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Sentry Hill Historic House and Visitor Centre

40 Ballycraigy Road, Newtownabbey, BT36 4SX

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About this venue

Sentry Hill is a 19th century Victorian farmhouse in the Parish of Carnmoney, County Antrim. The contents of this historic house in Northern Ireland provide a rare insight into life in rural Ulster during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Sentry Hill was the home of the McKinney family, who came to Ireland from Scotland in the early 1700s. Remarkably the contents of the house have survived almost intact. Family furniture, books, paintings, personal diaries, letters, photographs and souvenirs from trips abroad all help to tell the story of the McKinney's, recording life at Sentry Hill and its surrounding areas. Sentry Hill offers an entertaining day out to visitors of all ages with facilities including guided tours, attractive gardens, a cafe, gift shop and picnic area.

Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Comments View
    • The upstairs of the house is not accessible but a recording can be viewed in the audio visual room, which is located at ground level within the visitors centre.
  • Comments View
    • The upstairs of the house is not accessible but a recording can be viewed in the audio visual room, which is located at ground level within the visitors centre.

Location

  • The venue is situated outside the centre of the town.
  • This venue is situated in Glengormley.
  • The venue is situated on a road which has a steep gradient.
  • There is not a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest mainline station is Mossley West.

Opening Times

  • Please contact the venue for details of opening times.

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • There are 2 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 20m (22yd) from the main entrance.
    • The furthest designated bay is 24m (26yd) from the main entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is loose chippings.
    • There is not a dropped kerb / non stepped access from the car park to the venue.
    • The patron does not have to cross a road.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Outside Access (Visitor Centre Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the Visitor Centre.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The width of the door opening is 95cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located leading from the car park to the Visitor Centre Entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.

Reception

  • The reception desk is 8m (26ft 3in) from the main entrance.
  • There is level access to reception from the entrance.
  • The reception desk is medium height.
  • The desk has a lowered section.
  • Lighting levels are medium.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The type of system is a portable loop.
  • Staff are trained to use system.

Inside Access (Visitor Centre)

  • There is level access to the service.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • Lighting levels are varied.
  • Comments View
    • Access for scooters is limited.
    • Please contact the venue for details.
    • Two manual wheelchairs are available for use.

Level Change (Exhibition and Resource Room)

  • There are steps to access this area / service.
  • The steps are located leading from the cafe to the exhibition room.
  • There is / are 13 step(s) to the area / service.
  • Lighting levels at the steps are bright.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The steps are medium.
  • The steps do have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.

Restaurant Bar Internal

  • The following information is for the cafe.
  • Once inside, there is level access to the service.
  • Full table service is available.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • Some chairs have armrests.
  • Menus are not available in Braille.
  • Menus are not available in large print.
  • The type of food served here is tea, coffee, buns and scones.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • There are accessible toilets within this venue designated for public use.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is Braille, pictorial and tactile signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The accessible toilet is 3m (3yd 10in) from the Visitor Centre entrance.
    • The accessible toilet is located right of the Visitor Centre entrance.
    • There is level access to the accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 78cm (2ft 7in).
    • The door weight is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 200cm x 220cm (6ft 7in x 7ft 3in).
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 180cm (5ft 11in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • The emergency alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a coat hook.
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted rails are available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The shelf is higher than 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • There are mirrors.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The hand dryer is 115cm (3ft 9in) high.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not a toilet roll holder.
    • There is a sink.
    • The sink can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The sink is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the grab rails and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 80cm (2ft 7in).

Standard Toilet(s)

Outside Access (Farm House Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located beyond the rear of the Visitor's Centre.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The width of the door opening is 85cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located from the rear of the Visitor's Centre to the Farm House.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.

Inside Access (Farmhouse)

  • There is not level access to the service(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • The lighting levels are varied.

Other Floors (Farmhouse)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1.
    • There are 13 steps between floors.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium.
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the left going up.
    • There is not a landing.
  • Other View
    • The services on the floors which are not accessible are the top rooms of the house.

Additional Info

  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are not available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is normally on duty.
  • Staff are trained to BSL level 2.
  • Comments View
    • Signs on doors within the venue are tactile and in Braille.