Somerville College

15	10
5	41

Woodstock Road. Tel. (01865) 270600

Somerville College Website

Overview: Somerville is located near Jericho, about 10 minutes from the University Science Area, and between 10 and 15 minutes from most University departments, colleges and the city centre. There is a fairly high level of accessibility and the College is happy to work with students to adapt rooms and equipment for accessibility. Three rooms are already adapted for students with hearing disabilities, and two for physical disabilities; the college has also provided equipment required by several students with visual impairments. Adapted computer software, desks and chairs can be provided on request.

College Site: The gate at the main entrance is open between 7am and 5pm on all days of the week and there is no step to climb. Outside these hours, there is a wicket gate within the main gate with initial +1 stair to get over. The Porters' Lodge is on the right inside the main entrance and is equipped with a hearing loop. Student pigeonholes are directly accessible in the Lodge. The College may also be accessed via an entrance on Little Clarendon Street. The gate has a heavy spring lock, and is accessible with a key; the gate’s bottom bar is less than 0.5” high and does not impede entrance. This entrance leads to the left side of the Main Quad, facing the Library. Most College facilities are on the right of Main Quad.

The College bar is in a building called 'House' to which there is flat access. The entrance to the bar is a further +1 stair. There is a telephone at the entrance to House. The TV room is in Park Building and has flat access. The laundry room is also in Park Building with +2 stairs at the entrance - a movable ramp can be made available. There is a slight step into the laundry room itself, which has a permanent ramp. There is an alternative entrance down a fairly steep slope and through a door, which gives flat access. The laundry room in Darbishire has full access via ramp. There are also laundry facilities in Vaughan (basement) and Dorothy Hodgkin (1st floor), and Penrose has a washing machine (ground floor).

The Library is on the north side of Main Quad, and its ground floor is fully accessible to wheelchair users through the side entrance. The librarian and her staff are happy to retrieve any needed books from the first floor.

The Hall is accessible by lift, and disabled toilets are on the same floor. The Hall has moveable chairs, and the self-service counter is through a 670mm door. There is a hearing loop in the main dining hall.

There are handrails on most buildings’ staircases and some corridors; there are accessible toilets in all ground floor buildings.

The Chapel is equipped with a hearing loop, and is accessible by ramp as of August 2006.

Accommodation: All first year undergraduates have their own study-bedrooms and all final year students can be housed in college. Some second year students also live in. All rooms are connected to Ethernet. Three rooms are adapted for hearing impairment, and two rooms for physical impairment. There are a total of 41 ground floor rooms in Darbishire, Maitland, Penrose, Park, Lodge House, West Lodge, and 119A Walton Street. Darbishire and Maitland are equipped with disabled showers and toilets.

Catering: Meals are available at subsidised rates and there is provision for special diets.