An enforcement notice has been issued to rebuild The Crooked House pub in Himley, near Dudley, which was destroyed last year in a suspected arson attack. South Staffordshire Council served the notice to the pub’s owners, requiring them to build the property to its original state before the fire. Council leader Roger Lees stated that the authority had not taken the decision lightly but was “committed to do what we can to get the Crooked House rebuilt.”
The Crooked House, known for its distinctive sloping walls and floor, caught fire last August in a suspected arson attack and was demolished two days later. Staffordshire Police arrested five men and one woman in connection with the fire, three of whom were held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. A woman and two men have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson.
The pub, first built in 1765 as a farmhouse, had been owned by Marston’s PLC but was sold to ATE Farms Limited in July 2023. A Save the Crooked House Facebook campaign group leader, Paul Turner, stated that they were “very, very happy with the work that the council has done so quickly” and they were hopeful the pub would be rebuilt.
The Crooked House was a well-known attraction in the region, attracting visitors from all over the world. Due to mining in the area during the early 19th century, one side of the building began to sink, creating its distinctive lean. The pub’s unique style allowed visitors to lose “all sense of normality once inside,” according to local campaigner Ian Sandall
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