Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope.
- This entrance is main entrance at the front right of the building.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
- There is a colleague available for help and assistance.
- The following are also available: a companion/carer discount, seating, audio description, a virtual tour, audio format information and a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- There is an interactive system in the Entrance Room at the Museum that will give users access to 360 views of the upstairs rooms. This system also includes additional information on all key exhibits and includes full access to the posters and interactive system presentations on display in the Special Exhibition.
Opening Times (1st April to 31st October)
- Monday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Tuesday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Thursday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Friday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Saturday 10:00 - 16:00.
- Sunday 13:00 - 16:00.
Parking
- This site has a shared car park.
- This is an open air car park with a tarmac surface.
- Parking is free for Blue Badge holders only.
- There are 2 Blue Badge parking bays.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 240cm x 465cm.
- There is a hatched zone on one side but not to the rear.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 10m from the entrance.
- Obstacles from the car park include: uneven surfaces, level changes with no dropped kerbs, bollards with high colour contrast but no visual identification band and slopes/ramps.
Public Transport
- The nearest bus stop is on high Street and is 180m away.
- The nearest train station is Appledore.
- Appledore station is 7.5 miles away.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front right of the museum.
- There is step-free access at this entrance, via ramp/slope.
- The slope has a steep gradient.
- The ramp does not have handrails.
- There are double manual doors which is permanently held open.
- The width of the opening is 114cm.
- There is a second set of doors.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
- There is a second manual door at the entrance, which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 89cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of more than 2cm.
- There are bollards just before the entrance. The bollards contrast visually with the paving. The minimum gap between the bollards is 101cm wide. The bollards are 104cm high. There is a lip/threshold at the entrance.
Counter (Museum Payment and Shop Counter)
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- There is step-free level access to this counter.
- The height of the counter is 103cm.
- There is a low level counter at the recommended height for seated users (between 76cm - 86cm).
- Lighting levels are good at this counter.
- There is background noise here.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- There are high stools and chairs without armrests available in the counter area.
Shop
- The majority of aisle widths are 150cm+.
- All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- The majority of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is step-free level access to the till area.
- The height of the counter is 110cm.
- There is a low level till at the recommended height for seated users.
- Services/facilities available in the shop include: a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
Getting Around (Ground Floor)
- There is step-free access, via ramps, throughout the majority of the building.
- The majority of walkway widths on the route to the room are under 120cm.
- There are chairs without armrests available throughout the building.
- Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- The building has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- The hearing assistance loops is available to be plugged into the audio commentary portable devices only.
Ramp or Slope (Ground Floor Rear Corridor)
- The ramp is slight.
- The ramp has handrails on both sides.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- This ramp is against the rear wall, to the left as you enter and leads to the ground floor rear of the museum.
Ramp or Slope (Doorway to 20th Century Room and Upper Gallery)
- The ramp is steep .
- The ramp does not have handrails.
Attraction / Exhibit (Ground Floor)
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There is step-free access to and throughout this area, via ramp/slope.
- The majority of walkways are not 150cm+ wide.
- There is background noise here.
- The following may be experienced on the tour: interactive video effects.
- Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board, audio description, audio guides and touchscreens.
- The area has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- There is step-free level access around some of the area.
- There are high stools and chairs without armrests in this area.
- Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There are information screens throughout the museum. The screen heights are between 80cm and 120cm high. The information screen on the ground floor, to the right as you enter, will give a virtual tour of the first floor of the museum, including any special exhibitions that are currently being focused. All screens are touch screens. The information screens font size can be adjusted. The ground floor touchscreen can access archives, family history, local buildings etc. All exhibits can be viewed in more detail by using the touchscreens. Handsets are available and will give a detailed audio commentary of the major exhibits. Handsets are available from a colleague. Full instructions on use of the handsets are on the wall. All major exhibits are numbered. By typing in an exhibit number, the audio commentary will describe it. A plug-in hearing assistance system is available for the audio commentary.
Steps (Ground to First Floor)
- There are 10 or more steps.
- The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Getting Around (First Floor)
- There is not step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
- There are stools and chairs without armrests available throughout the building.
- Flooring in the area is not smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Lighting levels are varied.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
Attraction / Exhibit (First Floor)
- There is not step-free access to or throughout this area.
- The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- The following may be experienced on the tour: interactive video effects.
- Exhibit information includes the following formats: audio description, interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 75cm - 120cm), touchscreens, information board, handheld information devices and pictorial.
- The area has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- There are high stools and chairs without armrests in this area.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- There is a study/teaching area. There is a table. The height of the underside of the table is 60cm. The chairs do not have armrests.
Accessible Toilet
- There are no accessible toilets within the museum. The nearest toilets are located 200m away on Station Road.
Standard Toilet
- There are no standard toilets within the museum. The nearest toilets are located 200m away on Station Road.