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Abbots Hall

Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 1DL

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Access Guide

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Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Stowmarket.
  • Comments View
    • Abbots Hall Museum is part of the Food Museum and is located within the same grounds.

Opening Times

  • The venue has seasonal opening times and please contact the venue for details of opening times.

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders only, please ask at the reception desk for entry to the car park. There is Food Museum patron parking with the Illife Way car park next to Asda car park. This area has standard pay and display bays. There is free parking for Blue Badge owners for 3 hours. This car park is approximately 200m away.
    • The car park is located to the left of the main entrance.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot booked in advance.
    • There is/are 2 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 250cm x 460cm (8ft 2in x 15ft 1in).
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 100m (109yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 103m (112yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is concrete.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available within the car park.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • There is an entry phone next to the entrance to the Blue Badge parking. This entry phone is located at 115cm high.

Outside Access (Accessible Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the right of the main entrance.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
    • The main automatic door(s) is/are push pad or push button activated.
    • The push pad or push button is 90cm from floor level.
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The width of the door opening is 80cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located leading to door threshold.
    • 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.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The width of the door opening is 120cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) both ways.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 160cm.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located leading to the door threshold.
    • There is/are 5 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.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are not easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • There is an additional step down at the door threshold that measures 4cm.

Lift (Accessible Entrance Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located just beyond the accessible entrance.
  • The lift is a stair lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G only.
  • The lift is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the accessible entrance.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 90cm x 130cm (2ft 11in x 4ft 3in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Comments View
    • Exhibits are located in rooms located off main corridors. Door widths are wider than 80cm and the doors are held permanently open. Majority of doors have threshold steps of approx. 2cm.

Museum

  • Exhibits cannot be audio described.
  • Tactile signage for exhibits is not available.
  • The availability of tactile signage does not depend on exhibition.
  • Braille signage for exhibits is not available.
  • The availability of Braille signage does not depend on exhibition.
  • Touch tours are not available.
  • The availability of touch tours does not depend on exhibition.
  • Video tours are not available.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the right of the venue.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G-1.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The lift is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the accessible entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 130cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 3in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.

Accessible Toilet (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the accessible entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located just left of the entrance lift.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 240cm x 190cm (7ft 10in x 6ft 3in).
    • There is sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is not fully functional.
    • The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are sanitary disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 110cm and 150cm from the floor.
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The shelf does not have the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • There is a medium colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is fair.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Female Toilet(s) View
    • The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the far right of the venue.
    • The female toilet(s) is/are approximately 50m (54yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels in the female toilets are moderate to good.
  • Access to Standard Male Toilet(s) View
    • The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located to the right of the accessible entrance.
    • The male toilet(s) is/are approximately 10m (10yd 2ft) from the accessible entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is not level access to the male toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels in the male toilets are low to moderate.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located in the female toilets.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the baby change facility.

Level Change (Male Standard Toilets)

  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are located leading down to the male toilets.
  • There is/are 4 step(s) to the area/service.
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are low to moderate.
  • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
  • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Additional Info

  • Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are not available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • An assistance dog toilet area can be provided onsite.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.