Crooked House owners ordered to rebuild

An enforcement notice has been served on the owners of the pub, ordering the rebuilding of The Crooked House

The owners of The Crooked House pub have been ordered to rebuild “Britain’s wonkiest inn” after it was destroyed last year in a suspected arson attack.

South Staffordshire Council has served an enforcement notice on the owners of the pub in Himley, near Dudley.

The council said it had engaged with the owners since the demolition but had reached a point where formal action was considered necessary.

It requires the building to be built back to what it was prior to the fire.

Leader of South Staffordshire Council Roger Lees said: “A huge amount of time and resources have been put into investigating the unauthorised demolition of the Crooked House.

“We have not taken this action lightly, but we believe that it is right to bring the owners, who demolished the building without consent, to account and we are committed to do what we can to get the Crooked House rebuilt.”

The pub’s owners have 30 days to appeal and the notice must be complied with within three years.

The pub caught fire on 5 August in a suspected arson attack and was demolished two days later.

The Crooked House, known for its sloping walls and floor, was demolished less than two days after the fire broke out

The 18th Century pub had been a popular attraction in the region, with visitors flocking to see the distinctive leaning building.

It was first built in 1765 as a farmhouse, but due to mining in the area during the early 19th Century, one side of the building began to gradually sink.

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