Bursledon Brickworks Museum Bursledon Brickworks Museum, Swanwick Ln, Swanwick, Southampton SO31 7HB, UK

Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum, often shortened to Bursledon Brickworks is a volunteer-run brickworks museum based in the village of Swanwick, Hampshire, England. It is thought to be the last Victorian steam-driven brickworks left in the UK.

Bursledon Brickworks is on a sloping site off Swanwick Lane. It was once a thriving brickworks and as a result does provide a few difficulties in making it fully accessible. The buildings are also Grade 2* listed and we can’t always make the changes that would help increase accessibility.

Finally, the museum is volunteer run. This means that we have to, on occasion, limit the access owing to management issues. It is always worth ringing first to check with us.

General description.

The museum in located in a ten acre site with uneven ground in areas. There are Four disabled car parking spaces which are located approximately 100m from the main entrance. If necessary we can park one car close to the entrance – please ask on arrival or ring first. There is a pedestrian path leading down to the main buildings. This is made of a rolled gravel and at one point crosses the railway line. The path is sloping but manageable by wheelchairs. Electric buggies have few difficulties with the external areas.

Once inside the old concrete floors are a bit worn in areas but are generally manageable with care. All doors round the main visitor route can accommodate an electric buggy. Only ‘side by side’ push chairs would have difficulty in some areas.

All the floors inside the buildings slope towards one end. This means that there are steps in some areas. However, the whole of the ground floor route through the museum is flat. There is a step down to the café and two more steps to the WCs. Both are accessible via the outside café area. There is a disabled WC and baby changing facilities.

There is a lift to the first floor, however, we have to ask people who are unable to get out of their wheelchair to talk to reception before using the lift. This is in case of fire. There are Evac Chairs on site but there are not always volunteers trained in using them.

Details:

Getting to the Brickworks

By Car: The museum is located off the A27 between Southampton and Portsmouth near the River Hamble. Entrance is on Swanwick Lane. Please use SO31 7HB for your satnav for the visitor entrance. There is a large car park with 4 disabled spaces.

By Train: Half a mile from Bursledon Station (no taxis) and a mile from Swanwick (taxi rank outside)

By Bus: Service 4 stops on the A27 a 20 minute walk from the main gates. Alight at the Navigator/Premier Marina

Main Entrance

The path to the main entrance is gravel.

The main entrance is up a small concrete ramp and through glass doors.

The museum offers free entrance to carers who are required to assist a disabled person during their visit.

The counter is high but there is plenty of space to the side. The shop is in the main entrance and most of the display areas are low.

Museum

The route round the museum follows either the old concrete floor of the factory, or, in places, a boarded floor. There are uneven surfaces and visitors do need to take care.

There are seats around the museum for use by visitors.

There are two staircases to first floor. These are metal and are easy access stairs. There is also a lift. Please see comment above re: use of lift.

The interior rooms of the museum downstairs have a low level of lighting. All but one of the door frames are in a dark contrasting colour. There are barriers and ramps throughout. These are clearly marked. Please ask for assistance if needed.

The interpretation panels have large print, mostly black on a light coloured background. There are two videos both of which have sound, although one is only of the machinery in action. We are happy to give guided tours – please ring in advance to book one.

There are hands-on activities around the museum that cater for a wide range of ages and abilities. These include Lego, wooden bricks, cogs, a play boat and puzzles.

Café and WCs

The WCs are linked to the museum via two steps. They can be accessed from the outside on level ground.

The café is linked to the museum via one small step (or three larger ones depending on which end of the corridor) it is also accessible on level ground from outside.

Both the café and the WC have tiled floors which can get slippery when wet.

We do our best to cater for dietary requirements but the café is small. The cakes in the café are not necessarily nut free – please ask. Gluten free bread/cakes/biscuits are not currently supplied.