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The Historic Chatham Dockyard Command of the Oceans

The Historic Chatham Dockyard, Main Gate Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
  • The most accessible entrance has: level step free access.
  • There is step free access once inside via platform or stair lift.
  • This venue also has the following available: audio format information, seating, a sign language interpreter and a companion/carer discount.
  • The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
    Command of the Oceans is located at the bottom of the ramp leading from the ticket counter. It is the first exhibit on route.
    Access can be gained via the entrance by the Plan Your Visit counter at the bottom of that ramp or through Hearts of Oak.
    There are interactive exhibits, information boards and screens with video/audio and a sign language interpreter to the corner.

Parking (Main Car Park)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
  • There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
  • Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces and a road crossing.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

Public Transport

  • There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
  • The nearest train station is Gillingham.
  • Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 173cm.

Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 125cm.
  • Comments View
    • The security barriers, shown in photograph 1, have a ticket bar code reader that is 92cm high. The barriers automatically open away from you.
    • The ramp and corridor, shown in photographs 2-5, lead towards the Command of the Oceans gallery space and the two exit doors that lead outside.

Counter (Plan Your Visit - Tour Tickets)

  • There is step-free access to this counter.
  • There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for seated users.
  • There is background noise here.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 186cm.
  • Comments View
    • If visitors do not want to go through Hearts of Oak due to the nature of the area/projections, the Command of the Oceans gallery can be accessed via this alternate route.
    • Photograph 1 and 2 show the signage and screen with video/audio at the entrance to Command of the Oceans and Hearts of Oak.
    • Photographs 3-5 show the route on either side of the screen into the 'Supporting the Fleet' section of Command of the Oceans.
    • The area is level and the gap either side of the screen is 160cm or 185cm wide.

Attraction / Exhibit (Supporting the Fleet - The Victory)

  • There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: television/screen, interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users and information board.
  • There are bench seats in this area.
  • All of the seating is fixed.
  • People, Tools and Trades is accessed via an automatic door from this area. This is where the Hearts of Oak exit into Command of the Oceans is.
    Photographs 7-10 show the area towards the end of 'Supporting the Fleet' which has a screen with visual/audio information and a sign language interpreter to the corner of the screen. The video can be played in various languages.
    The entrances on either side of 'Namur - The Ship Beneath the Floor' have no doors and are 120cm wide.
    The exit leads to the ramp accessing the basement level which covers 'The Mystery of the Namur'.

Entrance (Supporting the Fleet to People, Tools and Trades)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are double automatic doors which open towards you.
  • The door is activated by a push pad at a suitable height for seated users.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • Comments View
    • Visitors exiting from Hearts of Oak and then from People, Tools and Trades will have the doors opening automatically away from you.
    • There is a very slight slope at these doors (photograph 2).
    • The push pad is shown in photograph 3.

Attraction / Exhibit (People, Tools and Trades)

  • There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board, interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users, television/screen and touchscreens.
  • There are bench seats in this area.
  • All of the seating is fixed.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Photographs 1 and 2 show the People, Tools and Trades section of the gallery / exhibit. This is where the Hearts of Oak exit leads into if you have chosen to look at that section as well.
    Photographs 3-5 show some of the interactive exhibits.
    Photograph 6 shows one of the touchscreens which are 100cm high.
    Photographs 7 and 8 show the screen playing visual/audio information with a sign language interpreter to the side.
    The benches are 47cm high with some handrails.

Entrance (Supporting the Fleet to Mystery of the Namur - The Ship Beneath the Floor)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 111cm.
  • Comments View
    • The ceiling above the ramp has a minimum height of 2 metres where the ramp turns (photograph 6).
    • There is signage for the exhibit along the ramp.

Attraction / Exhibit (Mystery of the Namur)

  • There is ramped/sloped access to or in this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is background noise here.
  • The following may be experienced here: strong smells and sudden loud noises.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: television/screen, information board and touchscreens.
  • Lighting levels are low here.
  • The entrance is ramped from Supporting the Fleet, however this ramp can be avoided by using the platform lift by the exit.
    The touchscreens are from 95cm high (photograph 5).
    There is a flat low screen that is 61cm high (photographs 4).
    There is another screen playing audio/visual information with a sign language interpreter to the corner of the screen (photograph 6).
    There is information in different languages and a strong smell of wood.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans Exhibit Endpoint / Exit)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance, via lift.
  • There are 8 steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single automatic door which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 116cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 109cm.
  • There is a lift which bypasses the steps.

Lift (Command of the Oceans Exhibit Endpoint / Exit)

  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The lift overcomes a small level change.
  • Externally the lift has: buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, controls at a recommended height range and a door with a low colour contrast to the surroundings.
  • The lift door opening width is 89cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 90cm x 134cm.
  • Internally the lift has: tactile markings, a separate door to exit, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings and controls at a recommended height range.
  • There is a short steep slope on the lower level when entering the lift.
    The lift has a 500kg weight limit.

Entrance (Upper Mast House / Command of the Oceans Exit to Site)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a slope with a slight gradient .
  • The slope does not have handrails.
  • There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 168cm.
  • Comments View
    • The slope is beyond the exit (photograph 2).
    • If visitors wish to head back to the Plan Your Visit counter or ramped site entrance, there are a set of doors next to this exit.
    • The automatic doors open towards you, has a very slight slope and opens to a width of 153cm (photograph 3).

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