Access Guide
Summary
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Building
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- This venue is part of Durham Castle The Porter's Lodge for University College is located in the Fellow's Garden area of the Castle. The Dining Hall, Library, Undercroft Bar, Undercroft Café, Study Rooms and Tunstall Chapel are also located elsewhere in the Castle.
Accommodation Summary
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Parking and Transport
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- The accommodation does not have its own parking facilities.
- There is not a designated drop off point.
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Standard Accommodation Information
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- There is not standard accommodation on the ground floor.
- Ground floor accommodation does not have level access.
- There are standard rooms on other floors.
- Standard accommodation has ensuites with stepped shower cubicles and shared bathrooms with stepped shower cubicles.
- There is not an/are not adjoining room(s) available for the standard room(s).
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Amenities and Communal Facilities
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- Communal facilities within this residence include a staffed reception and a common room.
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Additional Accessibility Aids
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- There is not a deaf alert system available on request.
- Bed raisers are not available on request.
- Portable hoists are not available on request.
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Comments
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- The Keep is located to rear of the Junction area within the building, it is necessary to first head through the Junction in order to reach the Keep.
- The Keep uses the Great Hall in the Castle Area for it's Catered Meals.
- There are bar and café facilities available in the Castle Area.
- The Tunstall Chapel is also available in the Castle Area.
Getting Here
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By Road
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- The building is situated in the Peninsula which contains a lot of pedestrian traffic and may be difficult to drive around.
- There is access for permit holders to the Palace Green Car Park and the Blue Badge bays located along North Bailey. Access to the University Buildings of the Peninsula via car is only available via Sadler's Street.
- For more information on Durham University Location please click here (opens new tab).
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By Bus
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- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the building.
- The nearest bus stop is the Cathedral Bus Stop situated off Palace Green which serves route 40D.
- For more information on Buses in Durham please click here (opens new tab).
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By Train
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- The nearest Railway Station is Durham Station.
- The station is located approximately 0.7 miles to the North West of the University Venues on the Peninsula.
- For more information on Durham Station please click here (opens new tab).
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Useful Links
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- The Peninsula area of Durham where the University building is situated is a World Heritage site for more information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- The Peninsula Area of Durham is dominated by the Cathedral for more information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Visitor Travel information for Durham.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
Useful Information
- Disability Support is located on the ground floor in the Palatine Centre, and provides information, advice and guidance to prospective and current students who disclose a disability as well as students who think they may have a disability.
The service is part of the Student Support and Wellbeing Directorate. - To see more information on Disability Support please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Student Support and Wellbeing please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Applying To Durham please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on College Accommodation and Facilities please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Accommodation and Allocations Office please click here (opens new tab).
Approach
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Approach
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- The surface of the approach is cobbled.
- The approach surface is uneven in places.
- The venue is located off the Durham Castle Courtyard. Access to Durham Castle is off Palace Green via the cobbled road shown in photographs 1, 2 and 3. The courtyard itself can be seen in photograph 4.
- There is step-free access on the approach.
- There is a slope with a very easy incline.
Outside Access
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located off the Castle Courtyard.
- This entrance gives access to the Keep.
- The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
- The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
- The width of the door opening is 70cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
- The door(s) is/are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 56cm.
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Step(s)
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- The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
- There is/are 5 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 17cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
Other Floors (Entrance)
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located in front of you on entrance.
- The stairs are approximately 2m from the Keep Entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are Entrance and Junction.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are not easy to grip.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
Getting Around
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Access
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- There is not step-free access throughout the building .
- There is stepped access to There are 12 medium steps to access between Junction and the Keep.
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Circulation
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- There are no doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
- The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is carpet.
- There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
- There are no seats/chairs at regular intervals.
- The lighting levels are good.
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Signage
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- Wayfinding signage is provided.
- The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout the building.
- Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
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Safe Place(s)
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- There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
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Audio
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- This venue does not play background music in communal areas.
- There is not a hearing assistance system in the communal areas of the building.
Other Floors (Junction)
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located at the top of the entrance staircase.
- Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not available from the entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are Junction Level 1, Junction Level 2, Junction Level 3.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are not easy to grip.
- There is not a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
Kitchen/Dining Area (Common Room)
- The kitchen/dining area is accessed by a single door with an opening width of over 75cm.
- Lowered work surfaces are not available.
- The kitchen does have an unobstructed floor space of at least 150cm × 150cm.
- There is not a knee recess under a work surface.
- A knee recess is provided adjacent to the refrigerator.
- Knee recesses are not at least 80cm wide.
- There are low level cupboards.
- There are easy to grip handles or taps for cupboards and the refrigerator.
- The height of the dining table is 74cm.
- There are three steps to access the common room with a height of 17cm as shown in photograph 2.
Other Floors (Keep)
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located in the central area of the Keep.
- The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2 and 3.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are not easy to grip.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.