Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms and historic interiors.
- The most accessible entrance has steps, a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps), manual doors and doors permanently held open.
- This entrance is at the front of the house.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is stepped access once inside.
- There are 2 steps in the inner hall to access the staircase.
There are 2 steps up into the secretaries office from the library.
There are two slight ramps to enter and exit the kitchen. - There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: seating, large print information, Braille information, audio format information, a hearing assistance system which is not signed, a virtual tour and on site-transport.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations, a toilet designated as gender neutral and standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found at the top of the gardens, adjacent to the croquet lawn.
- The standard toilet surveyed can be found at the top of the gardens, adjacent to the croquet lawn.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has steps and a manual door.
- The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: ear defenders and fidget toys.
- You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
- Sensory packs also include anxiety control items, easy reading materials and materials in Braille.
There are tactile resources which reflect the collection available on request from the house.
Route to (the House)
- Take the pathway to the right of the visitor centre and proceed along the pathway.
At the top of the slope, turn right by the signpost, the pathway leads to the front of the house via two unmarked sets of steps with a handrail on the left as you go up. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope, is step-free via a very steep ramp/slope and includes more than 3 steps with a handrail.
- Path surfaces along the route are paving stones and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to and from the house, although it is not guaranteed it will operate every day.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the house.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The slight ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The ramp overcomes the steps.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There are double manual doors which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 153cm.
- There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 105cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 1 hour.
- There is stepped access along the tour route.
- There are doorways or openings used on the tour which are under 75cm wide.
- The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can not be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a virtual tour and a video on tablet or mobile phone.
- There is background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: Braille, information board, television/screen, audio guides, interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 75cm - 120cm), touchscreens and subtitles.
- The tour has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
- There are chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- There are folding seats/stools available to take around the tour.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
- There are 2 steps in the inner hall to access the staircase.
There are 2 steps up into the secretaries office from the library.
There are two slight ramps to enter and exit the kitchen.
Stairs (Back Staircase)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
- There are 18 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The highest step is 18cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Stairs (Main Staircase)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, G, LG.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- The highest step is 14cm high.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Exit
- The exit is located at the rear of the house.
- There is not step-free access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 92cm.
- There are 2 steps beyond the exit, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
Toilet with Adaptations (Croquet Lawn - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located by the croquet lawn.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 92cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 155cm x 220cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 68cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 94cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 71cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 101cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 101cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a full length mirror, a waste bin with lid, a waste bin without lid and a nappy/incontinence items bin.
- The height of the coat hook is 170cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor, the dropdown rail and all grab rails.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door and the toilet seat.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is a slight slope on the pathway leading from the house to the accessible toilet.
Standard Toilet (Croquet Lawn)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 67cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The shared standard toilet was surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 67cm.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is a baby change facility which is not at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is a slight slope on the pathway leading from the house to the toilets.