Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms, historic interiors and a historic house.
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope and a manual door.
- This entrance is the hall lift entrance.
- There are 4 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: standard lift and stairs.
- There is step-free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
- 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, large print information, Braille information and facilities for assistance dogs.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: an accessible toilet for the use of everyone.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found on the first floor, to the right as you exit the lift..
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 5m from the lift.
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.
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. 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 visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (the Hall and Gallery)
- From the visitor reception entrance gates turn right and follow the path past the restaurant and go through the arch.
Turn left as you go through the arch and follow the path.
The hall lift entrance is then ahead. - The route to the area is step-free via a very steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are concrete and paving stones.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance (Main)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the property.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 10+ steps, which are unmarked, with handrails on both sides.
- Steps are split with a resting area.
- The handrails cover all steps.
- All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- This entrance has a bell.
- Features at a suitable height for a wheelchair user include: the bell.
- There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which open away from you.
- The width of the opening is 66cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
Entrance (Hall Lift)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the left side of the property.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The steep ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- This entrance has a bell.
- Features at a suitable height for a wheelchair user include: the bell.
- There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 88cm.
Lift (Hall Lift Entrance)
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are -1, G, 1, 2.
- Externally the lift has: buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, a door with a high colour contrast to the surroundings and tactile markings.
- The lift does have a recommended turning space (150cm x 150cm) in front of it.
- The lift door opening width is 78cm.
- The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm.
- Internally the lift has: tactile markings, a separate door to exit, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, a visual floor indicator, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
- There is step-free access via lift throughout the tour.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- There is background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille, information board and television/screen.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
- There are bench seats and 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.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.
Stairs (Main Staircase)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are -1, G, 1, 2.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
- The highest step is 18cm high.
- The stairs are open.
- Lighting levels are low.
Toilet with Adaptations (Hall and Gallery - First Floor - Accessible - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located on the first floor, in the corridor to the right as you exit the lift.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 5m from the lift.
- There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 89cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 167cm x 224cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 113cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 103cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 103cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 116cm.
- The height of the baby change is 87cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a full length mirror, a nappy/incontinence items bin, a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
- There are coat hooks in the toilet at 107cm and 187cm from the floor.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the internal door, the dropdown rail, the floor and the toilet seat.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.