Overview

This is a wonderful Tudor hall, but is not without its challenges. There are some different levels on the ground floor, which could be a barrier to some but wheelchairs and walkers can manage. No power chairs allowed anywhere except the great hall, because the ramps can't take the weight, but there are some interesting things to see just in that one room, and there are regular talks in there. Parts of the house are more Victorian than Tudor, which is always interesting to see. It's a former family house, so not too intimidating. Really well worth a visit. There was a lady in a wheel chair and I asked her if she had enjoyed it and she had! Gardens have topiary and flower borders, as well as a kitchen garden. There is a path down to the church, and a path along the canal too.

Transport & Parking

Drove there. A sign saying car park was full, but fortunately the three disabled places included one that was unoccupied. Paving a little rough and gravelly but OK.

Access

Step free entry to the great hall, via a door on the other side of the house across good paths. However there were some steps if you wanted to see other parts of the house, but the staff are more than happy to put ramps down, and one of the sets of steps (5 shallow ones) had a handrail. If you go in the front door there is a small step down, easily achieved in a wheelchair. No lift, and I couldn't manage the stairs on this occasion, but could see entrance hall, great hall, dining room, study and schoolroom on the ground floor. The stairs did have a good banister but it was too wide for my hands to grip it. There were seats for visitors and it was clear which ones could be sat on. In the great hall, one of the guides brought me a book of photos of the upstairs, and chatted to me very pleasantly. There was a step up to the tea room, but not a big one, and you really need someone with you to go up to the counter as there is another step there. I'm sure the staff would carry the tray for you if you couldn't manage. If you can't manage the step, there are tables outside on the cobbled yard. A few different surfaces in the shop, which is all second hand books now, and fun to browse. Some lovely postcards, especially of the wild flower paintings which are upstairs, so that's one way to see them. Gardens are level with nice paths, and there were some benches, and it's ok to go on the grass. There was a downpour so my wheels got a bit muddy after that. The grounds are not large but they are lovely.

Toilets

Accessible toilet is across a small cobbled yard, quite tricky on my walker (my wheels kept getting stuck) but step free entry. Space for carer, and clean. Also shared with the baby change facility, but only had to wait briefly. Well equipped. No changing places, but as this is a Tudor house, there simply is no room!

Staff

The staff were absolutely amazing. They couldn't help me enough. They were almost vying for who would get to help me. Every single guide was so kind, but never patronising!

Photos