Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms, a historic house and historic interiors.
- The most accessible entrance has a step, a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps) and a manual door.
- This entrance is at the front of the building.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
- There is restricted room to manoeuvre at this property.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a step free standard toilet.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is behind the Visitor Reception. View information about this toilet (new tab).
- The standard toilets can be found on the ground floor.
- The standard toilet surveyed can be found at the rear of the building.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has step-free level access, a manual door and a narrow exit opening.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: soft toy.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Reception for the manual wheelchair and the Manor House for the sensory pack. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: an off-road/all-terrain mobility scooter and a tramper. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (the Manor)
- Turn right out of Visitor Reception into the Old Farmyard.
To the left of the Alexander Keiller Museum there is a open gate giving access to the front of the Manor. - The route to the area is step-free level.
- Path surfaces along the route are gravel, cobbles and paving stones.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The slight portable ramp is under 75cm wide, with no handrails.
- The ramp overcomes the step.
- Please contact a member of staff for use of the portable ramp.
- There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- The step is not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 97cm.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 1 hour.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can not be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are a mixture of chairs with and without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
- The ramp or steps give access to the South Library.
Standard Toilet (Ground Floor)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 78cm.
- The shared standard toilet was surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 79cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are bright.
- There are hand dryers.
- A member of staff is needed to open the first door leading to the toilet area via a security pad.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- The highest step is 15cm high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- The stairs to come down are very steep. These steps are not clearly marked and have a handrail which switches sides.
Staff will allow you to use the stairs you went up to come down.
Exit
- The exit is located at the rear of the building, leading into the Topiary Garden.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 92cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- This exit is narrow and wheelchair users should use the entrance at the front of the building to exit.
