Christ Church

2	15

St Aldate's. Tel. (01865) 276150

Christ Church Website

Overview:Christ Church is Oxford's largest college, occupying a 140-acre site in the centre of the city to the southeast of the Carfax crossroads and including the Christ Church Meadow bordered by the rivers Cherwell and Isis. Founded in 1546, and including Oxford's cathedral, this historic environment presently offers a number of access challenges. A programme of accessibility works is programmed and an 'Access to Christ Church' leaflet is available in hard copy, and may also be downloaded from the college’s website. Car parking is available for visitors/members with disabilities: telephone 01865 276178 or 276150.

College Sites:The main entrance from St Aldate's is flat over cobbles and is locked at 8.30pm daily. It is accessible after 8.30pm by a member key or proximity reader. The Porter’s Lodge is staffed 24 hours and thus assistance is always available The Porters' Lodge and pigeonholes are on the left of this entrance and are +1, +7 stairs (handrails left and right). An induction loop and a textphone are provided at the Porter’s Lodge. From the main entrance there is flat access into the lower level of Tom Quad and a ramp on the right from the lodge, to the upper level off which all the rooms in Tom Quad are found. A wheelchair user accessible visitor toilet is located on the southside of Tom Quad. The Junior Common Room is on this level and is +2 stairs through a locked door and has movable chairs. It is also accessible to wheelchair users through the use of an auxillary ramp. The Graduate Common Room is +28 stairs (handrails left and right) from the Junior Common Room. There is flat access to Peckwater Quad from the upper level of Tom Quad.

From Peckwater Quad the computer room is +2 stairs and most residential rooms have data connections and telephones. The library is +3 stairs through a heavy wooden door. All books are on the ground floor and the librarian will fetch any books if necessary. The Picture Gallery is off Canterbury Quad adjacent to Peckwater Quad and is -11 stairs (handrails left and right) with a further +8 stairs inside (handrails right and left). There is flat entrance over cobbles into Canterbury Quad from Oriel Square through Canterbury Gate, which becomes a wicket gate at 6pm and is locked at midnight. A platform lift to the Hall and buttery is planned for 2007, in the meantime a stairclimber provides wheelchair user access to both.

From Tom Quad the laundry (in Meadow Quad) is -4, -4, -10 stairs (no handrail) -5, -8 stairs (handrails left and right). The Hall is +10, +15 stairs (handrails left and right) and has seats inside. There are two bars. The Buttery is adjacent to Hall +10, +15 stairs with handrails, and the Undercroft (- 4, - 5) is across a cobbled yard.

A groundfloor meeting/seminar room is accessible by a wheelchair user through the provision of an auxillary ramp. The same room has an induction loop.

The Cathedral, also the college’s Chapel, has ramped access level going to the interior and induction loop.

Many college staff have undertaken disability awareness training.

Accommodation:Most accommodation is on the main site in spacious modernised rooms. Ground floor rooms are available (some en suite), with level going access, but not adapted for wheelchair users. A groundfloor room with induction loop is available for a student with hearing impairment

Catering:A full meal service including weekend brunch is provided in Hall; special diets and other food requirements are regularly catered for. Self-catering accommodation is available in St Aldate's Quad (adjacent to the main site) though these rooms are not wheelchair accessible.