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Floor by floor access guide
All doors to rooms on the visitor route will be open or are push button automatic doors.
Ground Floor – Servants Wing
Main Entrance & Ticket Desk
There is level access to the ticket desk from the entrance door.
The ticket desk has a reduced height counter.
An induction loop is installed.
Lighting levels are high.
The flooring is stone and is level.
Information Room
This is accessible to wheelchair users.
The step free route to this room is via a ramp (1:12 gradient), through the shop and then through a
840mm level doorway. The floor of the ramp is limestone and there are handrails on both sides. The ramp is 1.1m wide.
Alternatively, the Information Room can be accessed to the right of the ticket desk, through a single width door with one, clearly marked, 190mm high step.
An induction loop is installed.
Seating benches are available.
Lighting levels are high.
The flooring is wooden.
Toilets & Baby Change
This is a single unisex WC cubicle with inward opening door, entered from the ground floor foyer, near the lift. This is not accessible for wheelchair users.
The flush-button behind the WC is low (800mm), as is the WC seat (420mm).
There is adequate visual contrast between the sanitary fittings and adjacent surfaces.
The basin has a lever mixer tap.
It has a fold-down nappy changing table inside the cubicle.
Lighting levels are adequate.
Accessible Toilet
The accessible toilet is situated half a floor level below the reception area.
It is reached via the lift or down a straight flight of 11 steps.
The WC cubicle has an outward opening door.
It is a unisex right-hand-transfer WC cubicle and has an emergency alarm cord.
The cubicle measures 2250mm x 1530mm.
There are vertical rails either side of the basin, and vertical, horizontal and drop-down rails adjacent to the WC pan.
The white sanitary fittings and stainless steel grab rails contrast against the grey walls.
There are lever taps on the sinks.
The lighting level is high.
The cubicles have dark grey flooring.
Accessible Lift
The floors which are accessible with this lift are Ground, part of the First Floor and part of the Basement.
It is a passenger lift with internal dimensions of 1340mm x 1080mm.
It has tactile and Braille buttons.
Tactile, illuminated, internal and external lift controls are at an accessible height (1000mm) for wheelchair users, and clearly labelled.
The lift has an audible announcer.
The lift has a visual indicator.
Lighting levels are high.
Ground Floor level of main house
Lift Lobby
The lift landing features an historic set of steps, displayed under thick tinted glass. A light in the recess allows the steps to be illuminated. The glass panel is solid enough to walk on safely.
The door between the lift lobby and the main house has an automatic push button door.
Main House
Entrance
The Hall is accessible to wheelchairs.
Lighting levels are medium.
The flooring is stone.
Parlour
This room is accessible to wheelchairs.
The door is single width.
Lighting levels are medium.
This room is carpeted.
There is a low level metal barrier to denote the area in which visitors can view the room.
There is seating outside this room, opposite the Grand Staircase.
Gentleman’s Retreat
This room is accessible to wheelchairs.
It is accessed via the Parlour. This door is narrow, just less than 750mm.
Seating is available in this room.
Lighting levels are medium.
This room is carpeted.
The Dining Room
This room is accessible to wheelchairs.
It is accessed from the Hall
Lighting levels are high.
This room is carpeted.
There is a low level metal barrier to denote the area in which visitors can view the room.
Grand Staircase
This stair goes from Ground to Second Floor in two flights. Each flight has two intermediate landings with 26 wooden steps and a carpet runner.
The steps are medium height.
The staircase is wide and has one bannister.
Lighting levels are high.
There is a carpet runner on the landing on the First Floor.
First Floor (no step-free access)
Withdrawing Room
Lighting levels are high.
This room is carpeted.
There is a low level metal barrier to denote the area in which visitors can view the room.
Lady’s Bedchamber
Seating is available outside the Lady’s Bedchamber.
Lighting levels are high.
The floor is wooden.
There is a low level metal barrier to denote the area in which visitors can view the room.
Second Floor (no step-free access)
Landing
Seating is located on the landing by the stairs.
Lighting levels are high.
The floor is carpeted with a runner.
Gentleman’s Bedchamber
Lighting levels are medium.
This room is carpeted.
Back Staircase
The total number of wooden stairs from the Second Floor down to the Basement is 63 steps.
The steps are steep and narrow.
There is a handrail on each side for the full length of the staircase.
Lighting levels are medium on the Second and First Floors.
The lighting levels are low between the Ground Floor and the Basement.
Basement
Accessible Lift Lobby
The door between the lift lobby and the Servants’ Corridor has an automatic push button door.
This area has level stone flooring.
There are 11 steps with riser/tread dimensions of 180mm/280mm, leading up to the Shop and the way out.
The steps have protruding nosings.
There are handrails on both sides.
Lighting levels are high.
Servants’ Corridor
This area is accessible to wheelchairs.
Lighting levels are low.
The floors are flag stones and are uneven in places.
There are four steps down to the Kitchen Passage.
The steps are of medium height and there is one handrail.
Housekeeper’s Room
This room is accessible to wheelchairs.
There are two doors into this room. One provides a 760mm opening whereas the other provides a 720mm wide opening only.
Lighting levels are medium.
The floors are wooden.
Servants’ Hall
The door is single width and will be open giving a 760mm wide opening.
An induction loop has been installed.
This room is accessible to wheelchairs when not in use for educational purposes.
Lighting levels are medium.
The flooring is replica stone.
The Courtyard (no step-free access)
This is generally open to visitors.
There is one small step from the Servants’ Corridor into the Courtyard. Should the door to this area be closed, a member of staff located in the Housekeeper’s Room would be able to assist.
A small, short and steep wooden ramp is available. Please ask a member of staff if you wish to use it.
Lighting levels are high.
The Courtyard is paved with flag stones which can be uneven.
Basement – Servants Wing
Kitchen Passage (no step free access)
There are three steps leading up to the accessible lift lobby and the way out.
The steps have tread dimensions of 280mm.
The riser dimensions vary from 195 to 220mm.
Lighting levels are low.
The floors are flag stones and are very uneven in places.
There is one handrail.
Kitchen (no step-free access)
There are two steps between the Kitchen and the Kitchen Passage.
The steps have riser/ tread dimensions of 150mm/230mm.
The steps are very uneven.
The edges have been painted in white.
There is one handrail.
Lighting levels are very low.
The floors are flag stones and are uneven in places.
Scullery (no step-free access)
There are two steps between the Kitchen and the Scullery.
The steps are of medium height and are uneven.
There is one handrail and the edges of the steps have been painted in white.
Lighting levels are low.
The floors are flag stones and are uneven in places.
First Floor –Servants Wing
Andrew Brownsword Gallery
This is accessible to wheelchair users via the accessible lift.
Alternatively it can be accessed via 3 flights of steps with 2 intermediate landings with 9, 8, and 3 risers respectively.
The riser/tread dimensions are of 185mm/265mm.
The stairs have two continuous handrails and the nosings are identified using inserted metal strips.
Entry is via an automatic glazed entrance door.
The push pad to open the door is located behind you next to the lift on the balcony side. It is smaller than the standard push pads.
An induction loop has been installed.
Seating is available.
The display cases are at a variety of heights.
The openings between the two gallery rooms have been widened to 1000mm to enable easier wheelchair circulation.
Lighting levels are medium.
The flooring is wooden floorboards.
Shop (Ground Floor)
This is accessible to wheelchair users and is level throughout.
The door is single width and is open.
The counter has a reduced height section of 755mm. The height of the rest of the counter is 1030mm.
The goods for sale are displayed at a height accessible from a seated position. Staff can assist if items are displayed out of reach.
An induction loop has been installed at the counter.
Lighting levels are high.
The flooring is wooden.
Emergency Exits
The emergency exits are on the Ground Floor via the main entrance (by the ticket desk), the front door of the main house and the Courtyard in the Basement.
In the event of an emergency, all rooms will be cleared by the guides or staff in those areas and anyone requiring assistance will be helped by the guides or staff. All WCs and the lift are checked by staff who will assist visitors if required.