Everything we know about 'arson' of UK's wonkiest pub embroiled in row
The Crooked House pub was a popular watering hole for locals.
Its unique structure, one side being a couple feet lower than the other, attracted people from all over the world to the iconic building which caused optical illusions like coins rolling up a bar. Whilst it might be a tough place to be if you’ve had a few drinks, it was a favourite of many until it was suddenly sold and shut down.
Then, just a matter of days later a fire ripped through the 18th century building, leaving it a gutted shell of what it once was, and, despite reportedly being told by council on what could be removed of the remains, the entire thing was then bulldozed and left a pile of rubble. Since locals have been left with more and more questions, as the identities of the mystery buyers emerged.
Here's everything we know about the pub amid the investigation.
The pub
The gutted remains of the pub was demolished - something the council is now investigating (PA)The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands, was built in the 18th century. An iconic building, it has its distinctive tilt because subsistence from a nearby quarry left one end lower than the other. It was this that gave it its unique leaning effect, and seemingly letting coins and marbles roll uphill along the bar.
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The building was first constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse, and later became a pub in the 1830s, as the country underwent great upheaval. Originally, it was named ‘The Siden House’ meaning crooked in Black Country dialect.
The Crooked House pub attracted visitors from all over (SWNS)Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries bought it, made it structurally safe in the 1940s and renamed it the Crooked House due to its appearance. People from as far as America, Australia, Japan, China, New Zealand have travelled to have a pint at the Black Country boozer over the years.
The slanted structure, with its 16 degree tilt, is kept standing as a result of being propped up by buttresses made of bricks and metal bars. However, disaster first struck in July it was forced to close its doors when tens of thousands of pounds of damage was caused during a break-in.
The buyers
Alleged pub buyer Carly Taylor“A sad day”, “shocking”, and “a sign of the times” was how locals described the news of the pub shutting down. The news was shared via their Facebook page, in a short but poignant statement where they believed the pub would likely never open its doors again.
They said: "The Crooked House has been sold. Unlikely to be open its doors again. Marstons have sold the site to a private buyer for alternative use. This is just to update the page so nobody makes wasted journeys to the site. Thanks all for your custom and support. Keep supporting the great other local pubs to make sure they stay as they should be."
Marston Breweries confirmed the sale, but refused to name the new buyers, who give any indication of any future use. Pubs in the UK have weathered a number of storms in recent years, but many are finding conditions too hard to continue.
It was then later reported that Carly Taylor, 34, said to be the director of ATE Farms Ltd, bought the pub after it was listed at £675,000. Reports also claimed that her husband, Adam Taylor, 44, was a shareholder and former director of Himley Environmental Ltd, which has a landfill site next to the pub.
It is claimed that the buying of the pub was “all about access” and that there had been disagreements between the company and Marston’s over the use of a road to the pub that was shared, The Mail reported.
Mr Taylor is reportedly a former director of ATE Farms Ltd, and he is now claimed to be the director at A T Contracting and Plant Hire Ltd which shares the same correspondence address at ATE Farms. His wife was reportedly a former director at A T Contracting and Plant Hire Ltd. The Mirror has made repeated attempts to approach ATE Farms Ltd, AT Contracting and Plant Hire Ltd and Himley Environmental for comment.
The fire
The popular 18th century pub had to be made structurally safe after one side sank 4ft lower than the other (PA)On the night of the blaze, unfortunately named country band “Gasoline & Matches” were due to play. The pub had advertised the performance before it was shut down and sold for alternative use.
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Firefighters raced to the historic pub after reports around 10pm on Saturday, August 5. However, they were met by “mounds of dirt” blocking the road upon arrival, making their response that much more difficult. This forced crews to park up about a third of the way up the lane and roll out about 40 lengths of hose to get a working water supply to the building as flames engulfed the building.
Chris Green, who has served in the fire service for 16 years and has been watch commander at Tipton Fire Station since 2021, said: "When we got there the lads had to work so hard because there were mounds of dirt that had been put in the road blocking the lane. They could have been put there as a security measure."
But The Telegraph reported that one local said intruders had been seen inside the closed pub, and were seemingly partying and listening to music. But police said no one had been inside when it went up in flames.
Arson investigation
People gathered to inspect the remains of the pub after it was demolished (PA)Locals were then shocked as police confirmed within days that they were probing the Crooked House fire as an arson. Staffordshire Police said on Wednesday evening that they were treating the fire as suspicious.
They have reason to believe the fire was started deliberately and local officers are now appealing for any and all information linked to the blaze.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Chisholm, Head of Specialist Crime, said: “We understand the significance of this much-loved building and the upset and anger felt by many so want to reassure you we’re doing all we can to understand more about what happened, and who was responsible.
“There is lots of misinformation circulating within communities and online and this is unhelpful. We’re trying to provide accurate and timely updates, but as I am sure you can appreciate, there is a lot of work and liaison with a number of partners which needs to be completed and this takes time.
“There are also certain things that police and fire do not have the powers to deal with, the decision around partial demolition of the building for example, when the scene was handed back to the owner. We are working hard with our fire colleagues to understand the cause of the fire and are in contact with the landowner, we will keep you updated with any further significant developments.”
DCS Chilsholm refers to the council’s decision to allow a partial demolition of the remains of the pub, with some bits left standing. He said: "There are also certain things that police and fire do not have the powers to deal with, the decision around partial demolition of the building for example, when the scene was handed back to the owner." However, bulldozers then promptly reduced the entire site to rubble, raising more questions as to how this unfolded.
Just 48 hours after a fire ripped through The Crooked House what was left standing was knocked down. Now South Staffordshire Council said it is investigating potential breaches of the law. Its officers had carried out a site visit but had not agreed to "the demolition of the whole structure" or deemed that it was necessary.
So alongside the arson investigation, the local council are now probing into the decision to knock it all down. Local Dudley North MP Marco Longhi raised questions about the demolition in a letter to the chief constable of Staffordshire Police.
Roger Lees, leader of South Staffordshire council, said: "The agreed course of action included the removal of three elements of the first-floor front elevation only. This was only to avoid the weak parts of the structure from falling. At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary.
"This council finds the manner in which the situation was managed following the fire completely unacceptable and contrary to instructions provided by our officers."
What next?
Police have cautioned against people speculating as to the fate of The Crooked House pub. With their investigations underway, the public will need to wait until they finish. However, one advertising exec, seemingly so moved by the burning watering hole, has promised to reward “handsomely” any “whistleblower” who can tell them how the historic pub ended up as rubble.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Beattie posted: "Crooked House scandal: I will pay any whistleblower. HANDSOMELY. #CrookedHouse". He also tweeted of the Crooked House: "1765-2007: cigarettes lit, smoked and discarded in the bar. It doesn't burn down. 1939-1945: Luftwaffe rains incendiary bombs on the West Midlands. It doesn't burn down. July 2023: It sells to property developers. August 2023: The Crooked House burns down. And is demolished."
Meanwhile, West Midlands mayor Andy Street has demanded the pub should be rebuilt "brick by brick".
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