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Route Guide - Porters' Lodge to Gresham Court

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

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 (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.

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.

Introduction

Porters' Lodge to the Margaret Wileman Building

  • From the Porters' Lodge proceed along the raised footpath towards the end of the lodge.
  • There is a slight downwards gradient (3.1 degrees) (Photographs 1-3).
  • The width of the footpath is 112cm.
  • The surface is plastic with small open square drainage holes throughout.
  • There is no handrail at the gradient.
  • At the bottom of the gradient turn left and cross The Drive.
  • The Drive is the main car parking area of the College and is usually quiet.
  • Traffic may be passing in both directions.
  • There are rainwater gullies on both sides of The Drive which may be difficult for wheelchair users to cross (Photograph 5).
  • The surface of The Drive is concrete.
  • After crossing The Drive there is a kerb onto the main footpath (Photograph 6).
  • Turn right and proceed along the footpath.
  • The surface of the footpath is tarmac.
  • After approximately 23 metres there is a long dropped kerb which gives access to gates and the driveway to Wollaston Lodge 1 (Photographs 9 and 10).
  • After crossing the driveway continue along the footpath.
  • After approximately 21 metres the footpath drops slightly to become level with The Drive and crosses the driveway to Wollaston Lodge 2 (Photograph 12).
  • After crossing the driveway proceed straight ahead towards the Margaret Wileman Building.
  • To the left is access to Chancellor's Court, the Centenary Building, and the Front Left Entrance of the Margaret Wileman Building (Photograph 14).

Margaret Wileman Building to Cricket Ground Gate

  • Bear slightly left and proceed onto the footpath which runs along the front of the Margaret Wileman Building.
  • There is a slight lip onto the footpath (Photograph 2).
  • The surface of the footpath is concrete.
  • The footpath varies in width due to overgrowing plants and is over 150cm wide.
  • The footpath is uneven in places (Photograph 4).
  • After approximately 23 metres bear slightly right and proceed across The Drive towards the tall trees (Photographs 5 and 6).
  • There is a gap between the trees with a footpath which continues towards the rear of the College grounds (Photograph 7).
  • Proceed onto the footpath.
  • The footpath is over 150cm wide and is signed Disabled Access.
  • There is a slight (3.3 degrees) uphill ramp (Photographs 8-10).
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide and has a handrail on the left going up which does not cover the full ramp.
  • At the top of the ramp there is a footpath to the left which runs along the Margaret Wileman Building Pavilion and gives access to the front right entrance (Photograph 11).
  • Continue along the footpath bearing slightly left around the Pavilion Room (Photograph 12).
  • There is a gate on the right hand side of the path which gives access to the University Cricket Ground footpath (Photograph 13).
  • The gate opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some users to open.
  • The gate is 98cm wide and is unlocked by a key fob.
  • The height of the key fob reader is 74cm (Photograph 14).
  • There is a similar key fob reader on the Cricket Ground side of the gate at a height of 87cm (Photograph 15).

Cricket Ground Gate to Gresham Court Grounds Gate

  • Continue onto the footpath beyond the Cricket Ground Gate.
  • The surface of the footpath is concrete.
  • The footpath is over 150cm wide.
  • There is a slight (3.3 degree) downwards gradient immediately beyond the gate (Photograph 2).
  • The footpath has slight turns as it proceeds along the rear of the University Cricket Ground.
  • After approximately 100 metres the footpath bears slightly left and proceeds along the fence between the cricket ground and the University Tennis Courts (Photograph 8).
  • There are some uneven sections of the footpath along this area due to tree roots (Photograph 10).
  • The footpath continues along the side of the Indoor Cricket School and is uneven in places due to manhole covers (Photograph 11).
  • Continue along the footpath to the end of the building and follow the footpath to the right.
  • The surface of the footpath becomes concrete paving slabs (Photograph 13).
  • There is a slight (3.9 degrees) downwards gradient (Photograph 15) leading to a slight (3.8 degrees) uphill gradient (Photograph 16) as you continue along the front of the building.
  • As you proceed past the entrance to the building the footpath narrows and may be slightly overgrown (Photograph 18), however, the footpath is still over 150cm wide.
  • There is a slight (3.9 degrees) downhill gradient as you continue to the end of the building (Photograph 20).
  • The footpath has a left turn towards the Gresham Road exit from the College.
  • Continue straight ahead to the gate into the grounds of Gresham Court (Photograph 21).
  • The gate opens away from you (push) and is permanently held open.
  • The clear opening width of the gate is 171cm.

Gresham Court Grounds Gate to Gresham Court Courtyard Gate

  • Continue along the footpath proceeding along the rear of Gresham Court.
  • The surface of the footpath is concrete.
  • The footpath is over 150cm wide.
  • There is a gradual turn to the left leading to the gates into the courtyard of Gresham Court (Photograph 2 and 3).
  • There is a steep (4.8 degrees) downwards gradient before the gate (Photograph 4).
  • The gates open automatically away from you and are activated by a key fob reader at a height of 93cm (Photograph 5).
  • There is a button to activate the gate for exit at a height of 90cm (Photograph 6).

Gresham Court Courtyard Gate to Gresham Court Entrances

  • After entering the Gresham Court courtyard gate the surface of the footpath becomes stone and concrete.
  • This area is sheltered.
  • The South Stair Entrance is located to the left (Photographs 1 and 2) and is clearly signed.
  • Ahead on the right is the Study Space Entrance (Photograph 3).
  • Continue past the Study Space and turn right, proceeding along the front of the building (Photograph 4).
  • The footpath narrows, however, it is still over 150cm wide.
  • The North Stair Entrance is located ahead and is clearly signed (Photographs 5 and 6).