Patios and paths that fit Totnes's old walled gardens
Patios, paving, driveways, drainage, walls and groundworks in Totnes (TQ9), from our base in Newton Abbot.
Totnes sits at the head of the Dart estuary, south-west of Newton Abbot along the A381. The old town climbs steeply from the river up the High Street, lined with listed buildings and long, narrow gardens behind them, often bounded by old stone walls. Newer housing spreads out on the hills around, towards Bridgetown and the Kingsbridge and Plymouth roads.
In the older parts of town, outdoor work usually means fitting new paving and patios around what is already there: mature trees, old walls and changes in level. On the newer estates it is more often drives, drainage and making sloping gardens usable. The ground here is mostly the slatey rock and soils of the South Hams, which drain reasonably but can be stony to dig.
Listed buildings and conservation area
Much of central Totnes is a conservation area with many listed buildings. Work affecting a listed building or its boundary walls may need consent from South Hams District Council, so check before starting.
Rear access in the town centre
Many gardens behind the High Street can only be reached through the house or down narrow lanes. Materials often go in by hand, and that affects the time a job takes.
What we build in Totnes
- PatiosPatios in older Totnes gardens are often laid around existing trees and walls, with slabs cut on site to fit.
- PavingLong, narrow town gardens suit a stone path that links the house to a seating area at the far end.
- LandscapingOn newer estates, levelling and turfing a sloping garden makes it usable for families.
- DrainageGardens below the road on the hillside streets often need a channel or land drain to deal with run-off.
Examples of K D’s work from around South Devon.
Building work in Totnes: questions
Can you lay a patio around an old tree in Totnes?
Yes. We dig carefully around the roots, keep the base back from the trunk and cut slabs to shape, so the tree is not damaged and the patio stays level.
Does my Totnes garden wall need consent to rebuild?
If the house is listed, or the wall is in the conservation area and faces a road, it may. Check with South Hams District Council before work starts.
Can you work on a town-centre garden with no rear access?
Yes. Materials go in by hand or barrow and spoil comes out the same way. We will tell you at the site visit how that affects the time and price.
Also near Totnes
A quote in Totnes
Send a couple of photos and a rough idea of what you want. We’ll come out, look at the ground and the levels, and give you a written quote.