We aim to be a truly accessible building and hope that this information about access to the Centre will help you plan your visit.
If you are disabled we suggest you contact us before you visit. It is always helpful to know in advance how we can assist you, or if you just need some general advice before your visit.
You might want to watch this helpful subtitled video before visiting us.
Parking
There are disabled parking spaces available in our main car park. Reservations are not usually necessary but, if you would like to reserve a space, please contact us.
Entering the building
There is an accessible ramp to the entrance of Surrey History Centre and step free access within the public areas.
Our public entrance on Goldsworth Road has a revolving door and an automatic door. The automatic door can be activated by pressing the red button marked on the right. The door will open outwards but is touch sensitive.
Our foyer
This is where you sign in if using the reading room and where the lockers, toilets and refreshment area can be found. Staff are on hand to welcome and advise you.
You will need to place your coats and bag in the locker room. Coat hangers require a £1 coin and lockers require a 20p coin, which staff can operate for you if you wish.
Male and female toilets are located to the left and right of the reception desk respectively. There is no unisex toilet. There is an accessible toilet to the right of the reception desk with a bifold door. Baby changing facilities are located in all the toilets. The toilets have electronic air fresheners.
The Refreshment room is located to the right of the reception desk and has a water filling station and hot drinks machine (pay per cup). We do not have other refreshments on site but staff can direct you to nearby supermarkets, shops and cafes. This room has fluorescent lighting which is motion activated.
Our public reading room
Our main reading room where documents and books can be looked at, including our local studies collection, is to the right of the foyer and is called the Heather D Hawker Room.
To protect our unique collections no food and drink are not allowed in the Heather D Hawker Room, but please let staff know if you need to take medication into the room with you.
Access to the Heather D Hawker Room is via a heavy glass security door with an electronically controlled access point which can only be released by reception staff, or a member of staff wearing a security tag. The door does not open automatically, and wheelchair or mobility aid users and those with a physical disability may not be able to open it unaided. In this instance, please let us know and we will assist you.
Please tell us if you have a dexterity issue and our staff will bring your documents to you at your seat if you wish them to.
Although we seek to keep noise levels down, the reading room is not a silent environment and you may encounter noise arising in the normal course of documents being produced and computers, metal map cabinets, and microfilm readers being used. We ask that mobile phone calls are not taken within the searchroom but there may be sounds associated with text or email alerts. Visitors are welcome to wear their own noise-cancelling headphones.
There are no USB charging points in the searchroom. There are floor sockets for charging assistance equipment, laptops, and cameras. If these are difficult for you to access please let us know and a member of staff will assist you.
Our fiche and film readers and two reader-printers are accessible and at a suitable height for wheelchair users. Some of our film readers are powered; others are manual. Please ask staff if you require assistance.
If you need to use a computer or a mains powered tape recorder, please let us know in advance as we can then reserve a space near a power point.
Reference numbers of documents ordered up from the strong room are displayed on white sheets behind the reception desk. However, if you prefer, please ask staff to notify you when your documents are ready.
Researchers with sensory impairments
Guide dogs are welcome at Surrey History Centre.
When you book your seat ahead of your visit we can also book additional seats if you are bringing someone to help you read the documents.
We have a selection of magnifying glasses you can borrow, although we do not allow the use of reading machines as these can damage documents.
We also have a closed-circuit television (CCTV) scanner to help visually impaired researchers access our collections. This fantastic piece of equipment allows any document, illustration, or piece of text to be enlarged onto a TV screen, making it easier to see. Equipped with visual aids suitable for different levels of impairment, ranging from colour blindness to macular degeneration, the scanner can:
- magnify in true colour
- change the colour and contrast on screen of any item being scanned
- underline the text of a document, which makes the reading of old deeds and ancient handwriting much easier!
The scanner is available to use in the public searchroom and can be booked for 2-hour slots during our opening hours.
Conference rooms
Our conference/meeting rooms to the left of the foyer have large glass doors which do not open automatically. A member of staff will open them and provide a door wedge if needed.
These meeting rooms have window blinds which can be adjusted to suit required light levels. Lighting in these rooms is on an adjustable dimmer switch.
Induction loops are fitted in the conference room. Hearing aid users should switch to the 'T' setting to make use of this facility.
Information for Neurodiverse visitors
If you are feeling distressed, anxious or challenged in any way during your visit our staff are happy to get you a drink and show you to a quiet space inside or outside the building.
Emotional support and assistance animals for neurodiversity conditions are welcome in Surrey History Centre
In the Heather D Hawker Room we permit the use of fidget devices, therapy toys, noise-cancelling headphones and any devices which help you manage the environment providing that they do not compromise the safety of the documents (for example no food or drink is permitted).
Please be aware there are fluorescent lights in the Heather D Hawker Room, refreshment room, and our foyer and meeting rooms.
Fire alarm
The fire alarm is a loud continuous ringing bell and, should the necessity arise, staff will escort all readers out of the building through the nearest ground floor fire exit. Staff will notify you if there is a planned fire alarm drill but there may be other alarms which sound, such as rainwater sensors, or the intruder alarm, although this is rare.
Family activities
During Half Term and school holidays we run free family activities in our Events Room located to the left of the foyer reception desk.
Everyone is welcome, and the age range of 2 to 12 is only a guide. Children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The sessions are drop-in and people can stay for as little or long as they want. The activities are paper-based craft activities and colouring. The activities can be done as slow or fast as people would like and have picture instructions as well as written ones. Adults are expected to help a little with cutting out activities if need be.
Some of our activities have been created by Halow, a charity who work with young people with learning disabilities to learn life skills in the community.
We have a small family area outside the Events room with more relaxed seating, books and toys (none of these toys have small parts). There is also other seating in the wider foyer space, refreshment room, and outside the Centre if children prefer.
This image shows how the room is usually set up. If you have any feedback on how we can improve the activities, please do let us know.
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