Calls for ‘Britain’s wonkiest pub’ site to be made a community asset: Campaigners continue efforts to see The Crooked House rebuilt brick by brick six months after it went up in flames in ‘arson attack’

Campaigns for ‘Britain’s wonkiest pub’ continue with calls for the site to be made a community asset.

The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands was destroyed by a fire on August 5 after it was bought by a private buyer and closed to the public. It was then demolished without permission on two days later.

Now, an MP has called for the site of the beloved 18th century pub to be made a community asset and a petition has attracted over 35,000 signatures calling for it to be rebuilt.

Former cabinet minister and Conservative MP for South Staffordshire, Sir Gavin Williamson, put forward the historic pub as an Asset of Community Value with the local authority.

The Crooked House, in Himley, West Midlands was destroyed by a fire on August 5 after it was bought by a private buyer and closed to the public. It was then demolished without permission on two days later. Pictured: After the blaze

Now, an MP has called for the site of the beloved 18th century pub to be made a community asset and a Facebook group has attracted over 35,000 members calling for it to be rebuilt. Pictured: The Crooked House before the inferno destroyed it

Former cabinet minister and Conservative MP for South Staffordshire, Sir Gavin Williamson, put forward the historic pub as an Asset of Community Value with the local authority. Pictured: Crooked House campaigner Paul Turner (left) and Sir Gavin Williamson (right)

This could mean that campaigners will be informed if the site is listed for sale within the five-year period and will be able to use the Community Right to Bid.

If this is successful, they could then be given the site to rebuild. 

The pub will be considered a site that is of importance to the local community and will be protected under the Localism Act 2011.

At the time of the fire last year, police treated the case as a suspected arson attack and arrested two people a month later. 

This could mean that campaigners will be informed if the site is listed for sale within the five-year period and will be able to use the Community Right to Bid. Pictured: People 

The Crooked House after and before the blaze on August 5 last year 

Since then,  a total of six people have been arrested in connection to the incident but released on bail.

Sir Gavin Williamson told the BBC: ‘By nominating the site as an Asset of Community Value, I’m hoping to provide the opportunity for the re-building to take place.

‘What happened here will not be forgotten, and we’re doing all we can to bring back an important piece of Staffordshire heritage.’

A Facebook group called SAVE THE CROOKED HOUSE (LET’S GET IT REBUILT) has also gathered over 35,000 members calling for the pub to be completely rebuilt.   

Paul Turner, a Crooked House campaigner, said: ‘It’s a pile of rubble at the moment, but we know that this site has value historically.’

The iconic boozer was famed for being the place where coins and marbles seemingly rolled uphill along the bar. 

A Facebook group has also gathered over 35,000 members calling for the pub to be completely rebuilt. Pictured: The remains of the pub after being demolished days after the blaze

The iconic boozer was famed for being the place where coins and marbles seemingly rolled uphill along the bar. Pictured: The pub before the fire

Pictured: The interior of The Crooked House before the blaze last year 

The blaze, which was tackled by 30 firefighters, came just two weeks after the building was sold by pub company Marston’s to a private buyer for ‘alternative use’

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It was known as Britain’s wonkiest pub after its characteristic lean to one side which is caused by subsidence from mining in the 1800s. 

The blaze, which was tackled by 30 firefighters, came just two weeks after the building was sold by pub company Marston’s to a private buyer for ‘alternative use’. 

After the fire, Dudley North MP Marco Longhi called for a ‘Crooked House law’ to protect other pubs from the same fate.

It was revealed that just one week prior to the inferno, heritage body Historic England received a submission from experts requesting that the pub be given protection as a listed building.

South Staffordshire Council has been contacted for a comment.