CAMPAIGNERS hoping to get Himley’s much-loved Crooked House rebuilt will be marking the first anniversary of the famous wonky pub’s demise this weekend.
It’s been almost 12 months since the landmark leaning boozer was gutted by fire on August 5, 2023, and bulldozed two days later – leaving pub and history fans in disbelief.
Much has happened since then – a campaign group has won support from across the world to try to get the historic pub rebuilt, arrests were made in connection with what was eventually deemed an arson attack on the building and an enforcement notice demanding a rebuild was issued by South Staffordshire Council in February this year.
The beloved pub, which got its famed appearance due to subsidence caused by mining, however, remains just piles of bricks, which have been locked up in shipping containers for safekeeping.
To mark the one-year anniversary of its destruction and to ensure its fate is not forgotten, campaigners from the Save the Crooked House (Let’s Get it Rebuilt) Facebook group have organised a knees-up at nearby Himley Hall on Sunday August 4.
The venue will host a family fun event with live music, facepainting, hot food vendors, a licenced bar and a cake and fudge stall for people to get together and share memories of the Crooked House and catch up on efforts to get it rebuilt.
Paul Turner, who set up the Save The Crooked House Facebook group, said: “We want people to come along and have a good time and meet up with each other and chat about their memories of the Crooked House and we hope the event will rejuvenate the campaign.”
Wombourne-based Dangerous Sheep Events have organised the ticket-only bash.
Tickets are priced £5 and must be pre-booked but on arrival they will be exchanged for a £5 food/drink voucher – making it effectively free to attend the event.
People can secure tickets online at https://dangeroussheep.com/event/the-crooked-house-one-year-on/
There will be no entry on the door. A total of 500 advanced tickets have been made available.
The event, which is free for children under three, will take place in the Himley Park courtyard. Entry is from 2pm and the event will start at 2.30pm, concluding at 8pm.
Tribute band The Fleetwood Mack Experience will be headlining and there’ll also be performances from Oasis Unplugged tribute act, The Empty Can, Mod, punk and Northern Soul act Inspiration Drive, Elton John tribute act Elton Fantastic, with club classics played by DJ Danny P.
Meanwhile, South Staffordshire Council has given an update on its work regarding the Crooked House.
A spokesperson said: “It has been almost a year since the demolition of the Crooked House public house in early August 2023 and the council remains committed to defending the owners’ appeal against the enforcement notice which was served by the council in February.
“We are still awaiting a date from the Planning Inspectorate for the public inquiry, and this will be published as soon as we have further information.”
Mike Wood, MP for the new Kingswinford and South Staffordshire seat, has backed the council’s call for the pub to be rebuilt and pledged his support to the Crooked House campaign.
He said: “What happened at the Crooked House 12 months ago was completely unforgivable. An icon of our local heritage was destroyed overnight.
“The campaigners have worked really hard to try and get the pub rebuilt, and I support South Staffordshire District Council with their position that the owners should do this.
“As the new Member of Parliament for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, the site of the Crooked House now falls under my constituency and I will be supporting the campaigners in their fight to get the Crooked House rebuilt on its original site.”
Dudley's new MP Sonia Kumar added: “Like every local person I was appalled by the fire and demolition that destroyed something so important to our community. Earlier this year South Staffordshire Council served an enforcement order on the owners to rebuild the pub. I support this order.
“However, since then there have been a number of legal battles and delays. There is a planned inquiry taking place next year, which I’ll be monitoring with great interest. Until then, I will continue to support the council’s efforts to ensure the pub is rebuilt and a local icon is returned to our community.”
The Campaign for Real Ale has said it will do all it can to ensure there's a "happy ending" to the story of the Crooked House.
CAMRA vice-chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “One year on from the devastating fire and scandalous demolition of the Crooked House, the anger and frustration of locals and those invested in preserving the history of UK pubs is no less palpable. In the year since the case, CAMRA has been doing all it can to draw attention to the nationwide scandal of the unlawful closure of pubs.
“After a year of solid campaigning and keeping the story of the Crooked House in the public eye, we are still waiting for any signs of progress with the rebuilding of the pub. The owners were served with the enforcement notice by South Staffordshire Council, however the process will be extensive and slow due to the enforcement appeals process. However long it takes, we will do all we can to support the dedicated local campaigners in their efforts to ensure this story has a happy ending.”
Meanwhile, Staffordshire Police have confirmed six people arrested as part of their investigation into the alleged arson at the pub have been released from bail, but the police probe continues.
A spokesperson said: “The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. Our investigation is ongoing.”
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