The building, built in 1765 as a farmhouse, began to deteriorate in the 19th century due to coal mining under its foundations. For generations, its window frames had been tilted to the side, and its walls seemed to lean at an angle that almost defied gravity, to the delight of patrons and passers-by alike.
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Despite its wobbly appearance, the building was structurally secure after being supported by steel bars and other supports. But her fate has become as precarious as her appearance.
In recent years, the pub has faced financial difficulties like many other pubs across Britain in the wake of the pandemic and amid the cost of living crisis. Local authorities said at the time that the developers who bought the building planned to convert it to “alternative uses.”
Then last August, a suspicious fire broke out one Saturday night, partially destroying the building. Before local residents had a chance to assess the situation, it was leveled.
Last year, Staffordshire Police said they arrested six people on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, but no one has been charged and those suspects remain on conditional bail.
Marco Longhi, the MP who represents the area where the pub is located, Dudley North, said the owners would be asked to “rebuild the site back to its former glory, and I will not rest until the crooked brick house is built again”. “Brick.”
The burnt remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley before its unauthorized demolition.credit: dad
Lungi concluded with a warning: “Let this serve as a warning to anyone who wants to launch an attack on our heritage sites – you will not get away with it.”
Those involved in the awareness campaign were optimistic but realistic that it would take some time before the pub was restored.
Mary Stokes, 62, who lives in nearby Wolverhampton, has been involved in protests at the site since the pub was demolished and said she was “thrilled” to hear news of its potential restoration.
“I'm so proud to have been a part of it,” she said through tears when reached by phone. “It was a lovely pub, and I had many wonderful memories there with my now-deceased husband.”
She said it was a testament to the power of a small group of committed people. “I'm going to wait a long time, and we're not going anywhere,” she said of locals who have called for the bar's return.
An enforcement notice ordering the owners to rebuild the pub can be appealed within 30 days, and if the order is not appealed or the restoration is completed within three years, the owners could be prosecuted.
Activists may find some hope in other communities that have fought similar battles before. The Carlton Tavern, a 1920s pub nestled among newer buildings in London's Maida Vale neighbourhood, was also unceremoniously demolished in 2015, sparking local outrage.
After a long public campaign, the developers who demolished the Carlton Tavern were ordered to rebuild brick by brick. However, they might have had a slightly easier task.
First, the building was not tilted. Secondly, English Heritage had previously carried out a survey of the Carlton Tavern where its historic status was being considered.
During this process, the Society created a detailed record of the pub rooms and took casts of their distinctive architectural features. When it came time to rebuild, there was a clear blueprint.
Six years later, as Britain emerged from pandemic lockdown, the pub finally reopened its doors.
This article originally appeared on New York times.
