Owners who demolished UK’s wonkiest pub after fire ordered to rebuild it
THE owners of Britain’s “wonkiest pub” which was demolished after a suspected arson attack have been ordered to rebuild it – at an estimated cost of up to £3million.
The Crooked House was a much-loved landmark until it was destroyed by fire. The local council announced yesterday it had served an enforcement notice on the owners.
They now have 30 days to appeal and the notice must be complied with within three years.
If the rebuild is not completed within the time limit, the local authority can prosecute for failure to comply.
The historic Staffordshire pub was demolished without permission two days after it was gutted
‘We believe that it is right to bring the pub’s owners to account’
by a fire on August 5 last year. South Staffordshire Council said it had engaged with the owners since then but “reached a point” where the enforcement order was “considered necessary”.
Council leader Roger Lees said: “A huge amount of time and resources were put into investigating the unauthorised demolition of the Crooked House.
“We have had great support from the community, our MPs and the Mayor of the West Midlands and from the campaign group whose aim is to see the Crooked House back to its former glory, which is the key objective of the enforcement notice.
“We have not taken this action lightly but we believe 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.”
A police investigation into the blaze continues, and anyone with information is urged to contact officers. The Staffordshire force previously said it was treating the blaze as a suspected arson attack.
Five men and one woman arrested in connection with the fire remain on bail pending further inquiries. The pub in the village of Himley, near Dudley, was called the Crooked House because it leaned to one side as a result of land subsidence.
The building was not listed when destroyed but was a “non-designated heritage asset” registered as a building of importance on the Historic Environment Record. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street welcomed the order for the 18th century pub to be restored.
He saluted campaigners, saying: “Fantastic work from South Staffordshire Council...a monumental day in the campaign to get the Crooked House rebuilt. I want to thank you all.”