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Old Court - Dining Hall & Servery

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 (Old Court - Dining Hall & Servery)

  • Location View
    • The Dining Hall & Servery is located to the North of Peterhouse, close to the main pedestrian entrance in Trumpington Street.
    • In addition to the main pedestrian entrance you can also access the Dining Hall & Servery from Old Court.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Old Court - Dining Hall & Servery.
    • Peterhouse link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Old Court Entrance - F Staircase)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off to the left of Old Court.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'F'.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 110cm.

Eating and Drinking (Dining Hall & Servery)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the canteen.
    • The canteen is located off of Old Court.
    • There is step-free access to the canteen.
    • For access there is a single automatic door.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Tables cannot be booked in advance.
    • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
    • Staff cannot bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Menu types include; written wall menus.
    • Menus are clearly written.
    • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
    • Takeaway cups are not available.
    • Adapted cups are not available.
    • Adapted cutlery is not available.
    • Drinking straws are not available.
    • This area does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system .
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 84cm.
    • The height of the tray counter/rail is 76cm.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
    • The type of flooring in this area is tiles.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is not ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There are some tables which are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 66cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • There are also bench seats.
    • The type of flooring in this area is stone and wood.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • Access to the additional seating area is via one shallow step.
  • Comments View
    • The servery is placed on a slight slope (Photograph 4).
    • The exit to the servery is 82cm wide (Photograph 5).

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.