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The Historic Chatham Dockyard HMS Gannet

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: a steep ramp/slope.
  • There is step free access to the ground floor only 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.
    HMS Gannet is one of three warships docked.
    It has ramped access to the main deck, however access to the 2 rooms on either side of the main deck, the lower deck and upper deck is stepped.

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 (West Ramped Gangway)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • Comments View
    • The ramp has a minimum width of 108cm at the top.
    • The ramp is clearly marked at the top and bottom.

Entrance (East Ramped Gangway)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • Comments View
    • The ramp has a minimum with of 103cm.
    • The ramp is clearly marked at the top and bottom.

Main Deck

  • The main deck is accessed via either of the ramped access points.
  • There is step-free access around the central deck area, with stepped access on either side of the ship and for the higher or lower decks.

Inside Access (Upper / Lower Decks and Doorways)

  • There is not step-free access throughout the majority of the venue.
  • Some of the corridors are narrow.
  • The flooring is not non-slip, with and.
  • Lighting levels are low in some areas.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • Photographs 1 and 2 show the upper decks at the front and rear accessed via steps.
    Photographs 3 and 4 show one of the doors used to access the rooms on either side of the main deck. They are approximately 70cm wide and have step 9cm high.
    Photograph 5 shows the walkway in the lower deck which is accessed via steps. There is a low ceiling, varying from 170cm to 180cm high.
    Photographs 6-8 show the doorways in the lower deck which are 63cm-70cm wide and have steps that vary from 18cm-21cm high.

Steps (Access to Lower Deck)

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

Attraction / Exhibit (Main Deck and Lower Deck)

  • There is stepped access to or in this area.
  • The entrance for this area is under 75cm wide.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board.
  • There are chairs without armrests in this area.
  • Main Deck: Either side of the main deck are 2 rooms with stepped access. One has a 64 pounder RML gun with an information board (photograph 1), and the other is the Commander's Cabin (photographs 2 and 3). The tables are 74cm high.
    Lower Deck: There are various areas and information boards that cover the Forwards' Mess, composite construction, the boiler room, rope and the ship itself (photographs 4-8).

Steps (Lower Deck to Main Deck)

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

Steps (Front Upper Deck - Rope Rails)

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

Steps (Access to Rear Upper Deck)

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

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