In a cathedral, you feel the chill from the age-old stones when entering the ancient building. In the stillness of the silence, the reverberating sound from footsteps or the tapping of a walking stick echoes in the vastness of the naive. Is accessibility worth the change?
The Cathedral has a look, a feel, a warmth.
The delicate sun rays sparkled through the stained glass windows, depicting images of Saints and Biblical scenes.
I roll on the stone flags, attempting to prevent letting my front casters catch on the aged gaps and avoid the grave headstone slabs with names of knights and people of importance etched on them for life.
Moving through the Cathedral floor plan, designed to provide liturgical rites of the church, nothing has changed or been ‘modernised’. It feels as it should: old, strong, solid and there to hold memories and souls from years past. Some might say they are heroes or villains. But all have the right to be at peace.
Changing the Look.
When historic buildings come under scrutiny from the masses to make them accessible, they must make themselves available for everyone to enter and experience the bygone days. Changes need to be made to allow visitors easy access. It strips away from history a certain feel—a particular experience of age.
Improving Accessibility.
Is accessibility worth the change? The cathedral at Bristol has been awarded nearly £500,000 to help improve accessibility.
The grant will enable Bristol Cathedral to proceed with planned works to install a lift and level out flooring.
Currently, wheelchair users must go outside the cathedral in all weather to access facilities.
More Accessible?
The grant to make it more accessible can help increase visitor numbers; it can give visitors who might have avoided visiting because of access more of a reason to go.
But is accessibility worth the change? Modern tech enables a wheelchair user to conquer stairs. New material to lay on uneven floors can make rolling along easy and prevent falls from people with walking difficulties.
But it takes away the look.
Looking across the aisle, the dust dance in the sunlight shining on the choir stalls. The tall, echoing spires tower over the surrounding buildings. It gives a nostalgic feeling to all who enter.
By adding major changes, the lift or ramp will allow wheelchair access. A smooth flooring over the top of the ancient cobblestone or graves. These changes remove some of the age-old Medeviel, Victorian and more modern atmosphere.
They Will Look Out-of-Place
I have not visited this cathedral; however, I imagine it has a feeling of peace and history engraved in the spine of the building.
To be able to access particular areas of the building, like the cloister, cafe, and toilets, if you have mobility issues, you need to venture outside.
To me, this outdoor trip would be part of the experience. The weather is just something we have to live with. Ok, sometimes it can be unpleasant. Albeit, it’s just weather.
Using Wheelchair Skills
To manoeuvre safely around the Cathedral or anywhere with undulating terrain, being confident using a wheelchair and having good skills will help immensely.
Freedom Wheelchair Skills can teach wheelchair skills that will build confidence and enable getting around any area with a challenging surface easier*.
*Teaching Wheelchair Skills ability is subject to individual ability. Before training, an assessment is undertaken to determine individual needs, goals and possibilities.
