Chapter House accessibility
The Chapter House is in the northeast corner of Cloister Court. Chapter House is on two floors with step-free access to both floors via different entrances. Note that only the Combination Room on the first floor has step free access; the Parlour has two deep steps at the entrance.
Location
The Chapter House is in the northeast corner of Cloister Court. There is step-free access to the ground floor rooms via the external entrance from Cloister Court. The first floor can be accessed through this entrance and up the stairs. Alternatively, step free access is available via the dining Hall. There is no wayfinding signage along the route to the Chapter House.
Entrance access
External entrance: The entrance at the northeast corner of Cloister Court provides access to the Chapter House ground floor and the stairs to the first floor. Although the entrance is not clearly signed, it offers step-free access and features a canopy or recess for weather protection. The doors visually contrast with their surroundings and require a key card for entry, with the reader positioned at a height of 114cm. The main door opens outward. The door is very heavy and may be difficult to open for a wheelchair user or for someone with limited strength. The door opening is 60cm wide, and there is a small lip on the threshold, measuring 2cm or less.
There is a push pad to release the door when exiting with a short delay between pressing the button and the door being released.
Stairs to the first floor are located to the right as you enter and approximately 2 meters from the entrance. The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance and consist of 14 steps with a height between the recommended 15cm and 18cm. The step depth does not meet the recommended dimensions of 30cm to 45cm, and the steps are not clearly marked. There are no handrails provided at the steps. While there is a landing, it lacks clear signage indicating the facilities on each floor. The lighting levels at the steps range from low to moderate.
Hall entrance: The entrance from the dining Hall provides access to the first floor, however this entrance area is not clearly signed, although the doors visually contrast with their surroundings. Note that this gives step free access to the Combination Room, but not to the Parlour, which has two deep steps at the entrance. The main doors pull open towards you, are single width, and are heavy, with a door opening width of 78cm. There is a small lip on the threshold, measuring 2cm or less.
Inside the room
Breakout space, ground level: The corridor outside the rooms is not wide enough (150cm+) for wheelchair users to pass, although there is step-free access into the rooms from the corridor. The door opening width is over 75cm. A portable hearing loop is available on request from the Porters' Lodge, but there is no visual fire alarm beacon. The rooms do not have fixed furniture, and the clear floor space beneath tables is 62cm. There are chairs with armrests on both sides, and the rooms have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm. Note that the floor coverings are uneven, and the fireplace may pose a trip hazard.
Parlour Room, first floor: The corridor outside the rooms is not wide enough (150cm+) for wheelchair users to pass. There is no step-free access into the rooms from the corridor, as there are two deep steps (18cm+), which are not clearly marked and lack handrails. The door opening width is over 75cm. A portable hearing loop is available on request from the Porters' Lodge, but there is no visual fire alarm beacon. The rooms do not have fixed furniture, and the clear floor space beneath tables is 37cm. There are chairs with armrests on both sides. Note that the floor coverings are uneven.
Combination Room, first floor: The corridor outside the rooms is not wide enough (150cm+) for wheelchair users to pass. However, there is step-free access into the rooms from the corridor. The door opening width is over 75cm. A portable hearing loop is available on request from the Porters' Lodge, but there is no visual fire alarm beacon. The rooms do not have fixed furniture, and the clear floor space beneath tables is 60cm. There are chairs with armrests on both sides. Note that the floor coverings are uneven.
Closest toilets
For detailed information about the facilities in each accessible toilet, see Accessible toilets.
The closest accessible toilet can be found off Cloister Court, on the ground floor in the northwest corner before the dining Hall entrance.
The closest standard toilet can be found on the ground floor of the Chapter House.
