A BARNARD Castle couple are offering their conservatory free to anyone who wants it.
However, there is just one catch – the new owner will have to dismantle it themselves and cart it away.
Howard and Patsy Pritchard want rid of the conservatory attached to their Montalbo Road home to make way for a new, more comfortable, extension. Mr Pritchard said: “We built the house without it about 30 years ago.
“We put in the conservatory about 25 years ago. There is no problem with it, we just want to build out – something with more stone and less glass.”
The couple built their home, which is only a few doors down from the old Barnard Castle station master’s house, on the site once occupied by allotments used by railway workers.
The idea to give the conservatory away came about during a chat to contractors.
The 80-year-old said: “The lads who are doing the extension said why don’t you advertise it, otherwise you have to pay for a skip to take it away and it goes into the rubbish. So you have to pay if you want rid of it.”
He added that the idea of recycling the structure also has appeal.
The former electrical engineer said a neighbour had had a similar extension put on and had found a new owner for her conservatory by advertising it on Facebook.
Not being on any social media, Mr Pritchard decided instead to advertise the giveaway conservatory in the Teesdale Mercury.
He said the person who takes the structure will have to first remove the glass to gain access to the joints.
He said: “I don’t think it is that difficult, it is just the time to do it.”
Anyone interested can contact Mr Pritchard on 07592 354162.
