Owners of Crooked House pub appeal against order to rebuild

The blaze, which is being treated by police as arson, and subsequent demolition of the wonky Staffordshire pub prompted a national outcry. Photograph: Andrew Fox/The Guardian

The owners of the Crooked House pub in Himley have appealed against an order to rebuild the 18th-century building, which was demolished days after a fire last year.

The blaze on 5 August, which is being treated by police as arson, and the subsequent demolition of the famously wonky Staffordshire pub prompted a national outcry.

The fire broke out just nine days after the pub was bought by ATE Farms Ltd. An enforcement notice to rebuild was issued last month to the company, as well as to its director George Adam Taylor and former director Carly Taylor, who stepped down in December.

The enforcement notice for unlawful demolition issued by South Staffordshire council was seen as a huge win for local campaigners and politicians who wanted to see the pub returned “brick by brick” to its original state.

The mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said the notice marked a “monumental day” in the push towards that happening.

The order stated the building must be “built back to what it was prior to the fire” within three years and that the owners had 30 days to appeal.

The council said it was awaiting a date for the appeal and the appointment of a planning inspector.

Paul Turner, a local resident who has helped spearhead the Save the Crooked House campaign, said: “As I have said all along, there will be a few hurdles to be overcome and this, now, will be the next. We’ll just have to watch and see what happens.”

Architects specialising in historical buildings have said rebuilding the Crooked House to its original state, including its 15-degree lean caused by subsidence in the area, is possible although costly.

First built as a farmhouse in 1765, the building is thought to have been a pub since about 1830. Over the years, it sank 1.2 metres into the ground because of subsidence caused by local mining. It was scheduled for demolition in the 1940s before being made safe with reinforcements.

A number of arrests have been made in relation to the fire last year. A woman aged 34, and two men, aged 23 and 44, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. Three other men, aged 66, 51 and 33, had been held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

All have been released on conditional bail.