Sheldon House & Barn Accessibility Statement

The entire site of Sheldon House and Barn is Grade 2 listed, significantly limiting changes which might otherwise be implemented. Additionally, Sheldon House is an 18th century building which limits what is structurally possible to achieve. However we welcome everyone and where possible have measures in place to help those with some disability. If you have concerns as to the suitability of a stay here for you, please do get in touch via our website and we will do our best to support your individual needs.

Sheldon House

Access to Sheldon House garden from the street and front parking area is via one step into a flagged front garden. Some of these stones may be uneven and become slippery in wet weather. The entrance to the house is flat with a stone flagged floor and corridors inside, whilst narrow and flagged, are all level. There is slightly limited headroom under the main stairs but access to this area is not essential for guests. Access to dining room and exit door are on level floors; the dining room is carpeted. The side entrance has a slight step over the door sill and one external step from the door to the tarmac driveway.

The twin/super-king and single rooms are accessed by a relatively steep, carpeted staircase with 11 steps and handrails on each side. Bedrooms have level carpeted floors. The single room has a shower over the bath requiring a step over the bath side; the twin/super-king room has one step up to the shower. The twin room has two single beds, one of which can be accessed from either side without obstruction. The twin beds can be zipped together to facilitate variable room occupancy. Bathrooms have vinyl floor coverings. All rooms have chairs with arms, to aid less able guests. Non-slip mats are provided for shower/bath use.

All rooms are decorated and carpeted in neutral coverings appropriate to the room, this may be helpful to guests with dementia or autism.

All rooms have blackout blinds for guests’ use, should they prefer a darker room.

All rooms have cordless kettles to minimise hazard.

The double and king-size rooms are accessed by a relatively shallower carpeted staircase of 12 steps with handrails on either side of the staircase and a turn part way up the staircase. These rooms and en-suite bathrooms have level floors throughout with a step into the showers. Bedrooms are carpeted and shower rooms have vinyl floor coverings. Non-slip mats are provided for shower use. These two rooms are more suitable for those with limited mobility, as the stairs are shallower.

Sheldon Barn

Sheldon Barn is a first floor apartment accessed by a staircase of 12 steps with a turn part way up. There is a hand rail on one side. The apartment itself is on one level and carpeted throughout, except for kitchen and bathroom areas which have vinyl coverings or floor tiles. The en-suite bathroom has a shower over the bath requiring a step over the bath side whilst the separate bathroom has a shower with shallow step into it. Non slip mats are provided for shower/bath use.

Gardens

The rear car park (for Sheldon Barn guests) is on level but slightly sloping tarmac. Three steep and uneven stone steps lead to a terraced area and these may be slippery in wet weather. There are four uneven stone steps leading to the lawned area and these may be slippery in wet weather. Three wide, shallow concrete steps lead to a flagged path to a patio through the orchard and these may become slippery in wet weather. Seating is provided for guests in the orchard and this may be more easily accessed for those with limited mobility. There is access through a narrow gate in the rear car park wall and one uneven stone step to a public footpath beyond.

Other areas of garden are not open to guests.

 Visual impairment

We have large print copies of the guest information and breakfast menus which are available on request. If we know in advance, we will use colour contrasting items such as towels and crockery to make them stand out more clearly.

Whilst dogs are not generally permitted indoors, accessibility dogs are an exception to this.

Corridors areas have low-level lighting at night-time and emergency lighting should the fire alarm sound and/or there be a power-cut.

External areas have infra-red detector-controlled lights to ensure illumination when guests are arriving at or leaving the property art night.

Assistance with, for example, the breakfast buffet, is available on request. 

Subtitles are available on many TV channels.

Auditory impairment

In the unlikely event of the fire alarm sounding, if on site we will personally alert anyone with a hearing impairment who may not have heard the alarm sounding.

Televisions in guest rooms are able to display subtitles when these are available in the received tv signal.

Whenever we are aware of a guest with auditory impairment a notebook and pen/pencil will be provided to aid communication.

Other individual needs.

We recognise that there are other specific requirements which guests may have and we are keen to provide for those needs if we can. We cater for special diets, e.g. gluten free, if informed in advance. Accessibility dogs are welcome for a variety of related conditions. Secure fridge space for storing of insulin or other medication is possible on request – please do contact us in advance of your potential visit to discuss your needs with us.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sheldon House and Barn. August 2023.