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Chapel

Sidney Sussex College, Sidney Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3HU

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Sidney Sussex College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Sidney Sussex College is situated on the north eastern edge of Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the site is located in King Street. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Sidney Sussex College has limited on-site car parking, and so is only available to staff and visitors if requested in advance. The only parking area is located off King Street, to the side of Blundell Court. 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. At Sidney Sussex College the main sheltered cycle park is located off Hall Court. There are other bike stands available throughout the College site.
    • For more information on getting to Sidney Sussex College 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
    • There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
    • The nearest bus stop to the College is on Jesus Lane, on the north west edge of the College site, close to the junction with Sidney Street. This is served by the A busway service towards St Ives. There are also bus stops further up Bridge Street, just over 150 metres from the main entrance to the College. The buses to and from the Madingley Road Park and Ride stop here, along with the 5 citi and 6 citi services to the bus station. There is another bus stop a similar distance from the College but in the opposite direction, on Hobson Street outside Christ’s College. The bus services that stop here include 1 citi, 2 citi, 3 citi, 5 citi, 6 citi, 8 citi and 8H Histon Road Shuttle. These services give direct links to Arbury, Chesterton, the bus station, Fen Ditton, Bar Hill, Swavesey, Cotterham and Orchard Park. The bus station in Drummer Street is approximately 500 metres away from Sidney Sussex College.
    • Cambridge City Centre Bus Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
    • For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located on Sidney Street. Access is via 2 unmarked steps, 15 and 12cm high with no handrails and a single gate 57cm wide (Photographs 1 and 2). The gate opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. This entrance can be made wider if required by opening one or both main gates (Photograph 3). This entrance leads to the Porter’s' Lodge, Hall Court and Chapel Court.
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via the main delivery gates, further along Sidney Street to the right as you face the main pedestrian entrance (Photograph 4). The main gates are open in the morning until 10am only. After that, those with keys can access through the small gate within the main gates, 52cm wide with a 30cm high threshold and opening away from you (push). This gate may be difficult for some to open (Photograph 5). Beyond this is a long slight slope leading up to Staff Court (Photograph 6).
    • Key card holders can also access the site via a pedestrian gate within the main gate at the vehicle entrance on King Street (Photograph 7). The gate is single, opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. The height of the card reader is 108cm, the opening width of the gateway is 80cm with an 8cm threshold. The whole gate slides open to allow vehicle access, and this can also be used to access without the threshold.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle or via King Street there is step-free access to the network of external paths around the courts and main parts of the site. At the end of the path leading from the car park there are bollards, leaving gaps between 85 – 120cm wide (Photograph 8). There is then a steep slope leading up between the Mong Building and the Garden Court Building (Photograph 9). From here, there is a cut through between the Mong Building and Master’s Lodge to Chapel Court (Photograph 10). There are cut throughs from here to Staff Court on one side (Photographs 11 and 12) and the Porters' Lodge and Hall Court on the other (Photographs 13 and 14), continuing to Cloister Court after that (Photograph 15). The site is mostly level with paths with paving slab and concrete tile surfaces, so can be uneven in places. The paths also have slight gradients in places, particularly around the cut throughs between courts (Photograph 16). The paths around Hall and Chapel Courts have cobbles on either side (Photographs 17 and 18). At the end of the Cloister Court path, next to the entrance to the Fellows’ Garden, there is an unmarked step, 11cm high, with no handrails (Photograph 19). This can be overcome using the path that runs straight ahead from the cut through from Hall Court to the Fellows’ Garden. This path is 90cm wide and has a slight slope just beyond the cut through but then levels out (Photographs 20 and 21).
    • There is stepped access to the Covered Walkway (Photograph 22), which runs to the left past the Garden Court Building past the steep slope. The 13 unmarked steps have a handrail on the left hand side going down covering the bottom 5 steps only (Photograph 23). At the far end of the walkway there are 3 steps with handrails both sides leading up to the Sidney Bar (Photograph 24). There are also 15+ steps with no handrails leading up to Blundell Court (Photograph 25).
    • There are 15+ steps with handrails leading up from Staff Court and the area to the rear of the Garden Court Building and the Mong Building (Photograph 26) which lead up to South Court. From there Hobson Court, Montagu House and 26 Sussex Street can be accessed. There is also a bridge leading to Sussex House. Sussex has its own entrance off Hobson Street.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Sidney Sussex College have step-free access into them. However, most have internal steps that cannot be overcome step-free. Lifts are available in the Garden Court Building, Blundell Court and Sussex House.
    • There is clear directional signage around the site (Photographs 27 and 28) which means those unfamiliar with the layout will still be able to find their way to most of the key College areas and buildings. Site maps are also available from the Porters' Lodge. Accessible toilet facilities are located just inside the Mong Building, by the Dining Hall, and off Staff Court.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (King Street Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off King Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Blundell Court, Sidney Bar, Garden Court.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by staff and visitors.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • Visitor parking is only available here if requested in advance. At the time of the survey many of the parking bays were not in use due to building work. Photograph 4 shows the vehicle entrance into the car park from King Street.

Getting To (The Chapel)

  • Location View
    • The Chapel is located off Chapel Court near the Porters' Lodge pedestrian stepped entrance.
    • The Chapel can be accessed via Chapel Court either from the Porters' Lodge entrance or from the vehicular step-free entrance to the south of the campus. The entrance door is located centrally to Chapel Court. The Chapel can be accessed via 3 steps at the front entrance and a further small step at the next set of doors. There are further steps within the Chapel.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Chapel.
    • Other services / Facilities within the building include; the Vestry which is for staff only.
    • Sidney Sussex College link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Chapel Court Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located centrally to the building off Chapel Court.
    • This entrance gives access to the Chapel.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • 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 117cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 112cm.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located at the Chapel Court Entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • The ramp/slope is portable.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The width of the ramp/slope is 76cm (2ft 6in).
    • 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 3 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 14cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • This first entrance door gives access into a smaller room and to the second entrance door before the Chapel.
    • The second entrance door has one step which is 6cm high in front of it.
    • The second door also has a mat in front of the doors which could be perceived as a hole for those with a visual impairment. The door itself contrasts visually with the walls around it.
  • Comments View
    • This first entrance door gives access into a smaller room and to the second entrance door before the Chapel.
    • The second entrance door has one step which is 6cm high in front of it.
    • The second door also has a mat in front of the doors which could be perceived as a hole for those with a visual impairment. The door itself contrasts visually with the walls around it.

Inside Access

  • Access and Circulation View
    • There is not step-free access throughout the area.
    • The type of flooring is carpet and stone.
    • There is some flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • There is some 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 low to moderate.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
    • 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
    • This venue does not play background music/sound.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • The room before the Chapel has a vessel for holy water by the first entrance door which is 118cm high. There are a few desks, various commemorative plaques and a statue/bust in the area.
    • The Chapel itself consists of marble flooring which could be perceived to be slippery.
    • After the entrance door into the Chapel there is an archway which is 127cm wide (Photograph 4).
    • There is bench seating within the Chapel, some with stands for reading/singing material (Photograph 6). The gap to access the bench seating is 55-60cm wide.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There are two pianos and two Altars. The main Altar is at the top of 4 steps and is 107cm high (Photograph 10).
    • There is another Altar (107cm high) and various wooden seating without armrests accessed via 3 steps. This small seating area has wooden flooring (Photographs 11 and 12).

Step(s)

  • Stepped Level Change 1 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located after entry into the Chapel, approximately 11 metres from the entrance.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the pianos, further seating, Altar and the area to the side of the Chapel with seating and a separate Altar.
    • There is/are 2 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 12cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are 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 are shown in Photograph 1.
  • Stepped Level Change 2 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located at the front of the Chapel, approximately 25 metres from the entrance.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the Altar at the front and a small area with seating and another Altar to the front right-hand side of the Chapel.
    • There is/are 4 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are 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 are shown in Photograph 2. There are 3 steps that are 12cm before the Altar where the 4th step is 15cm high.
  • Stepped Level Change 3 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located at the front right-hand side of the Chapel.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the small separate area with various seats and separate Altar.
    • There is/are 3 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are 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 are shown in Photographs 3 and 4.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.