Access Guide 2010 Membership Department National Trust PO Box 39 Warrington WA5 7WD
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14013_Cover:4590_Cover_01 13/11/09 19:50 Page 1 Access Guide 2010 Membership Department National Trust PO Box 39 Warrington WA5 7WD Tel: 0844 800 1895 Fax: 0844 800 4642 Minicom: 0844 800 4410 email: [email protected] Access for All Office National Trust Heelis Kemble Drive Swindon SN2 2NA Tel: 01793 817634 Access Guide Typetalk calls welcome email: [email protected] 2010 This booklet is also available in other formats. A tape edition can be ordered, free from the Access for All Office. Sections of this book can be Brailled on request. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/accessforall t 14013_Cover:4590_Cover_01 2/11/09 13:20 Page 2 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 7/11/09 00:12 Page 1 Access Guide 2010 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 7/11/09 00:12 Page 2 2 Contents 1 South West 14 7 North West 201 2 South & South East 77 8 Yorkshire 226 3 London 129 9 North East 241 4 East of England 136 10 Wales 252 5 East Midlands 161 11 Northern Ireland 269 6 West Midlands 177 Index 281 9 11 7 8 © 2010 The National Trust Registered charity no. 205846 5 Front cover: Visitors at Washington Old Hall, 10 6 Washington with their diabetes hypo-alert dog. 4 © NTPL/David Levenson Back cover: Visitors at Washington Old Hall using the garden lift. © NTPL/David Levenson 3 2 Designed by Blacker Design (4919) 1 Printed on recycled paper by Hawthornes 73309/10 Photographs © Richard Crowest (Corvidae Ltd); David Kirkham (NT/Fisheye images), Andrew Lawson, NTPL/Matthew Antrobus, Andrew Besley, Michael Boys, David Levenson, Nadia Mackenzie, Nick Meers, Bernie Brown, Andrew Butler, Michael Caldwell, John Miller, Andrew Montgomery, Robert Morris, Neil Campbell-Sharp, Peter Cook, Val Corbett, Joe Cornish, James Mortimer, Tessa Musgrave, David Noton, Derek Croucher, E Chambré Hardman Collection, Hugh Palmer, Magnus Rew, Stephen Robson, Rod J, Edwards, Andreas von Einsiedel, Geoffrey Frosh, David Sellman, Ian Shaw, Kevin Simmons, Rupert Truman, Lee Frost, Dennis Gilbert, Nick Guttridge, John Hammond, A. Tryner, Paul Wakefield, Michael Walters, Mike Williams Jerry Harpur, Paul Harris, Roger Hickman, Chris Hill, 14013_TEXT_p01-13:14013_Text_p01-13 19/11/09 09:52 Page 3 Useful Information 3 The Access Guide provides information about the accessibility of our properties. We welcome all visitors to our places; we also welcome assistance dogs. Most properties have a good degree of access, and we are committed to developing and promoting inclusive access solutions that are creative and sensitive to the surroundings. One example of this is the new garden lift at Washington Old Hall in the North East. Washington Old Hall’s Garden Lift Washington Old Hall’s garden is on different levels, accessing all areas was difficult for visitors with mobility problems. Lead by the Friends of Washington Old Hall, and involving property and regional staff, schools and community groups, a major project has recently been completed, including the installation 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 13/11/09 20:17 Page 4 4 of a self-controlled external lift, and improved surfacing of the lower ‘formal’ garden, from gravel to paving. This Access Project, which was funded by The Friends, a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and using other local funds, is now fully complete, with the lower garden having recovered well, and the accessibility being positively recognised and acknowledged by visitors to the property. Wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, and families with buggies, all have welcomed the chance to avoid steps! The first external garden lift to be installed at a National Trust property: a proud claim by the ancestral home of George Washington! Nick Dolan, Property Manager & Kate Gardner, House Manager We do recommend telephoning a property ahead of a visit to obtain any specific details about access which you might require Membership: Membership of the National Trust offers free admission to over 300 historic houses, more than 180 gardens and most National Trust car parks. Some of our places are managed on our behalf by other organisations and they may charge members to park. It also allows free admission to places owned by the National Trust for Scotland. For further information regarding membership please contact our Membership Department, or visit our website, (please see back cover for contact details). Admission Our admission policy admits the essential companion, or carer, of a disabled visitor free of charge, on request, while the normal admission charge applies to the disabled visitor. To save having to ‘request’ a companion’s free entry an Admit One Card 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 13/11/09 20:32 Page 5 can be issued. This card is issued in the name of the disabled 5 visitor, which means they are not restricted to taking the same companion or carer each time. Although an Admit One Card is not needed, having one does make the process easier, and quicker. For further details or to obtain an Admit One Cards contact the Membership Department Powered Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) Self-drive, and volunteer- driven, powered vehicles are available at some larger gardens and parks. Details of the relevant places and the vehicle types are listed under the individual property entry in this book. Some of our places have only one or two PMVs so, to save disappointment, it can be advisable to phone the property beforehand to check availability, and to enquire if they operate a booking system. Wherever possible, the Trust admits to its buildings users of powered wheelchairs and similar small vehicles subject to the physical limitations of the individual building, and also to temporary constraints which may apply on the day. Please telephone the property in advance to check. 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 13/11/09 20:34 Page 6 6 The Trust strongly discourages the use of your own self-drive three-wheeler vehicles, and other pavement vehicles, and powered wheelchairs at its outdoor places because of the uneven and changing terrain. Visitors with Visual impairments The majority of our properties offer Braille and large print guides. A free copy of a Braille guide can be requested in advance of a visit. Many properties also provide large-print and tape guides; these are mentioned in the individual property entries. Some of our properties are also developing audio files which can be downloaded from our website before a visit. The Trust’s Members’ Magazine, and the Access Guide are produced on tape and CD by SoundTalking. If you are a member and would like to be added to the mailing list for the magazine, please contact [email protected] or phone 01435 862737 direct. Both members and non-members can request the Access Guide We continue to develop Sensory trails. Where properties have provided us with information on sensory experiences these can be found under the ‘Other features’ section in individual property entries. Sensory trails give visitors a chance to experience a properties in different ways. These can include particular sounds and scents, also any items that can be touched. Sensory trails can improve the visitor experience for all visitors. Speke Hall in Liverpool has been working with their local Mencap group, and other disability groups on their new sensory trail. 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 7/11/09 00:12 Page 7 Speke Hall – Sensory Trail 7 In 2004, MENCAP Liverpool set up the Access to Heritage Project (AHP) to look at how stories and interpretation at historic venues could be made more accessible for people with learning disabilities. In 2008, Speke Hall worked with the AHP to create an exciting new sensory trail for the ground floor of the Hall. We developed the idea using three artists specialising in sound, smell and touch, together with twenty five adults with learning disabilities who make up the project’s Forum. Consulting people with learning disabilities was key to the successful development of the Sensory Trail. The result was the creation of five new sensory pieces of art: including a copy of Mrs Beeton’s ‘Household Management & Cook Book’ which releases scents of herbs and spices when the pages are opened and, a seemingly traditional box that opens to reveal a tactile model of the ornate plaster ceiling. The trail is proving successful at bringing the history of the house to life, for all of our supporters. Anne Inskip, Liverpool Properties House Steward E Visitors who are Deaf or hard of hearing Induction loops have become increasingly available at our properties. Some properties, like Little Moreton Hall, have got an enhanced hearing system for their guided tours, which can also be used by non-hearing aid users. 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 13/11/09 20:37 Page 8 8 D Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK): Registered assistance dogs are welcome at our places, as long as they are in harness during their visit. Assistance dog puppies in training are also welcome to many outdoor places, but must be kept on harness and under strict control; it is advisable to telephone in advance if any doubt exists. Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs This year I was delighted to be able to invite one of the countries first diabetes hypo alert dogs along to Washington Old Hall, where I had gone to look at their new garden lift. Tinker has been trained by Cancer and Bio-detection Dogs to alert his owner Paul to the onset of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia). These specially trained dogs detect impending hypos and respond to their owners needs accordingly. Many people with diabetes have little or no hypo awareness, this can be very distressing and if not treated immediately can be life threatening 14013_TEXT_p01-13:4919_prelims_new_v1 13/11/09 20:38 Page 9 Paul told me that having Tinker hypo alert trained has 9 changed his life.