feltwell]

No idea, but I have heard of a sand house in Doncaster, sadly long gone

http://thesandhouse.org.uk/

 

[vicky whitworth]

I have no idea so this is a punt. Somewhere to store sand? Why store sand? As some sort of fertiliser/conditioner for the soil? Like an ash house? Somewhere where the ash was stored before it was spread on the garden. Often located next to the privy. Well it's a thought.

 

[fluffytail10]

Well i suppose they could have put sand down the hole after going to the loo, but our soil here in Norfolk is fab, so can't imagine it was for that.The house was a pub at one point so maybe it had some use - putting on the floor to soak up spills? Still a whole house for it seems a little excessive - perhaps it was just a little bin, but then why does it get mentioned alongside the stables etc? Must have been an important thing to have to get mentioned in the advert i'd have thought.

Mmmmm anyone else?

 

[DJH]

It's a sand house..........to put things in? Sorry that's the best I can do. Back to scanning negs. :lol:

Doug

 

[worms]

Intriguing! Since it mentions the piggery and the hen house, both of which could have been quite small, the sand house might not have been much of a structure.

 

[worms]

Seems that a sand house was used to keep dry sand in, so that it could be used in a pourable form to help trams and locomotives get traction. Does your house have any links to industrial use?

 

[LadyArowana]

Hello everyone,
I've just been looking at the bill of sale for my property in 1845. As well as the house, the bill included stabling for 3 horses, a piggery, chicken house, wash house and a sand house.

What you have stumbled upon is a very old estate agents trick, they deliberately put something totally obscure in the listing to attract potential buyers. Once they have people ensnared with a viewing they claim it was a "little mistake" if challenged. Something along the lines of "where's this 'ere sand house wot's down in them particklers then?" "Oh I'm dreadfully sorry that was an error by the printers.... it should have read "stabling for 3 horses, a piggery, chicken coop, wash and main house" the old boy had been at the drink again, misread the last 4 words and typeset it to what he thought it should read. It's a lovely property though isn't it............" :lol:

 

[MatthewC]

Could the sand have been anything to do with the floors inside? Either as an abrasive to help cleaning them, or scattered like sawdust? What floor covering is/was there?