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Fellows' Garden and Deer Park

Peterhouse, First Court, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, 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

Getting To (Fellows' Garden)

  • Location View
    • The Fellows' Garden is located South of the Peterhouse campus building and runs alongside Trumpington Street. The Fitzwilliam Museum backs onto the Garden from the road.
    • The Fellows' Garden can be accessed either from the campus or the path leading from Grove Lane and the William Stone Building. From the campus, the entrance gate is immediately to the left as you exit Screens Passage from Old Court or via the path from Gisborne Court.
      From the William Stone Building the Fellows' Garden begins past the gate into the Deer Park/Fellows' Garden. It is along the right-hand side of the path from this direction.
    • There are various paths in the Garden mostly consisting of gravel, loose rocks or grass/earth. The Garden can be accessed from any point from the path.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Fellows' Garden.
    • There are various seating areas to relax and enjoy.
    • Peterhouse link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Fellows' Garden Gated Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located immediately outside Screens Passage from Old Court.
    • This entrance gives access to the Fellows' Garden, the area closest to the Hall and the Porters' Lodge.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 122cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • The gate can be permanently held open.
      The slight lip is due to the change from stone slabs to a loose gravel path.
  • Comments View
    • The Garden can be accessed from many other points along the central path. It can also be accessed via the rear archway from the Bell Tower / Hall which is 51cm wide, has a slight lip and has a maximum height of 181cm (Photograph 3).

Fellows' Garden

  • *Pathways*
  • There is a loose gravel path along the rear/ south side of the campus with a minimum width of 93cm. This is when accessed via the gated entrance by Screens Passage. The path has various slight slopes and is uneven in places (Photographs 1-4).
  • There is 7cm step and steep slope onto the lawn from the gravel path (Photograph 5).
  • There is a steep sloped path to the right of the gated entrance which is used to access staff buildings/sheds. The surface of the path is earth. There are tree roots which are trip hazards (Photograph 6).
  • There is a path consisting of loose stones that is 120cm wide that connects the small section of the Garden by the Fitzwilliam Museum with the other.
  • The are a few scattered stone slabs that partially connect this with the main path (Photographs 7-9).
  • The stony path can be avoided by using the main central path or using the grass.
  • *Seating*
  • There are various tables (vary from 61-71cm clear space underneath) and chairs with and without armrests along the gravel path and on the lawn. One table is covered by a canopy (Photographs 2 and 3).

Getting To (Deer Park)

  • Location View
    • Deer Park is located South of the Peterhouse campus building and is next to the Fellows' Garden, running along the other side of the main central path.
    • Deer Park can be accessed either from the campus or the path leading from Grove Lane and the William Stone Building.
      From the campus, the park is approximately 30 metres South as you exit Screens Passage from Old Court or via a path leading from Gisborne Court. It is on the right-hand side of the central path through the gardens.
      From the William Stone Building, Deer Park begins past the gate into the Deer Park/Fellows' Garden. It is along the left-hand side of the path from this direction.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to Deer Park.
    • There are various seating areas and a canopy area.
    • Peterhouse link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Deer Park - Campus Side)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located anywhere from the central path or via two paths leading from the access road/parking to the rear/south of Gisborne Court.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • Comments View
    • Deer Park can be accessed via the main path from Screens Passage (Photograph 1), the paths to rear of Gisborne Court (Photographs 2 and 3) or from anywhere along the main path.
    • The paths from Gisborne Court and through the parking area have very slight slopes.

Outside Access (Deer Park / Fellows' Garden Gate - William Stone Building)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located near the Fitzwilliam Museum, along the path from the William Stone Building.
    • This entrance gives access to Deer Park and Fellows' Garden.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 102cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • The gate is permanently held open.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located at the gated entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 107cm (3ft 6in).
  • Comments View
    • The slope at the gates is approximately 50cm long (Photograph 3).

Deer Park

  • *Non-permanent Features*
  • At the time of survey (August 2021) there was building work being undertaken along the wall immediately to the left as you enter through the Deer Park/Fellows' Garden Gate Entrance (Photograph 1).
  • There is a canopy with temporary flooring leading up to and within it. There are various tables (69cm clear space underneath), chairs without armrests and sanitisation stations 102cm high (Photographs 2-4).
  • The temporary path/flooring connects to the main central path and the car park/access road to the rear of Gisborne Court.
  • *Pathways*
  • The pathways off the main path consist of cut grass and therefore are uneven (Photographs 5-8).
  • *Seating*
  • The park has two picnics table which has seats 44cm high, with a clear space of 68cm underneath the table (Photograph 9).
  • Various benches 41cm high with armrests and various chairs with armrests and a table are available (Photographs 10 and 11).
  • *Small Rear Separated Section*
  • This is accessed via two entrances.
  • One access point is a path from the Garden that is approximately 100cm wide and has an entrance cut through the hedge which is 77cm wide. The entrance consists of uneven stone slabs (Photographs 12 and 13).
  • The second entrance is from the path leading from the parking/access road to the rear of Gisborne Court. This is a stepped entrance with a minimum width of 71cm cut through the hedge. The two block/brick paved steps are 3cm and 10cm high with a 4cm drop from the step into the garden itself (Photograph 14 and 15).
  • The area consists of loose gravel paths round a central feature piece and one bench. At time of survey some paths were reduced to 15cm due to vegetation growth with the widest being 72cm (Photograph 16).