Venue Description

Crawley Museum is a local history museum, which tells the history of the town through objects and their stories. It has an active programme of events and temporary exhibitions which reflect various aspects of the town and the local area. It also has a learning offer for all ages. Our collections include objects from Crawley prehistory, its medieval settlement, the Victorian town and the 20th Century New Town development. We also collect contemporary objects. We celebrate Crawley’s communities today through our oral history collections, temporary exhibitions and community engagement projects. Items on permanent display include our 1903 Rex Forecar and a Bronze Age sword. We also have a temporary exhibition space. This hosts a variety of displays which change regularly. Entry is free, although we encourage donations.

Accessibility

We are housed in a two storey building. The entrance from the car park is level. There is a ramped entrance from the street down to the museum entrance, with handrails. Automatic, wide entry door. Automatic, wide door to courtyard. All interior doors wide but not automatic. Usually left open. Generally level access throughout building, but slight slope down to downstairs gallery (with handrail), one slope in downstairs gallery, and one slope in entrance to upstairs gallery (with handrail). Some uneven flooring (floorboards) in upstairs gallery. Standard lift to first floor. Invacare Ben 9+ basic manual wheelchair available for visitor use. Seating available throughout the building. All exhibition and signage text is 16pt minimum. Guided tours for those with visual impairment available - please arrange this in advance if possible. Many exhibition objects are on open display and can be touched. Handling boxes available on request. All audio is push button operated. Transcripts of audio material in galleries. Quiet space available on request.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://crawleymuseums.org/accessibility-2/

Awards List

Accredited museum Member of AIM (Association of Independent Museums) Trip Advisor member Google Review member Winner of 2019 Crawley Community Awards (Culture Category)

Toilets

1 accessible toilet on ground floor. Step free access. Wide doors. Grab rails. Easy turn locks and taps. Emergency cord. Nearest Changing Places Toilet is at Crawley Bus station.

Staff

Curator and Learning and Liaison Officer have very basic BSL skills. Museum stewards have attended Welcome All training.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

West Green playing field is the nearest area where dogs can be exercised off lead. It is about .4 of a mile from the museum.

Other assistance dog facilities

Water bowls available for assistance dogs.