Developers who razed ‘Britain’s craziest pub’ are ordered to rebuild

The Crooked House, a pub in England’s West Midlands that was demolished after a suspicious fire last year, could soon rise from the rubble after owners were tasked with restoring the pub to its former crooked glory.

The tavern, known as “Britain’s wobbliest pub” because of its sloping walls and floors, was sold to a private developer in July 2023. About two weeks later the pub caught fire in suspected arson and the developers who had bought it brought in the bulldozers. The local population was outraged. With the support of local politicians, they launched a public campaign to have the building restored and someone held responsible for its destruction.

Now they may be one step closer to achieving those goals. South Staffordshire Council, the local authority for the area where the pub once stood, ordered the owners on Tuesday to rebuild the pub within three years, using original materials and retaining its original character.

The council said in a statement that it “has been in discussions with the owners since the demolition, but has reached a point where formal action is deemed necessary.” An initial attempt to reach the owners by telephone and email went unanswered.

The pub, located in Himley, a small village just west of Dudley, was not a listed building, which would have given it legal protection. But it was considered a ‘heritage site’ according to the council and registered on the Historic Environment Record as a building of local interest.

Roger Lees, the leader of South Staffordshire Council, said in a statement that a “huge amount of time and resources” had been spent investigating the unauthorized demolition of the pub, and that the injunction had not been taken lightly.

“But we believe it is right to hold accountable the owners who demolished the building without permission,” he said. “And we are committed to doing what we can to get the Crooked House rebuilt.”

The building, built in 1765 as a farm, began to crumble in the 19th century due to coal mining under the foundation. For generations, the window frames slanted to one side and the walls seemed to tilt at an almost gravity-defying angle, delighting customers and passersby alike.

Despite its shaky appearance, the building was structurally safe after being braced by steel bars and other supports. But his fate had become as precarious as his appearance.

In recent years the pub, like so many others in Britain, had faced financial difficulties due to the pandemic and amid a cost of living crisis. The developers who bought the building planned to convert it for “alternative uses,” local authorities said at the time. Last August, a suspicious fire broke out on Saturday evening, partially destroying the building. Before the locals even had a chance to take stock, it was razed to the ground.

Last year, Staffordshire Police said it had arrested six people on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arsonbut no one has been charged and these suspects remain on conditional bail.

Marco Longhi, an MP who represents the area where the pub was located, Dudley North, said the demolition of the much-loved pub has ‘shocked our community’.

“So it is fantastic news that the owners have been served with an injunction for demolition without permission,” Mr Longhi said in a statement on Facebook on Tuesday.

He added that the owners are required to “rebuild the site to its former glory, and I will not rest until the Crooked House is rebuilt brick by brick.” Mr Longhi concluded with a warning: “Let this serve as a warning to anyone who wants to launch an attack on our heritage sites – you will not get away with it.”

Those involved in the awareness campaign were hopeful but realistic that it would take some time before the pub was restored.

Marie Stokes, 62, who lives in nearby Wolverhampton, has taken part in protests at the site since the pub’s demolition and said she was “over the moon” when she heard the news of the possible restoration.

“I’m so proud to have been a part of it,” she said through tears when reached by phone. “It was a nice pub, I had many wonderful memories there with my now deceased husband.”

The order, she said, was a testament to the power of a small group of dedicated people. “I’m in for the long haul, and we’re not going anywhere,” she said of locals demanding the pub’s return.

The enforcement order ordering the owners to rebuild the pub can be appealed within 30 days, and if the order is not appealed or the restoration is completed within three years, the owners could face prosecution.

Campaigners can take some hope from other communities that have fought similar battles before. The Carlton Tavern, a 1920s pub hidden among newer buildings in London’s Maida Vale, was also unceremoniously destroyed in 2015, sparking local outrage.

After a long public campaign, the developers who knocked down the Carlton Tavern were also ordered to rebuild it brick by brick. Although they might have had a slightly easier task.

First of all, the building wasn’t leaning. Secondly, the conservation organization English Heritage had previously investigated the Carlton Tavern as it was considered for historic status.

During that process the association had made a detailed survey of the pub’s rooms and made molds of its distinguishing architectural features. When it was time to rebuild, there was a clear blueprint.

Six years later, as Britain emerged from a pandemic lockdown, the pub finally reopened its doors.