Garden Design and Build in Galley Common

From pond to party deck: a raised composite deck built over an old brick pond

An unusual one. Rather than rip out an old raised pond, we built a bespoke composite deck over the top of it, keeping the character of the original brickwork on show and turning a dead corner into a raised entertaining space.

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Where Galley Common, Nuneaton

Designed In 3D before the build

Built Composite deck over an old pond

Kept The original brickwork, on show

Before and after

From Pond to Party Deck

Old raised brick pond with a timber cover and steps in the Galley Common garden before the decking project — Before An old raised brick pond, with a tired timber cover and steps.

Finished composite deck built over the old pond in Galley Common, with the curved brick wall kept on show, rope balustrade and outdoor furniture — After The same brick wall, now carrying a composite deck for dining and lounging.

The starting point An old raised brick pond

The deck Light grey composite, charcoal fascias

The edges Grey newel posts and rope balustrade

The boundary Artificial green wall panels

The challenge

Keep the Brickwork, Lose the Pond

The garden had an old raised pond, built in red brick with a timber cover and a set of steps. The pond itself had had its day, but the curved brick walls had real character, and knocking them down would have meant a lot of demolition to end up with something plainer.

So the brief became a question: could the pond walls be kept on show and used as the base for something new? The answer was a raised composite deck built over the top, making a stylish entertaining space that feels modern and welcoming while the old brickwork stays part of the garden.

The design

Planned in 3D First

The renders let the client see the deck, its levels and the rope balustrade in place before any work started, and settle the layout of the steps down to the lawn.

3D design render of the Galley Common garden showing a raised deck with rope balustrade, steps down to the lawn and planting — **3D render.** The raised deck, steps and rope balustrade, seen from the lawn.

3D design render of the Galley Common garden showing the curved brick wall carrying the deck, with lighting and planting along its base — **3D render.** The curved brick wall carrying the deck, with planting along its foot.

The build

How the Deck Was Built

With the pond taken out of use, we built a treated timber sub-frame across it, following the curve of the brick walls so the deck edge would sit neatly on top of them. The main surface is light grey composite decking, finished with contrasting charcoal fascias around the edges.

Timber newel posts, painted a complementary grey, carry decorative rope balustrades along the raised sides, adding safety and a touch of coastal charm. Black cup end fixings give the rope runs a crisp, polished finish. Along the fence, artificial green wall panels turn the whole corner into a private, leafy retreat.

Treated timber sub-frame built across the old pond during the Galley Common decking project — **The sub-frame.** Treated timber joists built across the old pond, following the curve of the brick wall.

View from above of the finished Galley Common composite deck on two levels with rope balustrade, outdoor seating and dining furniture — **From above.** Two connected areas of deck, one for lounging and one for dining, sitting on the old pond walls.

Composite steps and rope balustrade leading up onto the raised deck in Galley Common, with the retained brick pond wall below — **Steps up to the deck,** with the rope balustrade running along the raised edge.

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Galley Common

Gardens on the Edge of Nuneaton

Galley Common sits on the western fringe of Nuneaton, on the border with North Warwickshire, and grew up as a coal-mining village separate from the town. Many gardens here back onto open land, as this one does, and a design has to balance that view against privacy. On this deck the green wall panels screen the neighbouring side while the far end stays open to the fields.

For more work around the town, see our Nuneaton landscaping page, or read about the design packages that start every project like this one.

See what else we build

More Design and Build Projects

Earlsdon terrace Coundon family garden Coleshill project Atherstone project Landscaping in Nuneaton Garden structures

View all of our projects →

Decking and Garden Design Questions

Can you build decking over an old pond?

Often, yes. Here the pond was taken out of use and a treated timber sub-frame built across it, resting on and following the line of the original brick walls. Whether it works depends on the condition of the walls and the ground, which is why we look at it properly before designing anything.

Why use composite decking instead of timber?

Composite boards do not need staining or treating, will not rot or splinter, and hold their colour far longer than softwood. Here light grey boards were paired with charcoal fascias for a crisp, contrasting edge.

How long does composite decking last?

Much longer than softwood, with far less upkeep. Most composite boards carry long manufacturer warranties, commonly somewhere between 10 and 25 years depending on the brand, and they do not need the annual staining or treatment timber does.

What are artificial green wall panels?

Panels of artificial foliage fixed to a fence or wall. They give instant, year-round screening and a leafy look with no watering, trimming or waiting for climbers to grow, which is why they suited this deck.

Can you keep existing features when redesigning a garden?

Yes, and it is often the better option. Keeping sound brickwork, walls or levels saves demolition and waste, and gives a new garden some character of its own, as the old pond walls do here.

Do you work in Galley Common and around Nuneaton?

We do. Galley Common, Nuneaton and the villages around them are all within our area, and we have built decking and patio projects across the town. A design visit is the place to start.

Got a feature you are not sure what to do with?

An old pond, a tired deck or an awkward level: tell Andy what you have and he will show you what it could become.