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Porters' Lodge

Hughes Hall, Mortimer Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2EW

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Access Guide

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Useful Information

Getting To and Around Hughes Hall

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Hughes Hall is situated in Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the Campus is located in Mortimer Road. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Hughes Hall has limited on-site car parking. The main parking area is located along The Drive where there is 1 Blue Badge parking bay. There are some Fellows' parking bays in the area in front of the Margaret Wileman Building, however, they were blocked off at the time of the survey. Parking bays can be allocated for students with mobility issues on arrangement with the College. The College also leases parking from the University of Cambridge Fenner's Ground which has clearly signed spaces for Hughes Hall and 4 Blue Badge bays.
      Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. At Hughes Hall there is a sheltered cycle stand available under Gresham Court. There are many unsheltered cycle stands available along The Drive and between Wollaston Lodge 2 and the Margaret Wileman Building.
    • For more information on getting to Hughes Hall by road 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
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located in Mortimer Road. Access is via a single pedestrian gate with a card reader which is situated to the right of the vehicular entrance (Photographs 1-5). The gate opens automatically away from you and is activated by either pressing the exit button (height 83cm) or using the card/fob reader (height 97cm). There is an intercom at this gate (height 102cm.) There is a 2.4 degree ramp without handrails immediately beyond this entrance.
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via Gresham Court which is located on Gresham Road (Photographs 6-9). There is a main gate and an additional side gate at the right hand side of Gresham Court. The main gate opens automatically towards you and is activated by either pressing the exit button (height 90cm) or using the card/fob reader (height 93cm). There is a 3.6 degree slope in front of the entrance. There is a similar gate opposite the main gate, with a 4.8 degree slope beyond it, which gives access to the path leading to the main buildings of the College and The Drive (Photographs 10-13).
    • The side gate at Gresham Court gives direct access to the path leading to the main buildings of the College and The Drive (Photographs 14-18). There is a 5.4 degree slope leading to the gate. The gate opens towards you and may be difficult for some users to open. The gate is unlocked by either pressing the exit button (height 105cm) or using the key card/fob reader (height 120cm). There is also an intercom at this gate (height 150cm).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the designated Blue Badge bay on The Drive there is open step-free access to the network of paths around external areas of the Hughes Hall site (Photographs 19-22). The site is mostly level with wide paths (150cm+) which have a surface of various types (flagstone paving, tarmac, concrete, block paving and brick block paving) (Photographs 23-26). There is a slight ramp with handrails on either side to access the upper lawn from the garden. This ramp bypasses three steps with a handrail to the right (Photographs 27 and 28).
    • The external parts of the site are otherwise step-free except for access into buildings. There are steps to access Chancellor's Court, with a steep slope (114cm wide) to overcome them (Photographs 29 and 30).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Hughes Hall have stepped access into and around them (Photographs 31-35). Due to the age of the buildings the staircases do vary in materials and layout. The height and depths of steps are not uniform and neither is lighting, handrail provision/type or step markings. There are some buildings which have been adapted to make them step-free, including portable access ramps to bypass external steps and internal lifts to access other floors. There is steep ramped access to the Fenner's Building (Photograph 36). Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is not much directional signage around the site which means those unfamiliar with the layout will need an escort or a map to reference. There is a map at the entrance to the site, just beyond the Porters' Lodge (Photograph 37). Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Fenner's Building and the Conference foyer of the Margaret Wileman Building.

Site/Campus Car Park (Fenner's Ground Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the front right of the College, off Mortimer Road.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Fenner's Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 350cm x 592cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders and permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • 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 nearest designated bay is 49m (53yd 1ft) from the Fenner's Building Main Entrance.
    • Access to the buildings from this car park is via a pedestrian gate and then via the main campus gate. There is a small lip on the threshold of the pedestrian gate from the car park.

Site/Campus Car Park (The Drive)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located along The Drive, off Mortimer Road.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Porters' Lodge, Fenner's Building, Wollaston Lodge 1, Wollaston Lodge 2, and the Margaret Wileman Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders and permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • 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 a campus map available within the car park.
    • The nearest designated bay is 33m (36yd 3in) from the Margaret Wileman Building Main Entrance.
  • Comments View
    • Fellows' parking is located at the end of The Drive, opposite the Margaret Wileman Building. At the time of the survey this parking was blocked off and not in use.
    • The Campus map is located at the entrance to The Drive, next to Fenner's Building.

Getting To (The Porters' Lodge)

  • Location View
    • The Porters' Lodge is located off Mortimer Road next to the main pedestrian entrance and vehicular entrance.
    • The building is accessed via the main pedestrian and vehicular entrances to the College.
    • There is limited wayfinding signage along the route to the Porters' Lodge.
    • Hughes Hall College link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the right hand side of the Porters' Lodge.
    • 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.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • 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 door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 84cm.
    • 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 to the entrance from the site gate, and from The Drive.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 112cm (3ft 8in).
  • Comments View
    • The ramp leading to the entrance from the site entrance is shown in photograph 3.
    • The ramp leading to the entrance from The Drive is shown in photograph 4.

Reception (Porters' Lodge)

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located to the right as you enter.
    • The reception point is approximately 1m (3ft 3in) from the entrance.
    • The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There is step-free access to the reception point.
    • There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
    • There are windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors at/behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
    • The lighting levels at the reception point are good.
    • The height of the reception counter is 112cm .
    • There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
    • There is not a lowered section of the counter.
    • The counter is staffed.
    • Clipboards can be provided to anyone who is unable to use the desk.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system at the reception point.
    • There is no wayfinding signage available at/close to the reception.
    • The type of flooring in the reception area is vinyl.
  • Reception Waiting Area View
    • There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
    • Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
    • There are sofas only in the waiting area.
    • There is not sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.

Inside Access

  • Access and Circulation View
    • There is step-free access throughout the building.
    • The type of flooring is vinyl.
    • There is flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does play background music/sound.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located on the ground floor of Fenner's Building.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located on the ground floor of Fenner's Building.