Visited on 25th April 2024.
Parking - three free disabled badge holder bays by the hall. Mixed surfaces in the parking lot, but negotiable in a wheelchair.
Outside walkways - stone or tarmac surfaces, suitable for wheelchairs.
Indoor walkways - for an old building it had good access to most rooms. Thresholds to rooms were easy to pass over. Parquet flooring, carpeting and stone floors downstairs. Upstairs mainly carpeting. Although room access was good, one or two are at different levels and one room had a access ramp.
Ease of movement in the Hall - good gangway space and aisle area, few obstacles. There are some changes in level. For example, the ground floor medieval room has two steps to allow access also the upstairs long hall has a ramp to assist access required by the room level change.
Lighting - this was at medium level. It was not bright, but good enough to see the exhibits and rooms.
Sound - people talking, no loud noises.
Signage - minimal signage, no floor markings. On entry we were given a laminated house plan that we could refer to on our visit.
Exhibitions - several rooms of informative and interactive displays. Some of the older display units were designed for adult when standing up, which limited viewing opportunities for wheelchair users or children.
Staff - were helpful and gave us information about the house. Also, a staff member helped us with the lift, showed us how to use it.
Cafe - situated in the gardens, the cafe can be entered without difficulty. There is space between tables for wheelchairs however some chairs may need to be moved to one side. The food ordered looked inviting and tasted good too. It is also possible to book a table at the cafe.
Toilets - cafe and gardens disability toilet is at the back of the cafe pavillion and accessed by an external door using a Radar Key. This large room has not only a tiolet but also an adult changing table and a shower. Although the room was well quipped in many ways, it was found there is nowhere suitable to place tiolet paper within easy reach of the tiolet. The Hall toilets - there are disability toilets is located in the Hall.
Gardens - the garden has wide tarmac paths which can be comfortably negotiated. There are several point of interests including a small aviary, child's playground, ornamental lake, tennis courts and bowling green.
Assistance dogs - support dogs are welcome
Please visit the hall and garden's access page for more information;
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