Construction of Walled Garden, Shepton Mallet
Mendip Stonemasons are proudly contributing to the creation of a stunning walled garden in rural Somerset, featuring high perimeter walls of brick, stone, and ashlar. The design incorporates traditional coping stones and swan-neck transitions that follow the natural height variations of the garden walls.
We’ve tied new brickwork into the existing ashlar and reinstated a doorway based on the original opening. At the heart of the garden sits a beautiful brick greenhouse soon to receive its glass, ready for its future as a thriving growing space.
New Build
Residential
Repointing
Cleaning
Somerset
New Build
Residential
Repointing
Cleaning
Somerset
Goals & Requirements
Maintain aesthetic beauty as a priority
Every stone, joint, and detail was crafted to enhance the visual elegance of the garden space, ensuring the finished work is both refined and inviting. By balancing structural integrity with artisanal detailing, the result showcases craftsmanship that is not only functional, but truly beautiful.
Create a fully enclosed, private walled garden
The aim was to construct high-quality perimeter walls using brick, stone, and ashlar to create a secluded, secure space for relaxation and enjoyment. The design incorporated traditional coping stones and swan-neck transitions to accommodate height variations while maintaining a cohesive and visually striking appearance.
Achieve Architectural Continuity
The new construction was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing stone and ashlar elements, preserving the historic character and visual rhythm of the surrounding garden structures. By carefully matching proportions, materials, and detailing, the finished work feels cohesive, timeless, and authentic to its setting.
Replicate the original doorway
The goal was to reconstruct the doorway in a way that faithfully matched the original proportions and detailing, preserving its historic character and charm. By studying the remaining elements and using traditional masonry methods, the new doorway blends seamlessly into the garden wall as though it has always been there.
Prepare the greenhouse foundation
We needed to ensure the base for the greenhouse was structurally sound, stable, and accurately laid out to support its brick construction and eventual glass installation. By levelling and compacting the ground and setting a reliable foundation, we created a lasting substructure that will support the greenhouse for decades to come.
Every stone, joint, and detail was crafted to enhance the visual elegance of the garden space, ensuring the finished work is both refined and inviting. By balancing structural integrity with artisanal detailing, the result showcases craftsmanship that is not only functional, but truly beautiful.
The aim was to construct high-quality perimeter walls using brick, stone, and ashlar to create a secluded, secure space for relaxation and enjoyment. The design incorporated traditional coping stones and swan-neck transitions to accommodate height variations while maintaining a cohesive and visually striking appearance.
The new construction was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing stone and ashlar elements, preserving the historic character and visual rhythm of the surrounding garden structures. By carefully matching proportions, materials, and detailing, the finished work feels cohesive, timeless, and authentic to its setting.
The goal was to reconstruct the doorway in a way that faithfully matched the original proportions and detailing, preserving its historic character and charm. By studying the remaining elements and using traditional masonry methods, the new doorway blends seamlessly into the garden wall as though it has always been there.
We needed to ensure the base for the greenhouse was structurally sound, stable, and accurately laid out to support its brick construction and eventual glass installation. By levelling and compacting the ground and setting a reliable foundation, we created a lasting substructure that will support the greenhouse for decades to come.
Project Challenges
Varying Wall Heights
The garden design required walls of different elevations, which made alignment, transitions, and structural consistency more complex. Each height shift had to be carefully calculated and integrated using swan-neck junctions and precision bedding to ensure both visual flow and structural integrity across the entire perimeter.
Original Doorway Deteriorated
The existing doorway had suffered from age and weathering, making it structurally weak and visually inconsistent with the surrounding stonework. We needed to carefully deconstruct and replicate the doorway with precise stone detailing to restore its original character while improving long-term durability.
Outdoor exposure of previous masonry
Years of direct exposure to wind, rain, frost, and temperature shifts had weakened some of the existing stone and brickwork. This required careful assessment, selective replacement, and reinforcement to ensure the new construction tied seamlessly into the old while improving resilience against future weathering.
Ensuring long-term durability
The structure needed to withstand decades of weathering, settlement, and natural material ageing without compromising stability or appearance. This required thoughtful engineering decisions, the use of correct lime-based materials, and reinforcement where appropriate to provide strength while protecting the heritage aesthetics.
Existing ashlar sections were already in place
Portions of the ashlar wall had been constructed previously, meaning our work had to seamlessly align with existing stonework in both dimension and aesthetic. This required precise measurement, careful bonding, and skilled integration to ensure the new masonry visually merged with the old as a single unified structure.
The garden design required walls of different elevations, which made alignment, transitions, and structural consistency more complex. Each height shift had to be carefully calculated and integrated using swan-neck junctions and precision bedding to ensure both visual flow and structural integrity across the entire perimeter.
The existing doorway had suffered from age and weathering, making it structurally weak and visually inconsistent with the surrounding stonework. We needed to carefully deconstruct and replicate the doorway with precise stone detailing to restore its original character while improving long-term durability.
Years of direct exposure to wind, rain, frost, and temperature shifts had weakened some of the existing stone and brickwork. This required careful assessment, selective replacement, and reinforcement to ensure the new construction tied seamlessly into the old while improving resilience against future weathering.
The structure needed to withstand decades of weathering, settlement, and natural material ageing without compromising stability or appearance. This required thoughtful engineering decisions, the use of correct lime-based materials, and reinforcement where appropriate to provide strength while protecting the heritage aesthetics.
Portions of the ashlar wall had been constructed previously, meaning our work had to seamlessly align with existing stonework in both dimension and aesthetic. This required precise measurement, careful bonding, and skilled integration to ensure the new masonry visually merged with the old as a single unified structure.