Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms and historic interiors.
- Additional amenities in this building include: a wellbeing room.
- The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and a door permanently held open.
- This entrance is in the central courtyard.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is stepped access once inside.
- On the ground floor, there is a portable ramp in the external doorway by the Butler's Pantry.
There is a portable ramp to access the main staircase.
On the first floor, there is 1 step up and 1 step down to access the Oriel Room. There is 1 step up into the old chapel.
There are 2 steps down into Sir James' Bedroom.
There is 1 shallow step in the threshold of the doorway to the chapel corridor from the Solar Bedroom.
There is 1 step up from the chapel corridor to the new chapel.
There is a threshold step in the new chapel.
There is 1 step down to exit the chapel and 2 steps up into drawing room.
There are 2 steps down in the corridor outside Mr. Robinson's Dressing Room.
There is a slight slope down into the Billiard Room.
There are 2 steps up to leave the Billiard Room. - 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, a safe or quiet space, a virtual tour, maps and on site-transport.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is located to the right of the Coach House shop entrance. View information about this toilet (new tab).
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.
- You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: a tramper. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (the House)
- From the Visitor Reception exit, turn right and follow the path.
Turn right, and follow the path around the house turning left, and the entrance to the house is on the left. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope and is step-free via a very steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel, cobbles and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is a shuttle which can take visitors to this area, but wheelchair users will need to transfer into it.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located in the central courtyard, accessed via the tower archway.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The slight ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 135cm.
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 an information booklet.
- The tour route may vary depending on the season.
- There may be background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille and handheld information devices.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are a mixture of chairs with and 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.
- 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 varied throughout the tour route.
- There is a portable ramp in the external doorway by the Butler's Pantry.
There is a portable ramp to access the main staircase.
On the first floor, there is 1 step up and 1 step down to access the Oriel Room.
There is 1 step up into the old chapel.
There are 2 steps down into Sir James' Bedroom.
There is 1 shallow step in the threshold of the doorway to the chapel corridor from the Solar Bedroom.
There is 1 step up from the chapel corridor to the new chapel.
There is a threshold step in the new chapel.
There is 1 step down to exit the chapel and 2 steps up into drawing room.
There are 2 steps down in the corridor outside Mr. Robinson's Dressing Room.
There is a slight slope down into the Billiard Room.
There are 2 steps up to leave the Billiard Room.
There are guide packs for the majority of showrooms in the house.
There is a list of sensory items that can be touched by visitors whilst they are in a particular room or area.
Room(s) (Wellbeing)
- The room surveyed was The Wellbeing Room and is located on the ground floor adjacent to the Butler's Pantry.
- There is not wayfinding signage on the route to the room(s).
- There is no signage for the room.
- The corridor width outside the room is between 120cm and 180cm.
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Getting Into The Room
View
- There is step-free level access into the room.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the opening is 84cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
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Inside The Room
View
- Light switches are not at a recommended height from floor level (between 75cm - 120cm) at 135cm.
- The area does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the room(s).
- Tables are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The room has: room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm), sofas and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
- There is step-free level access around the room.
- Flooring in the area is not smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- The colour contrast between the walls and floor is high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- This room is the designated safe / quiet space.
The quiet garden in front of the bookshop is also available as a quiet space.
Stairs (Main)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
- There are 17 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going up.
- The highest step is 15cm high.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Stairs (South West)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, G.
- There are 16 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going down.
- The highest step is 17cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Exit (Library)
- The exit is located in the library and exits into the central courtyard.
- There is not step-free access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door (with a locked extension leaf) which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 55cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- There is 1 step beyond the exit, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- The steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
- Both doors can be unlocked on request, giving a door width of 110cm.
Exit (House)
- The exit is located beyond the billiard room.
- There is not step-free access at the exit.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 102cm.
- There are 3 steps beyond the exit, which is unmarked, with handrails on both sides.
- Alternatively, a step-free exit is available via the tower archway.