Access for Disabled Visitors

The Museum recreates the conditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries on an open air site using historic buildings and structures. This means that in parts of the Museum the ground is steep and uneven and some buildings have high steps. Wheelchair users who require assistance are invited to bring an accompanying guest who will be admitted to the Museum free of charge.

Access is available to the majority of buildings, although most require temporary ramped access. Staff are on hand around the site to assist visitors with restricted mobility.

The Museum possesses a number of wheelchairs which must be booked, at no extra charge, in advance (contact the Museum Booking Office on 0121 520 8054). Adapted toilets are available in the entrance building and adjacent to the Canalside Cafe.

Information Sheets

To help you make the most of your visit you can download one of the following exhibit information sheets. These are especially useful for customers who may have a hearing impairment.

Production of these information sheets was enabled by the Museums and Libraries Conurbation Grant Scheme, funded through Renaissance West Midlands and supported by Wolverhampton County Council

Access To Exhibits

Cast Iron Houses

There is a sloping ash path to the left of the houses. Portable ramps are available for use at the rear of the houses. These are kept in the coal house. The main tarmac roadway from the transport terminus has a gradient of 1 in 7.5 at the steepest part of the incline.

Mine Trip

The ground is uneven and steep in parts in the underground mine. Some wheelchair users may require assistance. Ask the mine guides in the mine entrance for details of access.

St James's School

There is a wooden ramp into the main entrance. The tarmac roadway from the school down into the village has a gradient of 1 in 20 at its steepest part.

Village

A portable ramp is kept in the Pawnbroker's Shop, ask the member of staff to make this available to you. This ramp can also be used to provide access to the other shops and houses in the main street. The main street is tarmac surface, the adjoining street is cobbled.

Dudley Tunnel & Canal Trip

Access is by the brick paved towpath, gradient 1 in 8, between Sidebotham's Trap Shop and the Carter's Yard. Please enquire at the tunnel trip booking office on the towpath for wheelchair access to the tunnel trips.

Limelight Cinema

Access is via the double doors at the far end of the yard. The internal flooring is smooth concrete. Lighting levels are low. Space for wheelchairs is available at the front of the theatre.

Ironworks

The ground surface of the ironworks is compacted ash and is uneven. Access to the chainmaker, blacksmith and bakery is via the ironworks.

Canalside Cafe

Access to the Canalside Cafe is by the concrete path opposite the school. Adapted toilets are adjacent to the cafe. Adapted toilets are also provided in the Museum entrance building.

Full Access Survey Details

A full report on Access at the Museum extracted from "Access Dudley" produced by the Directorate of the Urban Environment , Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is available for download as PDF file (200Kb)

Using our web site

We've tried to build this web site in such a way that no-one is excluded from its use.

if you need to enlarge the text, you will be able to do this using your browser, but as every browser is different it is difficult to give meaningful instructions for how to do that.

Usually there will be a setting in your main menu to increase text size, either under view or preferences or options.

If you need help adapting your browser to view this site, we would refer you to the BBC's web site which has an excellent and very comprehensive guide, covering most computers and Internet browser software:

www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/

If you are having difficulty using this site and you cannot find the information you need, please contact us at info@bclm.co.uk and we will try to put things right.

 
 
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