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Blythe Room

Clare College, Castle Court, Chesterton Lane, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 3AA

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Clare College (Castle Court)

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Clare College has 3 sites; Memorial Court, Old Court and Castle Court. Castle Court is located in Chesterton Lane just to the north west of the city centre. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • There is very limited parking at Clare College and it is strictly controlled. Anyone parking on-site must have prior permission via the Head Porter. Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements. At Castle Court there is parking between Castle House and Castlebrae. There are no designated parking bays for Blue Badge holders.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. There is provision for bicycle storage at Clare College.
    • For more information on directions to Clare College please click here (opens new tab).
    • For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Bus View
    • There is not a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
    • The nearest bus stops to Castle Court are located in Chesterton Road, Northampton Street and Castle Street.
      The bus service that stops in Chesterton Road is 4 citi which links Cambridge to Cambourne and Lower Cambourne.
      The bus services that stop in Northampton Street are 4 citi, 8, X3 and Park & Ride which link Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambourne, Papworth Everard, Hartford, Hilton and Madingley Rd Park-and-Ride.
      The bus services that stop in Castle Street are 5 citi and 6 citi which link Cambridge to Bar Hill, Oakington and Swavesey.
      The bus station in Drummer Street is approximately 1.1 kilometres away from Castle Court.
    • Cambridge City Centre Bus Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
    • For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main entrance to Castle Court is the access road off Chesterton Lane (Photograph 1). It has a steep upwards gradient and there is no footpath for pedestrians so care should be taken. The Porters' Lodge is located to the left as you enter.
    • The College site can also be accessed from Castle Street. There is a pedestrian entrance next to 12a Castle Street for key card holders (Photograph 2). The width of the gateway opening is 75cm and there is a 12cm step over the threshold. The height of the card reader is 140cm. There are 3 unmarked steps just beyond this entrance (Photograph 3). The steps have a handrail on the left.
    • There is also a vehicular entrance in Castle Street (Photograph 4). This entrance has a slight upwards gradient and the block paving surface is uneven in places. There is stepped access to other areas of the site from here.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • There is stepped access around much of the external areas on the western side of Castle Court site. There are 14 steps leading down to Ethelreda (Photograph 5) although these can be bypassed by using a path next to the Porters’ Lodge. There is a long slope, with a slight downwards gradient, leading down to Castle House from the car park (Photograph 6). At the end of this path there are 4 unmarked steps with no handrails leading down past the fire exit from the Blythe Room (Photograph 7). There are then further stepped level changes to the rear of (and leading down to) the Castle Street buildings (Photographs 8-10).
    • The main footpaths leading around the central and eastern areas of Castle Court site are step-free and mostly level with a few short sloped sections. (Photographs 11-14). The paths surfaces are mostly tarmac with some loose stone chippings. A few sections have a flagstone/block paving surface. Most paths are quite wide (150cm+).
    • There are some large boulders at the intersection of the paths between Castlebrae, Braeside and Castle End (Photographs 15 and 16).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • At the time of the survey there were resurfacing works taking place outside some of the Castle Street buildings.
    • Many of the buildings at Castle Court have stepped access into (Photograph 17) and around them although there is lift access in Castle End and a platform lift to overcome the steps outside the entrance (Photograph 18).
    • There is very limited directional signage around the site (Photograph 19) which means those unfamiliar with the layout may need an escort or a map to reference. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Castle End building. There are seats outside for people to rest (Photograph 20).
  • AccessAble Related Links View

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located between Castle House and Castlebrae.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Castle House and Castlebrae.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is loose chippings.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • The parking area has a surface which consists of loose stones packed under a metal grid.
      There is also step-free access to some buildings from the car park, others have steps leading to them.
      There are an additional 2 parking bays outside the Gym.

Getting To (The Blythe Room)

  • Location View
    • The Blythe Room is located on the ground floor of Castle House.
    • Castle House is located to the south of the site and can be accessed via the Chesterton Lane or Castle Street Entrances.
    • There are steep slopes on the approach to Castle House from the Chesterton Lane Entrance, as well as sloped and stepped access from the Castle Street Entrance.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Blythe Room.
    • Clare College - Castle Court link (new tab) - click here.

Approach (Blyth Room - Chesterton Lane)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is tarmac and block paving.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent, has a steep gradient and has no handrails.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 122cm (4ft).

Outside Access (Blythe Room - Chesterton Lane)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of Castle House.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 111cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 105cm.
    • 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 in front of the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 124cm (4ft 1in).

Approach (Blyth Room - Castle Street)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is block paving.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent, has a slight gradient and has no handrails.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a/are step(s) on the approach.
    • There is/are 3 unmarked step(s), with a handrail on the left going up.
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.

Outside Access (Blyth Room - Castle Street)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the side of Castle House.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 107cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 105cm.
    • 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 in front of the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.

Teaching/Seminar Room(s) (Blyth Room)

  • Signage for the room(s) is not available in upper and lower case lettering that is clearly visible on or near the door.
  • The corridor outside the room(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
  • There is step free access into the room(s) from the corridor.
  • The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the room(s).
  • The door(s) for the room(s) is/are not push pad activated.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system for the room(s).
  • There is a visual fire alarm beacon in the room(s).
  • There is fixed furniture within the room(s).
  • The clear floor space beneath tables in the room(s) is 66cm.
  • A height adjustable table/bench is not available.
  • There are no chairs with armrests on both sides within the room(s).
  • The room does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
  • Floor coverings in the room(s) are even with no trip hazards.
  • There is a balcony level for the Blythe Room that is accessed on level 1 (Photographs 12 and 14). There are 7 steps leading up from the ground level to level 1 from both entrances (Photograph 9). From here, there are a further 5 steps leading up to the 2 lower balcony entrances from level 1 (Photograph 10). There are 2 steps leading to the upper level of the balcony from the lower level of the balcony on both sides (Photograph 13). All the steps are between 15cm -18cm in height. All the steps have a depth between 30cm-45cm. There are handrails on varying sides for all but the lower to upper balcony steps which have none.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.