Above: The scale model of the Priory.

Accessibility

The Priory Church was built over 900 years ago without accessibility in mind but most of the church is accessible to visitors with mobility, hearing and sight restrictions.

Hard of Hearing

An Induction Loop service is available in the Nave, Great Quire and the Lady Chapel. Simply switch your hearing aid to the 'T' position to block out surrounding noise. This will help you to hear sermons and speeches more clearly.

An Amplified Service is also available is most areas of the church.

Visually Impaired/Blind

We have a large print version of our 'Welcome Leaflet' which provides a brief history of the church and a floor plan showing items of particular interest to visitors. Many of the statues, memorials and chantries have tactile surfaces which can be explored with your hands to get a good picture of what they look like. There is a scale model of the church at the east end of the North Quire Aisle which at the cost of just 20p, will light up and play a recording of the Priory Bells and the organ.

Guide Dogs and other Working Dogs are welcome.

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Wheelchair Access

There is level access through the North Porch into the Priory. The doors and aisles are wide enough to facilitate wheelchair access. The following areas of the church are unfortunately inaccessible to wheelchair users and are indicated on the floor plan to the left. A photo of the steps/stairs in some of these areas can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link (this will open in a new window). This may give you a better idea of how steep the stairs are etc.

1. The Great Quire requires a climb of 8 steps from either the North or South Quire Aisles. There are handrails on these steps.
2. The North Transept has 3 steps and then a further 2. There is no handrail.
3. The South Transept has 3 steps which are widely spaced and so easier to climb. We are awaiting the installation of a handrail.
4. St Michael's Loft Museum can only be reached by a narrow spiral staicase.
5. The Tower is also reached by narrow steps.
6. The Crypts.

Disabled Parking

The Priory Church does not have it's own Car Park but a space can usually be reserved in the Priory House Car Park if you ring the Verger in advance. Alternatively, there is a Pay and Display Car Park located behind the Priory Church.

Toilets

There are toilets in a block at the rear of the church that includes a disabled toilet which uses the Radar Key system. The key can be obtained from the Bookstall in the church.

Future Developments

In the near future we are hoping to add an interactive virtual tour of certain areas of the church which are currently inaccessible to visitors with mobility difficulties. The tour would allow visitors to 'visit' these areas by viewing them in full 360 degree panoramas on a monitor.

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