Overview

Balliol College is one of is one of about forty small colleges which are part of the University of Oxford. This review is as a day visit to the gardens, hall and chapel only, I am unable to comment on what disabled access is like as a student of the college. This is a beautiful college with stunning gardens and is a delight to see. However, I've given the venue a low score as a mobility impaired person I felt that there 3 places where I had safety concerns, which I feel that the College should address urgently. UPDATE: On 17/10/2022: I received a reply from the Domestic Bursar of the College listing the immediate action that has been taken to address the concerns I raised. See additional information at the bottom if you would like to read their reply.

Transport & Parking

The entrance to the college is on Broad Street about a 15–20-minute walk from Oxford Railway Station. Several step free buses stop in the surrounding streets.

Access

The visitors entrance to the College is on Broad Street via the Porters' Lodge. There is a very thin, worn step to the main door. The door was open and visitors are signposted into the Porters' Lodge which is through a glass door. There is a member of staff on duty behind the counter and if the college is open there is an admission charge for visitors. There was another door to exit the Porters' Lodge which a member of staff opened for me. There was then two steps with a handrail on both sides or a ramp to enter the Front Quad. The Quad is very pretty with attractive buildings and flowers. Even in October the garden was very colourful. It's a nice space and there is a single bench with back support and arms. On arriving I was given a small booklet with a map which has a route to follow marked on it. I followed the route into Chapel Passage. This is a short, covered walkway that leads to the Chapel. The flooring of the passageway starts as stone flooring, then there is wooden flooring laid on top, see photo. There is just the tiniest of difference in floor height but it is a possible hazard for someone to trip on. When I was on my own the contrast was good and I could see, but someone in a large group or distracted and not paying attention to the flooring could trip. The floor surface should be made safe. The Chapel: Is only accessible via Chapel Passage. There is a narrow step to the door. The door is heavy with a turn handle which I found quite difficult to open. Inside you come into a small room and then there are two marble steps with no hand rail to double door and the nave. Only one side of the door was open. With my crutch I struggled to get up the stairs and through the door. It would be helpful if handrails were installed and that the double doors were kept open so that wheelchair users who can't access the nave of the chapel can have a better view of it. Following the route I then I retraced my steps and went through Library Passage. At the entrance to the passage from the Front Quad there is no signage to say this is not a step free route. On entering it you have to turn immediately left and in front of you are three steps with no handrail. At this point a wheelchair user would have to turn around and retrace their steps and then would be left uncertain on how to navigate the rest of the college. I continued along Library Passage, it's a short passage and at the other end are two more steps with no handrail. Both steps are noticeably worn. This then led out to Garden Quad, which is large, delightful and very accessible. There are beautiful flower displays and there is some bench seating with back support and arms. I really enjoyed sitting in the gardens. At the opposite end of the Quad is the The Buttery: The Buttery has step free access with a standing height counter and free standing tables and chairs both inside and outside. There is also a sign here for the toilets. The Hall: It was closed when I arrived as they were serving lunch. It is closed to the public until 2pm. there is a long, steep flight of stairs to enter. With the bottom three steps having no handrail due to its design, but the rest of it having a handrail on both sides. I took one look at the staircase and knew it was not accessible for me. I then went into the Buttery to ask if there was a lift. I was told that the accessible lift was not used as it frequently got stuck and people inside usually had to wait about 20 minutes before help arrived to get them out. Instead I escorted in a service lift which took me to the kitchens. I then had to walk through a working kitchen where the floor was wet in places and my crutch slipped a couple of times. I then was taken in another service lift and arrived via a step free route in the Hall. The Hall is very impressive and well worth visiting. However, the step free route is not safe. The accessible lift I ascertained is a long standing problem and therefore it needs addressing. Disabled students, staff or visitors should not be subjected to the risk of slipping and falling while walking through a working kitchen. Some people may have powerchairs and require support from a carer so walking through a busy kitchen room is far from ideal. The accessible lift needs be fixed to provide equitable, safe access to the college's main communal space for disabled people. From this I went to the Fellows' Garden which was step free and then exited via Chapel Passage into Front Quad. The exit at the Porters' Lodge into Broad Street involves pressing a button and exiting through a gate.

Toilets

The toilets are located in the Buttery next to the Hall in the Garden Quad. The main toilets are reached by a single large step without a handrail. Then there is another door and a short flight of about 8 steps with a handrail on one side to the toilet cubicles. I knew this was inaccessible for me. I asked if there was an accessible toilet as there was no signage. I was informed there was one which was accessible only via a meeting room. However, the meeting room was in use so I would be unable to use it. They went and must have spoken to someone as I was then advised a couple of minutes later that they would interrupt the meeting so I could use the toilet. I had to walk through a meeting room with three or four people in it and through another two door to reach the accessible toilet. When I got there the accessible toilet it was spacious, clean and uncluttered. There were grab rails and an emergency red cord. I then had to retrace my steps, interrupt the meeting again to exit. This is not dignified, as many people who use accessible toilets have bladder and bowl conditions, and may have soiled themselves while waiting to access the toilet. An accessible toilet is only accessible if it is easy to access when you require it and I hope the College will rethink how it can make their only accessible public toilet truly accessible. UPDATE: College has removed the meeting room from the diary and can't be booked out, and signage for the accessible toilet has been put up in the Buttery, so disabled people will now can independently access the toilet at anytime.

Staff

All the staff I met were a credit to the College, all very professional, helpful and supportive. It was only due to the staff that I was able to gain access to the Hall and an accessible toilet as due to the current set up disabled people are unable to do this independently.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I was extremely disappointed with Balliol College's accessibility, given that I have visited Trinity and Magdalen Colleges who have successfully managed to make their historic building very accessible. There are 3 access safety issues which I feel need quickly addressing 1) The flooring in the Chapel Passage 2) Step free access to the Hall so disabled people have equality and equity to safely accessing the room safely and with dignity. UPDATE: A new accessible lift has been on order for a while and date of installation has not been confirmed. 3) Accessible toilet arrangements In addition what would be helpful: 1) The Guide for Visitors including access information on their map. UPDATE: A step free map is available at the Porters' Lodge at the entrance to the College. 2) Ideally 2 permanent ramps installed in Library Passage and a handrail. 3) If 2 is not achievable, then signage at Front Quad Library Passage saying that the route is not step free and advising which route to take. 4) Signage to the accessible toilet. UPDATE: There is now a sign on the door in the Buttery leading to the accessible toilet. I am going to write to Dame Helen Ghosh, the Master of Balliol College and raise these concerns, as a visitor I have the privilege, in that I don't feel vulnerable like a disabled student may feel about raising these concerns. The College was founded in 1263 and it is time to become more inclusive by seriously addressing it access issues in the way other Oxford College have. UPDATE: On Friday 14/10/2022 I wrote to the Master and on Monday 17/10/2022 I received this reply from the Domestic Bursar "Dear Tina, The Master passed on to me your email concerning your recent visit to Balliol and the concerns you had for disabled access. I was so disappointed to read how your visit went and I wanted to thank you for bringing this to our attention. It has long bothered me that the disabled toilet is positioned where it is and I have today removed the archive room from our meeting room list so that it cannot be booked out. I have also asked for signage to be put on the wall outside the room so that people are aware of it’s location. Coincidentally I was on a call on Friday with our lift provider to move along the lift situation, a process which has sadly taken far longer than it should have but we are fitting a new lift in the next couple of months – depending on when they can supply us with one. I have also asked the lodge to print off copies of the step free guide to Balliol, that is something we should have thought of doing but thank you so much for suggesting it. I do hope this goes someway to reassure you that we do want to improve and make out site as accessible as we can. Thank you for again Domestic Bursar Balliol College, Oxford" I really appreciate that the College listened and implementing change so quickly. The accessible toilet is now accessible and signposted and a step free map is available at the Porters' Lodge. Steps are already in place to replace the access lift to the Hall. This is wonderful news as it is such as lovely place to visit with beautiful, historic buildings and delightful gardens.

Photos