Roman Baths welcomes everyone to access evening
July 2008
An access evening at Bath & North East
Somerset Council’s Roman Baths will take place from 7-9pm on Monday
7 July. The site will be accessible to people who use wheelchairs
and visually or hearing impaired visitors.
Visitors will be able to find out how the Romans worked bath
stone into buildings, inscriptions and sculpture.
Demonstrations will be held by a local stone mason throughout the
evening, and visitors will be able to discover how to read a
tombstone.
Ramps will be installed giving access to most areas of the Roman
Baths to wheelchair users. There will be lots to touch for the
visually impaired and a British sign language interpreted tour
will take place at 7.15pm. There will be activities for all
the family.
Visitors can also enjoy the magical atmosphere
of the Great Bath by torch light, echoing the ambience of 2,000
years ago.
Susan Fox, Collections Manager, said: “We will
be encouraging our visitors to hold the artefacts, this will be
especially relevant for people who are partially sighted or
blind”.
“The Roman Baths and Temple is an underground
site extending beneath the Pump Room and adjacent streets and
squares. With 13 flights of steps between the entrance and the exit
it presents an access challenge. By setting up a series of
temporary ramps in the site for a special visit however, people who
use wheelchairs will be able to see very nearly all of what is
visible to ambulant visitors”.
Disabled visitors and local residents with
Discovery Cards are admitted without charge to the Roman Baths.
Councillor Charles Gerrish said: “Access
evenings are popular events organised by Bath & North East
Somerset Council. I am pleased that even more people will be able
to enjoy a visit to the Council’s world class museum”.
Notes for editors
The Roman Baths contains the remains of one of
the greatest religious spas in the ancient world and a Roman museum
collection officially Designated as being of outstanding national
importance. It is the most popular heritage attraction in the South
West and is among the UK’s major heritage sites and, together with
the Pump Room, it receives more than one million visitors a
year.
Visit the Roman Baths website at: http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/
For further information and images, please
contact:
Stephen Clews, Manager of the Roman Baths, on 01225 477774, or
email Stephen_clews@bathnes.gov.uk
Patricia Dunlop, Commercial Manager, Bath
& North East Somerset Council’s Heritage Services, on Tel:
01225 477759 or e-mail patricia_dunlop@bathnes.gov.uk