Introduction
Thorney Museum is a community heritage centre, entirely volunteer-run, which shows the history of the village of Thorney and its surroundings. we like to show personal history and have information on local families which can be shared by appointment. We are an accredited museum, located in a converted Duke of Bedford Victorian cottage.
The Museum has set opening hours, but we also arrange to open for prearranged visits, large or
small groups.
We are accessible via a ramp to both the front and the emergency doors, and from 2014 have Braille/tactile picture books and large print books for visitors to use onsite.
Two stewards are always available when the Museum is open.
We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 01733 270908 - contact number, not at Museum or email enquiry@thorney-museum.org.uk.

Pre-Arrival
You can arrive at our Museum by bus from Peterborough or Wisbech/Norwich. Alight at the "Thorney Chip Shop" stop and walk down Station Road until the entrance to the Bedford Hall. There are shelters but no seats.
The nearest railway station is Peterborough, and the First XL bus comes to Thorney from the station. Please see http://firstgroup.com for timetables and accessibility information.
Driving is easy - leave the A47 Thorney Bypass at the middle roundabout for the village, where the B1040 crosses the A47. Drive south towards the village, and turn left into the large brick entrance on the left (Smiley Faces Nursery is on this corner). Please park off the road, because Fire Station access is needed. Park in front of the main door to the Hall, on the gravel opposite, or behind the main building.

Car Parking and Arrival
Parking is free at all times.
There is parking on site for at least 80 vehicles. No spaces are directly outside the Museum. For the easiest access, please turn left around the wooden fence once into the Bedford Hall grounds, and drop off passengers at the end of the Museum's access ramp, then park behind the Museum.
The car parking area outside the main door of the Bedford Hall is tarmac, and there is access over well-maintained brick paviours from there to the Museum ramp. Other areas of car park are unsurfaced and may be uneven, or gravelled.
Ensure that the route from the main gate to the Fire Station behind the main building is left clear for emergency use.
There is a permanent ramp with handrails at both sides to access the Museum, or an alternative short flight of four steps with handrails on each side. Handrails are at 725mm from ground level and 1020mm for the top rail.
The building is floodlit at night, giving general illumination.
There is a clear door width of 912mm, and a 15mm iron threshold.

Main Entrance, Reception and Ticketing Area
The Museum is located in a converted Victorian cottage. Stewards will greet you at the door, offer the Braille/tactile or large print interpretation books if required, and show you around if you like. There is no ticket desk, but some displays of books and cards for sale are found here.
The floor surface is of a very short pile carpet, with a small wooden ramps (maximum of 30cm wide).
All displays are on one floor.
The area has recently fitted LED lighting.
A magnifying glass, pen and scrap paper are available from the table by the door. There is no hearing loop.
Seating is available throughout the display area.

Attraction (displays, exhibits, rides etc.)
There are interpretation boards and displays in the rooms of the Museum, and no internal doors except to the WC.
Lighting is by ceiling LED spotlights.
There is no background music or soundtrack.
Interpretation for visually impaired visitors is via the Braille/tactile picture books, large print books, and a handling collection, available from stewards (labels for this still being made July 2014).

Public Toilets
The Museum has a public WC in a small room with tight access around the door. There is a hand basin with water heater.
The accessible unisex WC is in the adjoining village hall. The stewards in the Museum have the keys to access the village hall for this purpose. There is level access from the door of the hall to the WC, with a 910mm door. There is a central ceiling light & fan, and it is well lit. There are four fixed rails, smooth vinyl flooring, an emergency call bell pull which lights an emergency light outside the door.
The WC seat is 475mm from the floor.
The hand basin has lever taps and hot and cold water.
There is a fold-up baby-changing table.

Shop(s)
There is a small area for selling books, postcards and other souvenirs of visits, together with a leaflet display from other local attractions.
There is no background music or hearing loop system.

Additional Information
The Curator, Display Officer and some other stewards have received training from the RNIB in welcoming visually impaired people to the Museum
Stewards will personally attend any visitors if there is a need for evacuation.
We welcome trained assistance dogs, and can provide drinking water on request.
There are no electric charging facilities for a mobility scooter or battery powered wheelchair.
One location for accessible accommodation run by a member of the Thorney Society is Common Right Barns, http://www.commonrightbarns.co.uk/
For other accommodation choices, go to visitpeterborough.com.

Contact Information
Address: Thorney Museum The Tankyard Station Road Thorney Peterborough PE6 0QE
Telephone: 01733 270908 (contact number - not at Museum)
E-mail: enquiry@thorney-museum.org.uk
Website: www.thorney-museum.org.uk
Hours Of Operation: Open 2-5pm Sundays from Easter to the end of September, and by appointment
Local Public Transport: X1 bus Peterborough - Thorney - Wisbech - Norwich - Lowestoft AND 36 bus Peterborough - Thorney

Future Plans
We welcome suggestions from visitors as to how we can improve our overall accessibility.