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Whitby Abbey - Visitor Centre & Museum

Abbey Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JT

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Access Guide

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Overview

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground floor, to the rear right of the shop just beyond the counter.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located on the ground floor, to the rear right of the shop just beyond the counter.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations, on the ground floor, to the rear right of the shop just beyond the counter.

Access Point (Main Gate)

  • This access point is located on Abbey Lane, at the top of the headland.
  • There is step-free level access.
  • There are double manual gates.
  • The gates are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 290cm.
  • The minimum width between the bollards is 120cm.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you enter.

Access Point (Archway Access Point)

  • This access point is located at the front left of the site, next to the welcome trailer.
  • There is step-free level access.
  • There is open access.
  • The width of the opening is 270cm.
  • There are speed humps before and after the archway with a minimum gap between them of 83cm.

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is 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 with no handrails.
  • The approach from the main gate includes uneven cobbled surfaces, whilst the approach from the archway access point is level and even.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 145cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.

Getting Around (Shop)

  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • The visual contrast between the walls and floor varies between low and high.
  • There is background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Counter (Gift Shop)

  • The counter is located on the ground floor, on the right-hand side of the visitor centre as you enter.
  • The distance from the entrance is 9m.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 95cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the counter.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • The counter has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is a clearly signed portable hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
  • There is background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, to the rear right of the shop just beyond the counter.
    • The distance from the entrance is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and manual doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a medium visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a medium 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 118cm (width) x 215cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 76cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 100cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 86cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 88cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not 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 138cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 79cm.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Counter (Admissions)

  • The counter is located on the ground floor of the visitor centre, to the left-hand side as you enter.
  • There is step-free level access to the counter.
  • The height of the counter is 103cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the counter, at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • There is a clearly signed portable hearing assistance system.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located at the rear of the visitor centre.
  • The ground and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are unmarked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do 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 between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to the left-hand side of the visitor centre as you enter.
  • The distance from the entrance is 16m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground floor and first floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a low visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have Braille markings and tactile markings.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 111cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 135cm (width) x 215cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have Braille markings and tactile markings.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Exhibition Space (First Floor)

  • This area is indoors.
  • There is step-free level access throughout all areas.
  • There is some room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
  • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
  • There is background noise.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • Display information includes: information boards and televisions/screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Seating available in this area includes: benches.

Exit (To The Ruins)

  • The exit area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the exit.
  • There is a single manual door at this exit.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 134cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second single manual door.
  • The second door opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 113cm.
  • The second door has an unlocked extension leaf.
  • There is step-free access via slope as you exit.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.