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Chapel

Peterhouse, First Court, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RD

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Peterhouse

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Peterhouse is located on Trumpington Street in Cambridge city centre. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • At the time of the survey (August 2021) there was very little parking available at the site due to building work. Normally, some parking is available to staff and some visitors with specific requirements who request in advance. There is no general parking for visitors, and 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. There are bike stands available throughout the site.
    • For more information on getting to Peterhouse 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
    • Visitors to Peterhouse enter via the Porters' Lodge on Trumpington Street. Access into the Porters' Lodge is via a single heavy door 82cm wide and a step which has been worn down to 3cm high in the centre (Photographs 1 and 2). There is also a pedestrian gate to the right of the Porters' Lodge as you face it, 85cm wide (Photograph 3). The step here has been worn down so much it is now a slight slope with a threshold (Photograph 4).
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via the Granta Gate at the rear of the site (Photograph 5), although this is mainly a vehicle entrance for deliveries and contractors, with no footpath for pedestrians. The road goes underneath the Whittle Building and up a long, steep slope (Photograph 6). At the top, pedestrians take the path up to Gisborne Court (Photograph 7). The path is 94cm wide and has a slight slope. There is also a vehicle entrance to the site off Little St Mary’s Lane to the side of the site, via 2 gates (Photograph 8). However, this only gives access to the Blue Badge bay outside the Theatre on performance days. The main entrance to the library is located between the two gates here. There is a gap for pedestrians 44cm wide (Photograph 9).
    • There is an entrance at the end of Grove Lane that give access to the William Stone Building and the far end of the Deer Park. This is via a gate 174cm, which can be made double width to give vehicle access if required (Photograph 10). There is also access to St. Peter’s Terrace off Grove Lane, via a single gate 102cm wide and a slight slope (Photograph 11). All the houses in St. Peter’s Terrace are accessed by steps (Photograph 12). There is also a similar gate further down Grove Lane that gives access to the path at the rear of the houses (Photograph 13).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • From the Porters' Lodge and Trumpington Street entrance, the paths have a flagstone surface, so are uneven in places (Photograph 14). There is a steep ramp or 2 12cm high steps (Photograph 15 and 16) to access Old Court (Photograph 17). There is a cut through at the far end of Old Court which has a slight ramp, 89cm wide (Photograph 18). This leads through to Gisborne Court. This leads through to Fen Court, which has a concrete tile surface that is more even (Photograph 19). From here there is a slight ramp leading up to the Theatre. The bollard at the top of the ramp makes the gaps 107cm and 110cm wide (Photograph 20).
    • Leading off the side of Old Court is Screens Passage, which is accessed via a shallow, worn step (Photograph 21). The entrance to the Hall is off this passage, and at the end there is a steep ramp, 125cm wide (Photograph 22). If the main gates to this passage are closed, there are doorways in the gates 66cm wide with a 9cm threshold. Beyond the passage there is a gravel path to the left leading to the Fellows Garden (Photograph 23), and a flagstone then compacted gravel path leading through the Deer Park (Photographs 24 and 25). There are unsurfaced and gravel paths leading off the main path (Photograph 26). At the far end of the Deer Park, the main path narrows to 140cm and has a slight slope leading up to the William Stone Building (Photograph 27).
    • The area around the William Stone Building has a brick block paving surface. There is a brick block path, with a slight slope at the start, leading to the rear of the St. Peter’s Terrace houses and the Squash Court (Photographs 28 and 29).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Peterhouse have step-free access into them, although some are accessed by steps only (Photograph 30). Peterhouse is the oldest College in Cambridge, with parts dating back to the 13th century. 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 (Photographs 31-32). 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.
    • Accessible toilet facilities are located on the first floor in the corner of Old Court and the basement of the Whittle Building.
  • AccessAble Related Links View

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the standard marked parking bays are 200cm x 600cm (6ft 7in x 19ft 8in).
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Trumpington Street.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The on-street parking along Trumpington Street is pay and display. Payment is via a machine near the spaces.
    • After various bike racks there are parking spaces which have a maximum stay of 2 hours, Monday to Saturday (08:30-18:30) and 4 hours on Sunday (09:00-17:00).

Getting To (The Chapel)

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the chapel off Old Court.
    • This entrance gives access to the chapel.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Anon DNI 1632'.
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • 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 double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is portable.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 9cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Ramp(s) / Slope(s) and Step(s) (Access to the Nave)

  • Ramp / Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope located in front of you after the main entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is used to access the nave.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is portable.
    • 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 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are good.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a/are step(s) located in front of you after the main entrance.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the nave.
    • There is/are 2 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 11cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are moderate to good.
    • There are two ramps, one to bypass each set of steps. Both ramps are steep and have no handrails and widths of 110cm. There is a pair of double gates at the top of the second ramp / step at the entrance to the Nave which has a width of 134cm.

Inside Access

  • Access and Circulation View
    • There is not step-free access throughout the area.
    • The type of flooring is stone.
    • There is flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • 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 good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signs is not consistent throughout.
    • Dementia friendly 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
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • There is step free access to the front row of seating.
    • There is an altar in the chapel at a height of 100cm.
    • There is a height adjustable lectern within the chapel.

Step(s) (Raised Seating and Altar)

  • Stepped Level Change 1 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located either side of the nave.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access to access the second row of seating.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 10cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
    • It is necessary to step over the step to reach the seating. Steps to the left of the nave can be seen in photograph 1. Steps to the right of the nave can be seen in photograph 2.
  • Stepped Level Change 2 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located at either side of the nave.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the third row of seating from the nave.
    • There is/are 3 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
    • There are multiple sets of steps to access the seating (photographs 3, 4, 5, and 6).
  • Stepped Level Change 3 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located at the far end of the nave.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the altar.
    • There is/are 4 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 12cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The lighting levels at the step(s) are good.
    • The steps can be seen in photographs 7 and 8.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located on the first floor of Old Court - F Staircase.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located on the first floor of Old Court - F Staircase.