Crooked House owners appeal against rebuild order

The owners of the Crooked House have lodged an appeal against an order to rebuild the historic pub after it was demolished following a suspected arson attack.

South Staffordshire Council served the enforcement notice on the owners of "Britain's wonkiest pub"in Himley, near Dudley, last month.

The order required the owners to restore the building back to what it was prior to a fire which broke out on 5 August. The building was demolished less than two days later.

The authority said it was awaiting a date when the appeal would be heard and for the appointment of a planning inspector who will adjudicate.

The pub is owned by ATE Farms Limited, and the enforcement notice was served to the company as well as its director George Adam Taylor and former director Carly Taylor, who stepped down in December.

Five men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the fire, which the force is treating as arson, Staffordshire Police have said previously.

A woman, 34, and two men, aged 23 and 44, all from Leicestershire, were 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.

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

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.

The pub had been owned by Marston's plc, but was put up for sale as part of a nationwide review by the Wolverhampton-based company and was sold to ATE Farms Limited in July 2023.

A Facebook group called Save the Crooked House gathered more than 35,000 members.

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