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The Historic Chatham Dockyard The Victorian Ropery

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 and an automatic door.
  • There is step free access once inside via platform or stair lift.
  • This venue also has the following available: seating and a companion/carer discount.
  • The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
    There are two tours available. A ticket for the tours can be acquired at the Plan Your Visit counter, located by the entrance to the Command of the Oceans, close to the site entrance.
    The Gallery Tour: This tour is available 7 days a week and is 45 minutes long. On this tour you have the opportunity to volunteer to make your own rope, and visit the ¼ mile long rope walk.
    Ropery Demonstration Tour: Rope has been made here for 400 years and we still make it today – for lots of customers. This means you can witness the mysterious craft of rope making for yourself during our live demonstrations led by our very own Master Rope Makers. This starts at 12.15pm and only available Monday – Friday.

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 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 (Gallery)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a slope with a steep gradient .
  • The slope does not have handrails.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 89cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 79cm.

Attraction / Exhibit (Ground Floor)

  • There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users, pictorial and information board.
  • There are bench seats in this area.
  • All of the seating is fixed.

Entrance (Rear Exit)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There are 9 steps.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 142cm.
  • Comments View
    • The 2 steps inside the entrance are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides. The 7 beyond the entrance are unmarked and have a handrail on the right.
    • The door sensor is only activated from inside.

Stairs

  • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1 .
  • There are 15+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.

Lift

  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, 1 .
  • Externally the lift has: a door with a low colour contrast to the surroundings, controls at a recommended height range and buttons with a medium colour contrast to the surroundings.
  • The lift door opening width is 87cm.
  • The dimensions of the lift are 102cm x 150cm.
  • Internally the lift has: tactile markings, controls at a recommended height range, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings and a visual floor indicator.

Attraction / Exhibit (First Floor - Ropery Experience)

  • There is step-free to and throughout this area, via lift.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • There are bench seats in this area.
  • This is where the ropery experience takes place, with visitors getting hands-on with rope-making with tour groups.

Entrance (Traditional Ropemaking: The Rope Walk)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
  • The doors are activated by a push pad which is not at a suitable height for seated users.
  • The width of the opening is 138cm.

Attraction / Exhibit (Traditional Ropemaking: Ropewalk)

  • There is ramped/sloped access to or in this area.
  • The majority of walkways are not 150cm+ wide.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: television/screen.
  • The rope walk has a minimum width of 90cm.
    There is a ramp along the route where the exit to Modern Ropemaking is.
    There is where the ropery demonstration tour will start.

Entrance (Exit to Modern Ropemaking)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has a handrail on the right.
  • There are double manual doors which are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 114cm.

Entrance (Modern Ropemaking)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are double manual doors which are permanently held open.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
  • The door is activated by a push pad which is not at a suitable height.
  • The width of the opening is 175cm.
  • Comments View
    • The entrance is across from the exit from Traditional Ropemaking.
    • The push pad is 113cm high.

Attraction / Exhibit (Modern Ropemaking)

  • There is ramped/sloped access to or in this area.
  • The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
  • There may be background noise here.
  • There is a door 97cm wide that is permanently open. It has a slight slope and is signed as the 'Rigging Shop'. This refers to a workshop and not a selling shop.

Entrance (Modern Ropemaking: Rigging Shop - Exit)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There are 8 steps.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The width of the opening is 163cm.
  • Comments View
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • The handrail is on the left or right depending on what side visitors exit from.
    • Visitors can use the ramped entrance as an exit.

Ramp or Slope and Steps (Access to Ropery Shop and Office)

  • There is a slope with a steep gradient .
  • The slope does not have handrails.
  • There are 3 steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
  • The slope overcomes the steps.

Entrance (The Ropery Shop)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There is one step.
  • The step is not clearly marked and there are no handrails.
  • There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 84cm.

Shop (The Ropery)

  • The majority of aisle widths are not 150cm+.
  • There is step-free access to the till(s).
  • There is not a low level till at the recommended height for wheelchair users.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • The card machine is moveable but not detachable.
    The shop sells rope / memorabilia, games, drinks and ice creams.

Entrance (The Ropery Offices)

  • There is stepped access at this entrance.
  • There are 3 steps.
  • The steps are not clearly marked but there is a handrail on the right.
  • There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 81cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 84cm.
  • Comments View
    • The second door is locked. Please call 07779 299 004 if nobody is available in the office.
    • This office deals with commercial / large sales of rope.

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