Snowshill Manor and Garden Access Statement Cotswold manor set in hillside gardens housing Charles Wade s collection of colour, craftsmanship and design. Contact details Snowshill, near Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12 7JU T: 01386 852410 E: snowshillmanor@nationaltrust.org.uk Points to note There is reasonable mobile phone reception across most of the site. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the property. There is a water bowl along the side of this building which is refilled regularly or can be filled on request. Light levels in the Manor are kept low to maintain Mr Wade s theatrical atmosphere and to protect the collection. There are 2 manual wheelchairs available for loan at Visitor Reception The garden has two areas of water, a small pool by the byre, and a larger pool by the model village. Arrival & Parking Facilities There are brown signs from Broadway. The entrance is signed and the main car park is down a short driveway. The main car park surface is gravelled with embedded space markers. There are 6 designated spaces for disabled people, on a firm surface, in the main car park. These spaces are the shortest distance from Visitor Reception. Cycle racks are available alongside the Visitor Reception building. Areas of the main car park are occasionally roped off for coach parking. It is possible to arrange to drop off visitors at an alternative entrance to the garden, if the designated spaces are full, by arrangement with the Visitor Reception team. There is an overflow car park to the left of the entrance drive. This is a reasonably flat area apart from the entrance slope, and has a grass surface. There are only a few marked spaces but the rest of the area can be used for parking. The path down the steep entrance slope to the Visitor Reception involves steps and a pedestrian gate. You can also walk down the wide driveway which cars will use. There is a firm surfaced path alongside the main car park to avoid walking over the gravel. There is a transfer vehicle which can take 5 passengers regularly between the Visitor Reception and the end of the path to the Manor. This is not accessible for people who cannot transfer from their wheelchair. The transfer vehicle does not serve the overflow car park. WCs There are WCs next to the Visitor Reception building, including a right-hand transfer accessible WC with space to turn a wheelchair through 1500mm diameter circle. There are no adult changing facilities but baby changing facilities are available here. All the WCs have automatic hand driers, stone floors, brick walls, and fluorescent lights. There is a right-hand transfer accessible WC next to the Tea Room. Page 1 of 6
There are more WCs by the bookshop close to the Manor. There is no accessible WC in this area. Visitor Reception This wooden building is right next to the car park. The entrance is up a short slope of approximately 1:8 gradient and less than 1000mm long. The single entrance door is nonpower operated, approx 900mm wide, opens outwards to about 90 degrees. Staff and volunteers can assist with opening the door if required. The surfacing in this area is mostly wood and stone, with full length windows to provide natural light. Fluorescent and LED lighting is also used. The reception desk is over 1000mm high but there is a lower area, approx 750mm high, which the reception team can also use for admission and membership enquiries. There is space for a 1500mm diameter turning circle in front of the reception desk but the route should be straight to the shop, WC area or off to the Manor. There are no seats provided but the reception team can assist with this if a seat is needed. There is an induction loop at the till point. Route to the Manor There is an approximately 1:8 gradient slope from Visitor Reception down to join the main path to the Manor. There is a flight of steps as an alternative, with 25 steps broken into three sets of 10, 7 and 8 steps each. There is a metal handrail on both sides of the steps. These steps lead to a lower route to the path to the Manor, and also down to the Tea Room. The path from Visitor Reception to the Manor is approximately 500 yards long and takes around 10 minutes to walk at a moderate pace. The route is undulating with a tarmac surface and is also used by the transfer vehicle. There are areas of grass on either side which can be used if the vehicle approaches from in front or behind you. There are also 8 10 benches regularly positioned along the route. There are some quotes in chalk written on blackboards along the way. The route is lined with trees which can create a dappled effect on the path if the sun is out, and there is a level wooden bridge to cross over a stream about halfway along the route. Part of the way down the entrance path to the Manor, there is a natural play area for children. The circular route runs underneath trees and partly through tented tunnels, has a boundary of 500mm high wooden wicker panels and a path of bark chippings. House The immediate pathway in front of the Manor is only used by pedestrians and is gravelled, but there is grass either side which can be walked on if the gravel is difficult. There is a small area of gravel which needs to be crossed about halfway along the path to get through a gateway. The entrance to the Manor is up 3 steps, each approximately 150mm high. There is no ramp available and no alternative level entrance. Please see the map for further information about access inside the Manor. The floor surfaces are mostly wooden but the rooms all contain a lot of artefacts which assists with minimising echo. Some of the objects may be touched, please ask a room guide for more information. The lighting is fluorescent and kept to a low level to maintain the atmosphere and to protect the collection. Page 2 of 6
Gravel pathway to the Manor Entrance to the Manor There is a Cellar which is entered by two steps outside of the Manor. There are some objects and written information to view here. An introductory talk takes place outside the Cellar at advertised times during the day. Seating is available if required, please ask the room guides for assistance. There is usually someone in each room. Rucksacks and large bags are required to be left in the entrance area in a cupboard which is monitored at all times. 4-wheeled powered mobility vehicles and powered wheelchairs cannot be accommodated in the Manor due to the entrance steps and narrow corridors and turning circles. If you require use of a quiet space, please indicate this to one of our room stewards who will be able to find a suitable area for you. There are guided tours and BSL interpretation can be arranged with at least 3 weeks notice. There is a virtual tour tablet available in the Manor. Please ask any of the room guides or staff members if you would like to borrow this. This is available online http://virtualtours.nationaltrust.org.uk/ There are Braille and Large print guides available at Visitor Reception. Cottage (Priest s House) The entrance to the Cottage is directly opposite the exit from the Manor. There is one ground floor room with level entrance and a small viewing point for two people. There is a small set of 2 steps up for children to use to see over the barrier. There is a set of 10 stone steps with metal handrails on each side to get to the two upstairs rooms. There is a lobby area with a window and the area is lit with standard lightbulbs. Audio of conversations are playing automatically in the room to the right of the steps as you climb them. This room is up one more stone step, and the opposite room has two more steps up into the viewing area. Page 3 of 6
Bookshop This is a small building at the end of the gravel entrance path to the Manor. There is one step up to reach the entrance, which is approximately 800mm wide. It has stone floors and brick walls with bookshelves along them. This is open when there is a volunteer available. Catering The Tea Room has a paved path to the entrance and has level access apart from a small raised lip across the doorway. The doorway is over 1000mm. This is usually open to at least 90 degrees and is nonpower assisted. The door opens outwards. Catering team members can assist if required. There is some outdoor seating with tables which can accommodate wheelchair users. The counter is over 850mm high. Catering team members are available to assist with service and carrying trays. The width between the tables is approximately 1000mm. There is an induction loop at the till point. Members of visitor groups can sit at tables if queuing is difficult and one member of the group can ask catering staff for assistance. Menus are available in standard print and there are large handled cutlery and straws available. The floor and wall surfaces are stone and brick and the lighting is fluorescent. The chairs have cushioned seats and the legs of the chairs and tables have rubber feet to minimise noise. Retail The entrance is level and via the reception area. The floor is carpeted and the lighting is fluorescent. The doorway is over 1000mm in width, the doors open outwards to at least 90 degrees and are non-power operated. The counter is over 800mm high but staff and volunteers are able to assist with service here and with lifting and carrying goods if required. There is an induction loop at the till point. There is circulation space between the tables of around 1200mm and some of the goods on the central tables are reachable by wheelchair users and children. There is space here to use a powered mobility vehicle or powered wheelchair. Garden The garden is set on a hillside and is designed as a series of outdoor rooms, each enclosed by hedging or low walls. Each section has at least one bench and is separated by steps, most of which are stone, some of which have handrails and most have uneven surfaces. It is not possible to access the garden without using steps. Path surfaces vary between gravel, paving stones and grass. There is a haha at the far end of the garden from the entry point, and there are two areas of water towards the centre of the garden. There is a building with a cobbled surface and horse-drawn carriages close to the areas of water. The garden also contains a dovecote and so there are often a large number of pigeons and doves around the lawns. Page 4 of 6
Please see the current map of the garden for more information. The ha-ha at the end of the garden One of the areas of water with miniature houses around it Date May 2016 Page 5 of 6
Map of the Manor Ground Floor Single step:12cm Door width: 75cm To go down from the first floor there are 18 steps. There is a handrail. The first floor is accessed by a staircase with 19 steps. No handrail. 3 steps at a height of 14cm each. Door width is 112cm. No handrail. Single step:15cm Door width: 85cm Single step 12 steps leading from the Manor to the Cottage. Alternatively visitors can exit from the front door on request. To descend from the top floor there are a total of 34 steps. There is a handrail. Single step: 9cm Door width: 70cm First Floor Second floor can be avoided by using hidden door. Door width: 60cm Step height: 7cm The top floor is accessed by a staircase of 17 steps. There is a handrail. Page 6 of 6