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The Firs - Elgar's Birthplace - Parking, Arrival and Visitor Centre

Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, WR2 6RH

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • View information about opening hours.
  • Amenities in this building include: a reception, a café and exhibition rooms.
  • The most accessible entrance has step-free level access.
  • This entrance is at the front of the visitor centre.
  • There is step-free access 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, a large map in the car park and an information board in the car park.
  • At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
  • This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: an accessible toilet for the use of everyone and a toilet designated as gender neutral.
  • The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found within the toilet lobby, to the left after you enter the cafe.
  • This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 13m from the visitor centre entrance.
  • The toilets with adaptations for disabled people can be found within the toilet lobby, to the left after you enter the cafe.

Admissions

  • At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: the car park.
  • At this location the following areas are free to access for National Trust members but payable for everyone else: the exhibitions and the cottage.
  • This site offers companion or carer discounts.

Public Transport

Parking

  • This site has a car park.
  • This is an open air car park with a tarmac, loose chippings and compacted gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • Maps and information boards are available.
  • There are 4 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 234cm x 478cm.
  • There is a hatched zone on one side but not to the rear.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 18m from the visitor centre entrance.
  • Obstacles from the car park include: slopes/ramps and a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park.
  • There are not parent and child parking bays available.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.

Entrance

  • The entrance surveyed is located the front of the visitor centre.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 82cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.

Equipment and Resources to Borrow

  • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair. 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.
  • Powered mobility vehicles cannot be borrowed or hired.

Visitor Reception

  • There is step-free level access into the area.
  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • 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 108cm.
  • There is a low level section at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The counter is placed in front of a patterned background.
  • 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 bench seats available in the visitor reception.
  • The following furniture is permanently fixed: all of the chairs.
  • Services/facilities available include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
  • There is background noise here.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Attraction / Exhibit (Visitor Centre)

  • The majority of walkway widths are between 120cm and 180cm.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: pictorial and information board.
  • The exhibits do not have hearing assistance systems.
  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • There are bench seats available in the area.
  • Flooring in the area is not smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
  • Lighting levels are varied.

Entrance (Elgar's Study)

  • The entrance surveyed is located at the front right of the visitor centre.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance with a height of less than 1.5cm.

Attraction / Exhibit (Elgar's Study)

  • is between 75cm and 150cm wide.
  • The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board.
  • The exhibits do not have hearing assistance systems.
  • There is step-free level access around the area.
  • There are no seats available in the area.
  • Flooring in the area is not smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Room(s) (Elgar on Film)

  • The room surveyed was Elgar on Film and is located in Elgar's Study, to the right.
  • There is not wayfinding signage on the route to the room(s).
  • There is clear written signage in upper and lower case lettering.
  • Getting Into The Room View
    • There is step-free level access into the room.
    • The door is manual, permanently held open and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
    • The width of the opening is 76cm.
    • Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
  • Inside The Room View
    • The area does not have a hearing assistance system.
    • This room has a television screen.
    • There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the room(s).
    • The room has: chairs without armrests.
    • The room does not have: room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) 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 low.
    • Lighting levels are low.

Room(s) (Carice)

  • The room surveyed was Carice and is located at the rear right of the visitor centre.
  • There is not wayfinding signage on the route to the room(s).
  • There is clear written signage in upper and lower case lettering.
  • Getting Into The Room View
    • There is step-free level access into the room.
    • The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
    • The width of the opening is 78cm.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
  • Inside The Room View
    • 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) and chairs without armrests.
    • The room does not have: a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
    • There is step-free level access around the room.
    • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • Lighting levels are moderate to good.

Eating and Drinking (Café)

  • This is a café which serves hot and cold snacks.
  • There is step-free level access into the area.
  • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
  • Staff cannot provide assistance or offer service to tables.
  • 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 with a tray rail.
  • The counter is 94cm 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 coffee tables, tables, sofas and chairs without armrests available in the seating area.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • There are no tables which are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The surface height of the tables is 72cm.
  • All flooring in the area is smooth and even.

Toilet with Adaptations (Visitor Centre - Accessible - Right Hand Transfer)

  • This toilet is located in the toilet lobby, to the left after you enter the café.
  • There is step-free level access into the toilet.
  • This toilet is approximately 13m from the visitor centre entrance.
  • 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 76cm.
  • The door has a locking handle.
  • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 150cm x 210cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
  • 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 spatula flush on the non transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: 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 and wash basin.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 50cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 93cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The height of the wash basin is 75cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 122cm.
  • The height of the baby change is 80cm.
  • 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 full length mirror, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
  • The height of the coat hook is 175cm from the floor.
  • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails, the dropdown rail, the internal door and the floor.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Access to the toilet lobby is via a single manual door that is 75cm wide.

Standard Toilet (Visitor Centre)

  • 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 76cm.
  • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
  • The gender neutral toilet was surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever.
  • Lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • There are hand dryers.
  • Access to the toilet lobby is via a single manual door that is 75cm wide.