The owners of the Crooked House pub, which was burnt down and demolished last year, have been ordered to rebuild it in its original form after being served with an enforcement notice for illegal demolition.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the news marked a “momentous day” for the campaign to rebuild the 260-year-old pub in Himley, which is notorious for its unstable floors.
“As we have been lobbying for, we have been ordered to restore the pub to its pre-fire condition,” he said.
An enforcement notice issued by South Staffordshire District Council on Tuesday states the building must be “restored to its pre-fire condition” within three years. The owner may object to this notice within 30 days.
The council has been in talks with the owners since the demolition, but said the situation had “reached a stage where formal action is considered necessary”.
Council leader Roger Rees said: “Whilst we did not take this action lightly, we believe it is the right thing to do to hold owners accountable for demolishing buildings without their consent and we will do whatever we can to “I am fully committed to doing this,” he said. To rebuild a crooked house. ”
Paul Turner, a local resident who has been at the forefront of the rebuilding effort, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the news.
“This is what we were looking for and we’re really happy to have the law on our side,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it’s easy or fast. The bricks are stored in containers, but there’s no telling how much faster and easier they could be with owner compliance.
“I can’t get too excited right away, but I’m very happy.”
If the owners do not appeal and fail to rebuild the pub, the council could prosecute for default.
In a message posted to a Facebook group of 35,000 people calling for the pub to be rebuilt, Mr Street said: you.
“During the tragedy, I said the owners were in the wrong community, and you haven’t even half proven that right yet.”
He also said South Staffordshire Council “deserves huge credit for holding its nerve and pushing ahead with this enforcement action”.
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The Crooked House pub was gutted in a suspected arson fire on August 5 last year, nine days after it was sold to new owners. The rest of the building was demolished within 48 hours without permission, sparking a national outcry and calls for greater protection for the historic pub.
Brewery Marston’s had sold the pub to ATE Farms. ATE Farms has ties to many other companies, including the company that operates the landfill next door.
Politicians and local campaigners are calling for pubs to be rebuilt brick by brick, pointing to the Carlton Tavern in west London, which was demolished and then rebuilt as a ‘copy’, as proof that this is possible. It reopened in 2021.
Originally built as a farmhouse in 1765, The Crooked House is thought to have been used as a pub from around 1830. Its slanted appearance was due to subsidence due to land subsidence caused by the mine. Before this unstable building was erected, it was slated for demolition in the 1940s. Reinforced and safe.
The pub had become a popular tourist attraction in the area, and visitors recalled being given marbles to roll along the bar, which appeared to be rolling uphill.
Police have made a number of arrests in connection with the Crooked House pub fire, which is being treated as arson.
A 34-year-old woman and two men, aged 44 and 23, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, regardless of whether life was in danger or intentionally or recklessly. The three men were detained. Suspected of arson with intent to endanger life. All were released on conditional bail.
