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The Canal Museum - Stoke Bruerne

Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Towcester, NN12 7SE

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Canal Museum is housed in a restored three-storey historical corn mill that sits directly on the banks of the Grand Union Canal.
    • Facilities available in the venue include: café, gift and book shop, canal exhibits, education room, picnic area, a defibrillator, standard and accessible toilets.
    • View information on opening times.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via a steep ramp at the most accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible entrance is into the café.
    • There is stepped access at the main entrance.
    • There is 1 other entrance.
    • There is stepped access at the other entrance.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the main museum galleries on the upper 2 floors.
    • There are no doors along circulation routes.
    • The upper 2 floors can be accessed via stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • Seating is available.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
    • There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.
    • Staff receive the following training: First Aid, Health & Safety, and Disability Awareness. This applies to permanent employees (including management) only.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located outside the café entrance on the left.
    • The toilet with adaptations has no transfer space available.
    • The male and female step-free standard toilet facilities are located at car park level to the left of the Canal Museum.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the Toilet with Adaptations.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the Canal Museum.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays have faded markings.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 245cm (width) x 462cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The nearest designated bay is 30m from the cafe entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has steep slopes.
    • This route has uneven surfaces and narrow walkways.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders but not all users.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • Electric Vehicle charging points are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Toilet with Adaptations (No Transfer Space)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the left of the café entrance.
    • The distance from the café entrance is 10m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a slight ramp or slope.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 83cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm (width) x 226cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is not a lateral transfer space next to the toilet.
    • There is a spatula flush on the left as you face the toilet.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the right as you face the toilet.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the left as you face the toilet.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the left as you face the toilet.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 103cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 109cm from the floor.
    • There are paper towels for drying hands.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 98cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 114cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 98cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • The space beside the toilet is 54cm on the left and 59cm on the right but is obstructed.

Café Entrance

  • This entrance is located behind the car park.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • There are no handrails for the ramp.
  • There is a single automatic door, which is push pad activated.
  • The height of the push pad is 98cm.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 83cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high colour contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 93cm.

Café

  • Location and Access View
    • The most accessible route has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into this area.
  • Service View
    • This area has a counter where food and drink can be ordered and staff who can provide assistance with ordering.
    • Full table service is not available.
    • Menus are handheld and wall-mounted.
    • The following dietary requirements can be catered for: gluten free, dairy free, nut allergy, vegetarian and vegan.
    • The following are available: drinking straws, takeaway cups and takeaway cutlery.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Order and Payment View
    • The payment counter was surveyed.
    • The counter is located on the right hand side of the main counter.
    • There is step-free level access to the counter.
    • The height of the counter is 83cm.
    • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
    • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
    • The height of the tray rail is 69cm.
    • There is card machine height is between 77-83cm.
  • Seating Area View
    • There is step-free level access throughout the seating area.
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests, sofas, benches, stools and high stools.
    • Furniture available in this area includes: tables and high tables.
    • Some chairs and tables are fixed.
    • The surface height of some of the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • The clear height under some of the tables is suitable for wheelchair users.
    • There may be background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.
    • Lighting levels are adjustable.

Gift Shop

  • Getting Around View
    • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
    • The majority of main aisle widths are over 180cm.
    • The majority of product aisle widths are between 120cm - 150cm.
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the shelving and floor throughout this area.
    • There may be background noise.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
    • Overflow seating from the café is in the gift shop.
    • The checkout area is located on the right hand side upon entering the gift shop.
    • There is step-free level access to the checkout area.
    • The venue has a payment counter.
  • Payment Counter View
    • The counter surveyed was on the right hand side of the shop.
    • Signage is not provided for the counter.
    • The payment counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
    • The height of the payment counter is 111cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the counter.
    • The height of the lowered section is 74cm.
    • The card payment machine is portable.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Stairs to the Canal Museum

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right of the café counter and to the left of the gift shop counter.
  • The museum exhibits on the first and second floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 14 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 19cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • The steps have open risers.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • Lighting levels are adjustable.
  • The depth of the steps is 23cm.

Canal Museum (First and Second Floor)

  • The museum is indoors.
  • The following areas have stepped access: first and second floor museum exhibits and children's activity area.
  • Some flooring is shiny.
  • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
  • The following may be experienced here: strong smells.
  • There may be background noise.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • Lighting levels are adjustable.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests and benches.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: tables.
  • The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
  • The following areas of the tour have stepped access: the first and second floor exhibits.
  • Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via an information booklet.
  • Wayfinding signage is not provided throughout the tour.
  • A guide can discuss the exhibits for anyone who can't access the stairs.

Outdoor Spaces (Canal Side and Picnic Area)

  • About View
    • The following is available in this area: woodland and grounds.
    • Additional facilities in this area include: the canal, a learning centre, narrowboats, passenger boat trips, a towpath, locks, old stables, a leggers hut, a nature reserve, a picnic area and outside café seating.
  • Getting Around View
    • There are surfaced footpaths throughout.
    • Surfaced footpaths consist of: concrete, tarmac and paving slabs.
    • The majority of the surfaced footpaths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
    • Some footpaths have sections with potential obstacles such as: uneven surfaces and advertising boards.
    • There are seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
    • The following areas have stepped access: the main entrance into the museum, the side entrance into the café, the boat tour.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps: from the car park to the towpath.
    • There are picnic benches or outside café seating.