Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There are multiple levels on each floor.
There is step-free access to some ground floor rooms once inside. The remaining ground floor rooms are accessible via 2 platform lifts, facilitated by a member of staff. - 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, audio description and a handheld device with sign language.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is in the stables toilet block. View information about this toilet (new tab).
- The main entrance has steps and a manual door permanently held open.
Visitors requiring step-free access should speak with a member of staff at the main entrance, and step-free access will be made available via the Servants' Courtyard, which has a level stone set path into the House and the two platform lifts.
Manual and electric wheelchairs are permitted to access the House, using the platform lifts.
Mobility scooters are not permitted inside the House - users are requested to transfer to a manual wheelchair, where required, in order to access the House.
Seating is available in every room.
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 Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: a mobility scooter. 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 Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- Mobility scooters may be used across site but may not be taken into the House.
Route to (the House)
- From the Visitor Reception, exit the double doors behind reception and follow the main accessible path to the left.
Turn right at the top of the path and continue alongside the moat to the double deer gates.
Continue around the stables building and towards the main entrance to the House.
There are manual airlock gates on the entrance to the area where deer are roaming. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are concrete, gravel, cobbles and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
- Visitors requiring step-free access should speak to a member of staff at the main entrance, who will arrange for a team member to meet them at the Porters Lodge and will escort them to the accessible entrance.
Main Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the house.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm) .
- There is a single manual gate which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 127cm.
- There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 154cm.
Accessible Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located in the kitchen courtyard.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 121cm.
Lift
- A member of staff needs to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are the lower ground, ground and upper ground floors.
- The lift does have a recommended turning space (150cm x 150cm) in front of it.
- The dimensions of the lift are 75cm x 125cm.
- There are other lifts which are similar in size at the same location.
- Lighting levels are low.
- There is a second platform lift giving access to the upper ground floor leading to the great hall.
House Visit
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
- 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 an information booklet and a video on tablet or mobile phone.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, pictorial and information board.
- Floor plans/maps are available for the tour route.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are armchairs, sofas, bench seats and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet and uneven paving/tiles.
- 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.
- Wheelchair users will be escorted from the accessible entrance, where they will be able to visit the lower ground floor and kitchens with level access.
Access to the ground floor and upper ground floor is via the stair lifts, which will be operated by a member of staff.
There is no access to the upper floors.
There are 2 tablet devices available; one near the accessible entrance, and one near the stairs to the upper levels.
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Lift
View
- The dimensions of the lift are 75cm x 125cm.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are two levels of the ground floor, and two levels of the first floor.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail that switches sides.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Exit
- The exit is located at the end of the visit.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 121cm.
- This exit also serves as the accessible entrance.