Merton College

The College is located across three main sites: Merton College, Holywell Buildings, and Merton Sports Ground. Disabled parking is located at all three of the main sites.

Merton College (main site)

There are two car parks: one behind the Old Warden’s Lodgings, and the other adjacent to the South Lodge. Both have barriers in operation, and so visitors need to report to the Porters’ Lodge to be granted access to the parking (01865 276310).

There is also disabled parking (Council operated) located in Oriel Square (four spaces in total). Additionally, there are pay and display bays close to College (on Merton Street) where Blue Badge users can park free of charge.

Holywell Buildings

Disabled parking is located just off Jowett Walk. Regular users will be issued with a key fob that operates an automatic gate. There is direct access from this car park to the rest of the site.There are pay and display bays on Jowett Walk, and Blue Badge users can park on double yellow lines for up to three hours on Holywell Street.

Merton Sports Ground

There is ample parking adjacent to the Pavilion building.  Regular users will be issued with a key fob that operates an automatic gate.

• Oxford Blue Badge parking map (PDF)

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The main entrance to the College is on Merton Street via the large wooden gates (under the tower).  If the doors are closed, the Porters can open the main doors to allow level access to the Porters’ Lodge, and then Front Quad, Fellows’ Quad, St Alban’s Quad, Mob Quad, Grove Buildings, and (via the Fellows’ Garden) Rose Lane.   

Once in the College, there is level access between all the quads, the Chapel and the gardens and buildings beyond.  

The Merton site has several entrances. The Rose Lane end of the site (to the east) can be accessed through the North Lodge gate or the Mure Arch gate by students and staff with key fob access.

The Fellows’ Garden can be accessed from within the main site pending the Garden Gate being open. Otherwise it is accessed via a narrow and steep set of steps. For guaranteed level access there is a route also through a doorway (the ‘late gate’) off Merton Street and down and a ramp into the grounds.  Again, key fob access is required.

Regular users and disabled visitors to the College will be issued with a key fob that operates the power doors.  These doors are located in St Alban’s (for access to the JCR) and Mob Library.  In addition, the accessible rooms in Grove 2, Mob 2.5 (both on the main site), and in Block B on the Holywell site, each contain power doors.

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Each site has a Porters' Lodge.

Main site

The Porters' Lodge is located just off Merton Street.  Pass through the main gateway to the College and through a small archway on your left is the reception desk.  It has a large, lowered desk and is staffed 24 hours a day.

Holywell site

The Porters' Lodge is located just off Holywell Street.  Pass through the main gateway up a cobbled drive and on your left is a semi-circular structure which houses the Porters' Lodge.  It has a window which is quite high for those in a wheelchair it is easy to gain access to the area where the Porter can assist you.  The Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day.

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There is an accessible toilet located on the Fitzjames Staircase in Front Quad. The doorway is located in the far left corner as you pass through the Porters’ Lodge. Pass through the wooden door then on the left-hand side is a small toilet complex and the accessible WC is located directly in front of you.

At the eastern end of the college site there is also an accessible toilet located adjacent to the TS Eliot Theatre. When in the lobby area and facing the theatre, there is a suite of rooms on the left-hand side.  Pass through the doorway and the accessible toilet is located immediately on the right hand side.

There are also fully accessible private toilets located in the en-suites in both fully-accessible and adapted rooms, in Grove 2 (main site) and Block B (Holywell buildings) and an accessible en suite in the Leonard Cheshire room in Mob Quad (main site).

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There are four lifts on site: Front Quad, the TS Eliot Theatre, in the Finlay Building, and St Alban’s.

The only lift in the older section of the main site takes those with mobility impairments from Front Quad up to the Dining Hall and the complex of rooms beyond. It is located to the right hand side of the Dining Hall entrance.

The second lift grants access to the rear of the TS Eliot Theatre and the complex of seminar rooms on the first floor of South Lodge.  

The third lift is located in the Finlay Building which houses some of the administrative offices of the College. It is located adjacent to the stairs and accesses all floors.

The fourth lift is a stairlift to access the JCR.  This lift is key operated and users will need to be escorted by a member of staff.  If you have specific requirements please contact the Porters’ Lodge on 01865 276310.

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The site has grown over many centuries and as such has a mixture of stairs.

In total, there are more than 30 staircases. Below is a selection of images to try and represent the mix.

Where possible, the College has provided railings and tactile edgings and contrast nosing to aid those with visual and mobility impairments. 

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The site has grown over many centuries and as such also has a mixture of doors.

Around the site, important doors have been powered to allow easy accessibility where possible.  The Porters can issue a key fob that will operate them.

Some of the older doors are heavy and wooden, and those with strength issues might require assistance.

Below is a selection of images to try and represent the mix.

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The TS Eliot Theatre is located at the Rose Lane end of the main site.  It can be accessed from Rose Lane itself or via the main entrance to the College on Merton Street (if you don’t mind a stroll).  For those who are mobility impaired it’s a convoluted route via the gardens - be warned!  The gate to the gardens is not always open, and so it is best to check with the Porters on arrival.

Once inside the lobby area, there is an informal seating area and an occasional servery located behind large sliding doors.

To reach the lecture theatre, there are entrances to the right- and left-hand side.  Once inside, there is tiered seating with steps leading up either side of the seats.  Wheelchair users can sit at either the front or the rear as there is a lift located to the left hand side of the main lobby adjacent to the stairs. 

There is also level entry directly into the theatre from a parking space at the end of Rose Lane. 

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Merton College has many seminar rooms of different sizes and ages.Whilst some of the rooms in the older areas of the College are not accessible, there are some situated on the ground floor. All of the seminar rooms in the TS Eliot Theatre Complex are accessible and vary in size too.  

Most seminar rooms have moveable furniture. If a user has  specific needs, some of the rooms could be set up accordingly.

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The JCR is located on the ground floor of staircase 2 (St Alban’s Quad).  This space is up a small flight of steps from the quad itself although level access is available via a door off Merton Street where a stairlift can take wheelchair users down to the main room. On the opposite side of the lobby is the JCR TV room and kitchen which are both level access. Regular users will be issued with a key and instructed how to work the lift.

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The MCR is located up one flight of stairs in staircase 4 of Front Quad.  This area is inaccessible to wheelchair users.  Where possible, the College will organise events in accessible spaces to accommodate users’ needs.

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There are some additional spaces that fall outside of the typical JCR/MCR/bar construct.

Main site

The Music Room is located on the start of the pathway to the raised walk along the college walls. Unfortunately access is only via a small flight of steps.

Holywell site

There is a Summer House which is accessible via a ramp.The Kristofferson Common Room (KCR), a basement common room in Block A, is accessible via a platform lift.

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This Quad contains:

Staircases 1-5

Hall

Lodge

Seminar rooms: John Roberts Room (Fitzjames 1), Americas Room (Fitzjames 2), Breakfast Room

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This Quad contains:

Staircases 1-5

JCR

Bar

Laundry Rooms

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This Quad contains:

Staircase 1-5

Seminar rooms: Hawkins Rooms

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This Quad contains:

Staircases 1-5

Library

Chapel

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This Quad contains:

Staircases 1-5

TS Eliot Lecture Theatre

Seminar rooms: Sir Howard Stringer Room, David Harvey Room, Ian Taylor Room, John Moussouris Room (all contained in the TS Eliot Theatre Complex) and the Mure Room

Gym

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This Quad contains:

Grove 1 & 2

Nurse’s Surgery

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There are accessible bedrooms on both sites; all are en-suite.

Main site

Grove 2. There is an accessible ground floor room, with large wheel-in shower room. There is also a ceiling hoist and medical grade bed. All the doors from the outside to the room (including the en-suite) are powered.  Adjacent to this room is a single room with a small lounge/study that could be used for a carer.

The Leonard Cheshire room located in the Mob Quad is also accessible. There are three doors to pass through that are powered and operated by a fob. Some larger wheelchair users may struggle to enter the room due to the small lobby area, but once inside there is ample space and an en-suite shower room.

Holywell site

There is an accessible ground floor room, located in Block B in the main quad. The set up is similar to Grove 2 in that it has a large en-suite wheel-in shower room. There is also a ceiling hoist and medical-grade bed. All the doors leading to the room (including the en-suite) are powered. Adjacent to this room is a single room that could be used for a carer.

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There are kitchens located in every part of both sites.

There are no specially adapted kitchens, but they are open plan and spacious.

Examples of typical kitchens are shown below.

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There is a platform lift from the Front Quad up to the Dining Hall (and the complex of rooms beyond).

Once inside the Dining hall there are fixed tables, and seats which can be moved for those who need wheelchair access.  The top table is on a stage; there is a temporary ramp which can be used when needed.

The serving counter is unfortunately too high for wheelchair users to use independently; staff will be happy to help if needed.

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Unfortunately none of the  laundry rooms on site are accessible to those who need level access. If required, the College will provide assistance with laundry.

Main Site

There are two laundry rooms. One is based on staircase 5, Rose Lane Quad.  Whilst it is on the ground floor, there is a small step up from outside to enter the ground floor lobby which is not ramped.

There is an additional laundry room located in the basement of staircase 3 of St Alban’s Quad.

Holywell site

There is a basement laundry located off the main quad.  There are steps down and a railing on both sides. 

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The bar is located in the basement between Front Quad and St Alban’s Quad.  Good news though - it is accessible via a ramp! It’s a bit steep, so approach with caution.  Once inside, there is a mix of flexible and fixed seating.

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The gym is located in the Rose Lane end of the site. The gym has level access with a ramp up to the door.  Some users might find it tricky to open the door on the ramp.  Once inside, it consists of one big room with equipment.  There are areas where the equipment is quite tightly packed so some wheelchair users might struggle.

There is a changing area located in the gym too with a large toilet and showers that some mobility impaired users may be able to use.

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The Sports Ground and Pavilion are located at the rear of St Catherine’s College along Manor Road.

The main block is level access with a ramp up from the cark park and again to the door.  Some users might find it tricky to open the door on the ramp.  Inside, it has male and female changing rooms, showers and a large double height hall for social events.

The changing rooms are spacious, but there are no accessible changing or shower facilities on site.

Adjacent to the main building are the squash courts, with single step access.  

There is no lift on site, so those with mobility issues are restricted to ground floor facilities.

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The Chapel is located through Mob Quad and can be reached by passing through Front Quad from under an archway then taking a straight path through the right-hand edge of Mob Quad and passing out the other side.The entrance to the Chapel is on the right.  The flag-stones have been remodelled to allow level access although some users might find it a bit steep.

There is a small wooden lobby area inside the Chapel. Pass through these doors and you are in the Chapel space.  There is a level change to head into the main vestibule of the Chapel which has ramp access.  There is quite a difference in height, so some users may want assistance. 

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Merton has  extensive and beautiful gardens.

The gardens can be accessed from both the main Porters’ Lodge and the Rose Lane end of the site.  To access the gardens directly from Merton Street, there is key fob access via a gate (the ‘late gate’) where ramped access leads down to the Fellows’ Garden.  From here there are pathways leading to Rose Lane, and up the raised walkway along the boundary wall.  Unfortunately access to the raised walk along the College walls is only via a small flight of steps.  All the level pathways in the garden are a compressed, hard-core surface and should be manageable for wheelchair users.

For level access to the gardens from the complex of old quads, pass via Fellows’ Quad.  The gate to the gardens is not always open, and so it is best to check with the Porters on arrival.

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There are fixed induction loop systems in the TS Eliot Theatre, the Damon Wells Chapel and the Porters’ Lodge. There is also a portable induction loop available in the Old Warden's Lodgings library.