Venue Description

The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum is not a Regimental Museum more a Military Museum related to the connection between the Military of Oxfordshire and the County in which they are based, hence our strap line of "Conflict and County". At the heart of the Museum will always be the rich histories of the two County Regiments; The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars in which Churchill served and was associated with for 64 years. Apart from the two county regiments, Oxfordshire has been and still is heavily populated by Military and has been for centuries. It currently hosts a Battalion of The Rifles (the successors to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry) in Abingdon, a squadron of the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars in Banbury, two major RAF bases in Brize Norton and Benson together with the major logistic base and the Defence Explosives Munitions School at Bicester as well as other logistic regiments within the County. Our Aim is to tell the stories of these soldiers, their families, the county towns in which they lived or came from and the consequences of conflict on them and the County. We house a significant and important part of the social and development history of the County and portray this in our static and special exhibitions in the Museum. We demonstrate the courage, tenacity, comradeship and fellowship of the Military, their families, the towns in which they lived or were born and the close links with the population of this county of Oxfordshire. Together they exemplify the concept of mutual support in “Conflict and County”.

Accessibility

Introduction The Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO) is located on the same site as The Oxfordshire Museum (TOM) on Park Street, Woodstock. The museum offers disabled access throughout, including a disabled access toilet and lift. A lift allows access to the first floor Research Centre, though this office area is not typically open to the general public, it may be used for viewing a number of paintings mounted on the walls around the staircase. Printed handbooks are also available on site which feature images of these paintings with descriptions. • The front doors on Park Street have push buttons to open the doors located 1 metre high on either side of the glass doors. • Access to the main entrance on Park Street is level with no stairs or ramps. • Once inside TOM, the entrance to SOFO is located by exiting the reception area through a second set of glass doors directly ahead of the main entrance. These doors are push button operated with buttons placed 1 metre high on either side. These doors lead onto a wooden decking area overlooking the garden and the front of SOFO. • From the decking, access to SOFO is via a central brick staircase with 5 steps or a paving stone ramp on the left hand side of the building leading past the TOM Garden Gallery and along a compacted stone path that runs around the perimeter of the garden to the SOFO main entrance. SOFO Main Entrance, Reception and Ticketing Area • The front doors are automatic (movement sensitive) and open inwards. • When fully open there is a gap of 2 m (2,000 mm, 78 inches). • The main entrance is step-free and level throughout. • There is a hearing loop system fitted at reception. • The flooring is polished concrete throughout. • The main entrance and shop is lit using ceiling spot lights and the shop has additional lighting. • There is a low desk directly to the left of you as you move through the main entrance doors. • The Admissions desk is staffed by museum staff and volunteers who are happy to assist anyone with special requirements. • A hearing loop system is installed at the reception desk. Museum Galleries (displays, exhibits, interactives etc.) • The main method of interpretation in the galleries is visual, with numerous panels to read and objects on display. • There are videos with sound and interactive computer exhibits throughout the galleries. Special tours can be organised for visually impaired visitors where our tour guides tailor the tour to fulfil your needs and interests in the collections. Object handling using items from our handling collections can be arranged if pre-booked in advance of your visit too. • All interpretation boards have large print for the main titles and key information. There are numerous images and objects to see in the cases, and costume items to try on. • A small number of interpretation boards feature smaller text and/or are elevated more than 1.5 metres off the ground, so may be more difficult for wheelchair users and/or the visually impaired. Staff are always willing to assist on request if help is required. • There are videos that play on the press of a button which feature background music and voice-over telling you about that particular subject. • One exhibit, a replica section of a HORSA Glider aircraft, allows visitors to sit inside and listen to historical recordings through headsets. A small set of 2 steps is the only way to get inside this exhibit, but the headsets themselves will extend to outside the seating area. • There are telephone hand-sets which can be picked up to hear recordings of oral histories. • There are no flashing lights in the building. • Some exhibits can make sudden loud noises which imitate gunfire. • The doors into the main galleries are automatic sliding doors (movement sensitive). • Doors into Cloister and Garden gallery are manual but can be opened and held back if required. The door openings are all at least 1.2m wide (1,200 mm or 47 inches). • There is additional seating throughout the galleries or portable seats can be given out by reception on request. • The exhibits are lit using energy-saving spotlights. The delicate items such as textiles (the uniform items) are displayed in lower lighting levels to protect them from decay and fading due to the light. • The lighting level is even throughout the building and is activated on movement. Concessionary Ticket Policy Concessionary ticket rates are offered to those who are: • Over 60. • Current students with Student ID/NUS Card. • Disabled people. • Armed Forces Personnel with MOD90 Card and veterans. Complimentary tickets: • Complimentary tickets are allocated for any essential carer visiting the museum with a wheelchair user or individual with special needs. Notify the member of staff or volunteer on the desk at the time of purchase and they will issue the carer with a complimentary ticket. Shop • The shop is located in the main entrance of the museum and can be accessed without buying a ticket to see the museum. • The front entrance and reception/shop area is open plan, all on one level and accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs with no steps or slopes. • The shop units are located around the walls and on free-standing units on the shop floor. There are spaces in between the units to allow wheelchair/pushchair access. • There is a low counter at the reception/shop desk. Grounds and Gardens • The Oxfordshire Museum garden is outside SOFO with open lawns and flower beds. • The garden has a compacted stone path going all the way around it. • The footpath is 2 meters wide. • There are a number of park benches located around the garden for visitors to take a well-earned break and look at the flowers.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: http://www.sofo.org.uk/visit-us/

Awards List

VisitEngland Quality Assured Visitor Attraction Accredited Museum Experience Oxfordshire Partner Cotswold Tourism Partner

Toilets

• Access to the toilets is on level ground with no ramps or slopes. There are 4 visitor toilets located close to the main entrance of the building through a set of manual doors into the Cloister Gallery, one of which is an accessible unisex toilet. • The door to the accessible toilet is 90cm or 35 inches wide to allow wheelchair access. Once inside, there is a 90cm or 35 inch space at the right hand side of the toilet for a wheelchair, with low-level hooks for bags and coats. The height of the toilet from floor to seat is 50cm or 19 inches. There are grab rails located on either side of the accessible toilet and a red pull-cord for use in an emergency. The sink is on the left hand side of the cubicle and has lever taps to operate the water and a soap dispenser. • All the toilets are lit by spot lighting in the ceiling.

Staff

Museum staff have received basic Disability Awareness Training, and Customer Service Training. You should expect high standards of visitor care at SOFO.

Assistance dog facilities

Other assistance dog facilities

We welcome assistance dogs and they are also welcome in the garden. A water bowl is available at the front desk on request.