Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has slight ramps/slopes and manual doors.
- This entrance is to the right hand side of the main entrance.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
- 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 and a handheld device with sign language.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations and standard toilets.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found on the side of the house, past the accessible entrance to the house.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 20m from the accessible entrance.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found on the right after you enter via the accessible entrance.
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.
- You can borrow these from visitor reception. 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 visitor reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- Canes and walking poles are also available to borrow free of charge.
These can be borrowed from the visitor reception or the house.
The visitor shuttle is stationed outside visitor reception, but can be summoned to the house, car park, chapel or garden by using the call point in the car park or by speaking to a member of staff or volunteer.
Route to (House)
- Turn right out of the visitor reception through an archway, and take the first path on the right.
Follow this path towards the main entrance of the house.
The accessible entrance is to the side of the house. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac, gravel and cobbles.
- 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 (Main)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 70cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- The manual doors are opened or closed as required by a member of staff or volunteer.
They are manned throughout house opening hours.
Entrance (Accessible)
- The entrance surveyed is located on the side of the house.
- There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
- The slight slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
- This entrance has a bell.
- Features at a suitable height for a wheelchair user include: the bell.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 86cm.
- There is a second manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 98cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- There is a slight slope between 75cm and 150cm wide beyond the entrance.
- The second door may be open, depending on the season.
If the door is closed then use the bell to the left of the door, which is at a height of 109cm.
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 between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via an information booklet.
- There may be background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille, information board and BSL.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are armchairs, sofas and 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.
- Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- The highest step is 16cm high.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Exit
- The exit is located to the side of the house.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- The slight slope is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 98cm.
- There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 86cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- There is a slight slope between 75cm and 150cm wide beyond the exit.
Toilet with Adaptations (House - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located externally, to the side of the house, past the accessible entrance.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 20m from the accessible entrance.
- There is pictorial and written text 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 83cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 191cm x 285cm 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 125cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the right 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 towel dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: soap dispenser and hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 82cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever.
- The height of the wash basin is 73cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 104cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 90cm.
- The height of the baby change is 84cm.
- 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 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 toilet seat and the internal door.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail, the floor and all grab rails.
- Lighting levels are bright.
Standard Toilet (House)
- Access into the toilet is via a step.
- There is 1 step, which is unmarked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 70cm.
- Internally the door has a medium colour contrast.
- The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 65cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever.
- Lighting levels are low.
- There are hand dryers.