Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

The Historic Chatham Dockyard Commissioner's Garden

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

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Summary

  • There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
  • The most accessible entrance has: a steep ramp/slope.
  • There is step free access to the majority of the venue once inside.
  • This venue also has the following available: a companion/carer discount and seating.
  • The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
    The Commissioner's Garden is towards the rear of the site.
    It is accessed via a pavement which has a steep slope as it is on a hill.
    The pavement by the entrance has a minimum width of 142cm.
    Only assistance dogs are allowed in the garden.

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.

Entrance (Command of the Oceans to Museum Square: External Site Area)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 168cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a very slight slope by the first set of automatic doors, shown in photograph 2.
    • The slight slope is located beyond the second automatic door as shown in photograph 4.

Entrance (Commissioner's Garden - Step Free Access)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a steep gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
  • The slope does not have handrails.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 85cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a steep slope off the road onto the pavement or on approach to the entrance. There is a slight slope down after the entrance as well.
    • The paving by the entrance is broken and uneven.
    • Photographs 5-8 show the approach to the gardens, up the hill, from most of the exhibits.
    • The crossing can be used from the Victorian Ropery or Steam, Steel and Submarines exhibits to the right of the garden.

Entrance (Commissioner's Garden - Stepped Entrance)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There are 5 steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 75cm.
  • Comments View
    • This entrance/exit is to the rear of the garden on the higher level off Church Lane.

Paths and Seating

  • All but one of the gravel paths have a minimum width of 115cm.
  • The paths are uneven in areas, with some paths having slight or steep slopes.
  • Photographs 4-6 show some of the benches and information boards (100-130cm high) within the garden.
  • Photographs 7 and 8 show the 97cm wide path into the Royal Marines Memorial Garden.
  • Photograph 11 shows the narrower path at the top of the garden by the stepped entrance.
  • Photographs 12-14 show the grassy path to the top of the garden which has a minimum width of 80cm. It is accessed via a very slight slope off the gravel path.
  • Photographs 15 and 16 show the path which has a steep gradient linking the stepped and step-free entrances.

Entrance (The Ice House)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There are 6 steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there is a handrail on the right.
  • There is a single manual door which open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 81cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a very slight slope on the path leading up to the gate.
    • There is a 124cm gap between the last step and the ceiling into the Ice House.
    • There is an information board available giving details about the small area.

Steps (Access to Lower Area of Garden)

  • There are 10 or more steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.

Related Access Guides