Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: a reception, a café, exhibition rooms, a shop and historic interiors.
- The most accessible entrance has a steep ramp/slope and manual doors.
- This entrance is at the front of the building.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: standard lift and stairs.
- There is step-free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
- 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, a clearly signed hearing assistance system and a companion/carer discount.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: toilets with some adaptations and step free standard toilets.
- There are 2 toilets with adaptations for disabled people.
- The toilets with adaptations for disabled people can be found on the basement level of Newton House and outside Newton House.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found on the basement level.
- The lift was out of service at the time of survey, so the basement and first floor were only accessible via stairs (April 2024).
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- Equipment cannot be borrowed or hired.
- Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.
Route to (Newton House)
- Turn left out of the main car park and follow the slight slope up for approximately 40 metres to the house.
- The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac and paving stones.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance (House)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The steep ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which open away from you.
- The width of the opening is 73cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- Staff can unlock the locked entrance door to provide wider access.
Visitor Reception
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- There is room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) throughout the area.
- Some of the flooring is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 75cm.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are coffee tables, sofas and chairs without armrests available in the visitor reception.
- Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
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.
- The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a video on tablet or mobile phone.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are sofas, bench seats and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along 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 and uneven paving/tiles.
- Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are low throughout the tour route.
Steps (To Conservatory)
- There are 4 steps.
- The steps are not clearly marked and there are no handrails.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Shop (Book Room)
- There is step-free level access into the shop.
- The door is manual, permanently held open and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 104cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are low.
- A donation box at a height of 142cm is available. Alternatively, if paying by card, this can be done at the visitor reception.
Entrance (Café)
- The entrance surveyed is located on the ground floor of the house.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 97cm.
Eating and Drinking
- This is a café which serves hot and cold snacks.
- There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
- Staff can provide assistance and offer service to tables.
- Menu types include: written wall menus.
- Menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours).
- The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups, two handled cups, easy grip cutlery, takeaway cutlery and a portable card machine for payment.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- There is a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There is a counter over 85cm high without a tray rail.
- The counter is 90cm high.
- There is not a section of the counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is step-free level access around the seating area.
- There are tables and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests available in the seating area.
- The seating area does not have: a priority table.
- Tables are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The surface height of the tables is 75cm.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- An outdoor counter and seating area is available to the left of the house entrance. The counter here is at a height of 106cm.
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 and 1.
- Externally the lift has: a door with a low colour contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a low colour contrast to the surroundings, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user and tactile markings.
- The lift does have a recommended turning space (150cm x 150cm) in front of it.
- The lift was out of order on the day of the survey.
Stairs (Accommodation)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The highest step is 14cm high.
- The stairs are open.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Stairs (The Servants)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are B, G and 1.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The highest step is 14cm high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Stairs (The Servants - Rear)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are B and G.
- There are 17 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
- The highest step is 18cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Toilet with Adaptations (Newton House Basement Level - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located on the basement floor, to the left after you exit the lift.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 6m from the lift.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 87cm.
- The door has a twist lock.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 144cm x 216cm 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 80cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever 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 a vertical rail on the right side 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 and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 95cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 76cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 90cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 109cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 91cm.
- The height of the baby change is 88cm.
- 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 waste bin with lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor, the internal door and some grab rails.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, the dropdown rail and some grab rails.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Toilet (Newton House Basement Level)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 74cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The female toilet was surveyed.
- There is also a male toilet in the same location.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 64cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
Exit (To The Formal Garden)
- The exit is located at the rear of the house.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the exit.
- There are double manual doors which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 78cm.
- There is a slight ramp over 150cm wide beyond the exit, with no handrails.
- The ramp overcomes the step.
- There is 1 step beyond the exit, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
Outdoor Spaces (Formal Garden)
- This information is for the access point located at the rear of the house.
- Access into the area is via a step and a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps).
- The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- The outdoor spaces include the following surfaces: grass and gravel.
- Footpaths are available in all of the outdoor space.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is step-free level access around some of the area.
- There are less than 3 steps without handrails in the main areas.
- There are steps to access to the lowered section of the garden.
- There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.
Toilet with Adaptations (Newton House - External - Ambulant - Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located to the left of the house.
- 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 high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 90cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 148cm x 190cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 85cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the non 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 and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 90cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 70cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 108cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 97cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 105cm.
- The height of the baby change is 105cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin without lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
- The cubicle does not have a mirror and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, all grab rails, the dropdown rail and the internal door.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the floor.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.