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Ladybbird · 08-08-23, 06:25

Mystery Surrounds UK's Wonkiest Pub Fire With Access BLOCKED During Blaze

Police and fire investigators are now working to establish the cause of the fire. It comes just days after Marston's was reported to have sold the pub to a private buyer

BBC 8 AUG 2023

Mystery surrounds a fire that completely destroyed 'Britain's wonkiest pub' as firefighters struggled to get to the building and intruders "were seen" just moments before it erupted in flames.

Firefighters battled heroically throughout the night after being alerted to the blaze on Saturday at 10pm. Chris Green, who has served in the fire service for 16 years and has been watch commander at Tipton Fire Station since 2021, said access was difficult due to mounds of dirt blocking the road.

It comes as the country band - unfortunately named "Gasoline & Matches" - was supposed to play at "Britain's wonkiest pub" on the night it was devastated by a ruthless fire. The Crooked House had advertised the duo in chilling final social media posts and leaflets in the weeks before it closed forever and was sold for alternative use.

Police continue to probe the cause of the blaze as one of the first firefighters at the scene revealed his crew's access to the building was restricted due to a mound of dirt "blocking" the rural road. A local has also reported seeing intruders inside the building moments before it erupted in flames.

Firefighters said access was difficult due to mounds of dirt blocking the road, forcing 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 historic pub.

Ladybbird · 11-08-23, 07:02

Everything We Know About The Crooked House ARSON as UK's Wonkiest Pub Embroiled in Row

A devastating fire ripped through The Crooked House in Himley, near Dudley, last Saturday, and just 48 hours later the pub was demolished as police investigate for arson

BBC 11 AUG 2023

The Crooked House pub was a popular watering hole for locals. The popular 18th century pub had to be made structurally safe after one side sank 4ft lower than the other

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.

The gutted remains of the pub was demolished - something the council is now investigating

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.

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 in Himley, Staffordshire, is one of the country's best public house attractions.

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.

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.

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.

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 inspect the rubble remains as they gather at The Crooked House pub in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, which has been demolished two days after it was gutted by fire.

People gathered to inspect the remains of the pub after it was demolished

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."

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".

Ladybbird · 20-08-23, 05:06

UK's New Wonkiest Pub Where Pool Balls Roll UPHILL After Crooked House Demise...

The Tilted Barrel has taken on the mantle as the wonkiest pub in Britain and is just five miles away in the Midlands from The Crooked House which burned down and was then demolished

BBC 20 AUG 2023

A boozer where pool balls are said to "roll uphill" has taken on the tag as Britain's wonkiest pub following the fire and demolition of The Crooked House.

The Tilted Barrel is a 200-year-old pub, in Tipton, and is just five miles away in the Midlands from The Crooked House, with the landlady admitting it is "bitter sweet" to take on the new title. Anger continues to rage over the sad demise of the former wonkiest pub with residents now demanding it is rebuilt "brick by brick".

Haych Mann, 38, is the landlady of The Tilted Barrel that is also wonky due to mining subsidence but unlike the Crooked House, the site is Grade II-listed, which will help protect its future. She took over the pub last February and has spent months refurbing the run-down premises - which has wonky door frames and tilted floors - to give it a new lease of life.

She says she had to move the pool table to the other bar as it proved difficult to play in the lopsided room where balls seemingly roll uphill - just like the Crooked House. But she's vowed to keep the dartboard put as its slanted oche gives the pub's darts team an advantage over visiting players.

Haych, from Smethwick, said: "It's a bitter sweet moment to know we might be Britain's wonkiest pub now. Most of our regulars drank in the Crooked House too. I'm a local girl so I knew the pub well and we have lost an iconic pub in the Crooked House.

"So I'm both sad and proud at the same time to learn we might now have that title. It's certainly not something I'm celebrating as the Crooked House was a landmark and a piece of Black Country history. Our pub is Grade II listed which should offer it more protection if, god forbid, the same thing would ever happen here."

Haych took over her first ever pub on a 15 year lease after "falling in love" with the quirky features of The Tilted Barrel, which was built in 1820. It boasts a door more crooked than the building itself, an uneven bar and a shelf which features the illusion of items being able to roll up instead of down.

The Tilted Barrel is "wonky" due to mining subsidence

She added: "I just fell in love with the place. It was just really unique and quirky. It was a bit run down when I took it over, I couldn't believe people were drinking in here in the state it was in but at the same time I thought it was brilliant. We've had a refurb and business is picking up as people have read about us online.

"I looked at a few pubs, which were probably nicer, but this one was different and it really appealed to me. I wouldn't usually take over a pub which was doing badly but this one just seemed special and I thought 'why not?'. The pool table was hard to play on, they built a stage to keep the balls running straight but because of the slanted walls it was a bit disorientating.

"So we have moved it into the back room but I'm keeping the darts board where it is. That's because our darts team hardly lose. They know how to play on the slant but when other teams play it can really throw players off. We have two staff working here and I help out on weekends when it's busier too. This is my first pub and I really enjoy it.

It is "bitter sweet" to be the new wonkiest pub

"Its just the floors in the back room that need doing now. But that's proving a challenge because of the slanted floor. However we're getting there and I'm looking forward to what the future holds for this other historic crooked pub."

Pub regular Carl Falconer, 46, a plasterer, has been going to the pub for 40 years since he was a young boy. The dad-of-one said: "It's a great pub. It's very family orientated and everybody knows everybody. I'm used to it wonkiness now. But I imagine anyone who walks in there for the first time will think 'wow this is crazy'.

"I've been going since I was a young boy with my dad as it's on my doorstep. Way back when it used to have massive steel girders propping it up. The building itself goes back to the 19th century I believe but it started to drop in the 1930s. It now sits naturally as this strange angle.

"The funniest part is the darts teams who come here. The floor used to be much more slanted but it's still on a slope now. When you threw a dart - you'd have to walk downhill to fetch it from the board. Away teams hated it so they tried levelling the floor off a bit but we still have the advantage. It's got all these quirky features.

I've also got to take my hat off to the tiler who did the tiles in the wonky gents toilet as those cuts could not have been easy."

Ladybbird · 02-10-23, 11:24

Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Just 13 Minutes From Crooked House

The 500-year-old Greyhound and Punchbowl pub in Bilston, West Midlands, was torched in the early hours of Saturday and, even though the fire was put off, most of the pub was damaged

BBC 2 OCT 2023

The Greyhound and Punchbowl pub was torched in the early hours of Saturday

Another historical "wonky pub" has gone up in flames in a suspected arson attack - and it is located just a few minutes from the now-demolished Crooked House.

The 500-year-old Greyhound and Punchbowl pub was torched after fire gutted its interior on Saturday morning. The Grade 2 listed building - which has bendy exterior beams - is just a short 13-minute drive away from the now-demolished Crooked House pub that burned down.

Firefighters rushed to the historical building in Bilston at around 3.40am on Saturday morning to tackle the blaze. Footage from the fire shows flames blasting out one of the downstairs windows while members of the public watched helplessly.

West Midlands Fire Service confirmed the building was unsafe to enter on Saturday. The fire was put out by 5.20am but over a quarter of the first floor suffered fire damage, while all three floors were smoke-damaged.

The historic pub is thought to have been built in 1450 as a manor house before it was reopened with a license sometime between 1774-1820. It underwent a thorough restoration in the 1930s when a concrete skin was added to the timber frame for longevity.

Locals said they were left devastated after the fire ripped through the ground floor of the pub. Ivan Addiss, 73, said a big part of Bilston had been lost. He said: "Unfortunately another big part of Bilston is gone, the Greyhound. It's been around for a long, long time and it's just another part of Bilston gone.

"There's not much of the old Bilston left now. That's literally been around for hundreds of years, it was the manor house as well. But things change and it looks like some moron has probably thrown a petrol bomb through the window or something. Hopefully they might rebuild it, you never know. Inside there's a lot of wood paneling and old fireplaces, and the wood paneling was fantastic."

Andrew Mason, 59, from Wednesbury, said: "I was in there not so long ago, it’s beautiful with all the wooden paneling. Let’s hope they restore it to its original glory and what happened to the Crooked House doesn’t happen again."

Marik Bahra, 60, used to go to the pub three to four times a week and said he liked it as they had mostly cheap drinks. Marik, who has drunk at the pub since the 70s, said: "It's an old building so most likely an electrical fault. Very much a locals pub and he was supposed to be going today."

Firefighters at the scene of the fire. A police investigation is ongoing

West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We are continuing our enquiries into a suspected arson attack at the Greyhound and Punchbowl in Bilston. Officers are carrying out CCTV and door to door enquiries to find out more about the circumstances of how the fire started.

"We were called shortly after 4am on 30 September to support West Midlands Fire Service, who believed the fire had been started deliberately. We are hoping anyone who was in the area may have seen more, so anyone with further information can contact us via LiveChat or 101 quoting log 585 of 30 September."

This week, Staffordshire Police arrested two more people as their investigation into the fire at the Crooked House pub continues. On Wednesday, a 34-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man from Leicestershire, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

They were released on bail while the investigation continues. The 66-year-old man, the 51-year-old man, and the 33-year-old man, who were previously arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, remain on conditional police bail at this time. Anyone who might have information on the incident is still being asked to get in touch with the police.

The Crooked House pub in Himley, Staffordshire, prior to the fire

The famously wonky pub in Himley, Staffordshire, burned down in a fire on August 5, less than two weeks after being sold by the pub company Marston's to ATE Farms Limited. The whole building was then demolished less than 48 hours later, with South Staffordshire council later saying it was investigating planning breaches as it had not "agreed to the demolition of the whole structure".

08-08-23, 06:25	#1
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,656 Thanks: 27,646 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Near Crooked House Mystery Surrounds UK's Wonkiest Pub Fire With Access BLOCKED During Blaze Police and fire investigators are now working to establish the cause of the fire. It comes just days after Marston's was reported to have sold the pub to a private buyer BBC 8 AUG 2023 Mystery surrounds a fire that completely destroyed 'Britain's wonkiest pub' as firefighters struggled to get to the building and intruders "were seen" just moments before it erupted in flames. Firefighters battled heroically throughout the night after being alerted to the blaze on Saturday at 10pm. Chris Green, who has served in the fire service for 16 years and has been watch commander at Tipton Fire Station since 2021, said access was difficult due to mounds of dirt blocking the road. It comes as the country band - unfortunately named "Gasoline & Matches" - was supposed to play at "Britain's wonkiest pub" on the night it was devastated by a ruthless fire. The Crooked House had advertised the duo in chilling final social media posts and leaflets in the weeks before it closed forever and was sold for alternative use. Police continue to probe the cause of the blaze as one of the first firefighters at the scene revealed his crew's access to the building was restricted due to a mound of dirt "blocking" the rural road. A local has also reported seeing intruders inside the building moments before it erupted in flames. Firefighters said access was difficult due to mounds of dirt blocking the road, forcing 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 historic pub. __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

11-08-23, 07:02	#2
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,656 Thanks: 27,646 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Near Crooked House Everything We Know About The Crooked House ARSON as UK's Wonkiest Pub Embroiled in Row A devastating fire ripped through The Crooked House in Himley, near Dudley, last Saturday, and just 48 hours later the pub was demolished as police investigate for arson BBC 11 AUG 2023 The Crooked House pub was a popular watering hole for locals. The popular 18th century pub had to be made structurally safe after one side sank 4ft lower than the other 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. The gutted remains of the pub was demolished - something the council is now investigating 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. 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 in Himley, Staffordshire, is one of the country's best public house attractions. 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. 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. 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. 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 inspect the rubble remains as they gather at The Crooked House pub in Himley, near Dudley in the West Midlands, which has been demolished two days after it was gutted by fire. People gathered to inspect the remains of the pub after it was demolished 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." 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".* __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

20-08-23, 05:06	#3
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,656 Thanks: 27,646 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	re: Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Near Crooked House UK's New Wonkiest Pub Where Pool Balls Roll UPHILL After Crooked House Demise... The Tilted Barrel has taken on the mantle as the wonkiest pub in Britain and is just five miles away in the Midlands from The Crooked House which burned down and was then demolished BBC 20 AUG 2023 A boozer where pool balls are said to "roll uphill" has taken on the tag as Britain's wonkiest pub following the fire and demolition of The Crooked House. The Tilted Barrel is a 200-year-old pub, in Tipton, and is just five miles away in the Midlands from The Crooked House, with the landlady admitting it is "bitter sweet" to take on the new title. Anger continues to rage over the sad demise of the former wonkiest pub with residents now demanding it is rebuilt "brick by brick". Haych Mann, 38, is the landlady of The Tilted Barrel that is also wonky due to mining subsidence but unlike the Crooked House, the site is Grade II-listed, which will help protect its future. She took over the pub last February and has spent months refurbing the run-down premises - which has wonky door frames and tilted floors - to give it a new lease of life. She says she had to move the pool table to the other bar as it proved difficult to play in the lopsided room where balls seemingly roll uphill - just like the Crooked House. But she's vowed to keep the dartboard put as its slanted oche gives the pub's darts team an advantage over visiting players. Haych, from Smethwick, said: "It's a bitter sweet moment to know we might be Britain's wonkiest pub now. Most of our regulars drank in the Crooked House too. I'm a local girl so I knew the pub well and we have lost an iconic pub in the Crooked House. "So I'm both sad and proud at the same time to learn we might now have that title. It's certainly not something I'm celebrating as the Crooked House was a landmark and a piece of Black Country history. Our pub is Grade II listed which should offer it more protection if, god forbid, the same thing would ever happen here." Haych took over her first ever pub on a 15 year lease after "falling in love" with the quirky features of The Tilted Barrel, which was built in 1820. It boasts a door more crooked than the building itself, an uneven bar and a shelf which features the illusion of items being able to roll up instead of down. The Tilted Barrel is "wonky" due to mining subsidence She added: "I just fell in love with the place. It was just really unique and quirky. It was a bit run down when I took it over, I couldn't believe people were drinking in here in the state it was in but at the same time I thought it was brilliant. We've had a refurb and business is picking up as people have read about us online. "I looked at a few pubs, which were probably nicer, but this one was different and it really appealed to me. I wouldn't usually take over a pub which was doing badly but this one just seemed special and I thought 'why not?'. The pool table was hard to play on, they built a stage to keep the balls running straight but because of the slanted walls it was a bit disorientating. "So we have moved it into the back room but I'm keeping the darts board where it is. That's because our darts team hardly lose. They know how to play on the slant but when other teams play it can really throw players off. We have two staff working here and I help out on weekends when it's busier too. This is my first pub and I really enjoy it. It is "bitter sweet" to be the new wonkiest pub "Its just the floors in the back room that need doing now. But that's proving a challenge because of the slanted floor. However we're getting there and I'm looking forward to what the future holds for this other historic crooked pub." Pub regular Carl Falconer, 46, a plasterer, has been going to the pub for 40 years since he was a young boy. The dad-of-one said: "It's a great pub. It's very family orientated and everybody knows everybody. I'm used to it wonkiness now. But I imagine anyone who walks in there for the first time will think 'wow this is crazy'. "I've been going since I was a young boy with my dad as it's on my doorstep. Way back when it used to have massive steel girders propping it up. The building itself goes back to the 19th century I believe but it started to drop in the 1930s. It now sits naturally as this strange angle. "The funniest part is the darts teams who come here. The floor used to be much more slanted but it's still on a slope now. When you threw a dart - you'd have to walk downhill to fetch it from the board. Away teams hated it so they tried levelling the floor off a bit but we still have the advantage. It's got all these quirky features. *I've also got to take my hat off to the tiler who did the tiles in the wonky gents toilet as those cuts could not have been easy."* __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

02-10-23, 11:24	#4
Ladybbird Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 47,656 Thanks: 27,646 Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts Awards Showcase Total Awards: 8	Re: Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Near Crooked House Second Wonky Pub Torched in Suspected Arson Attack Just 13 Minutes From Crooked House The 500-year-old Greyhound and Punchbowl pub in Bilston, West Midlands, was torched in the early hours of Saturday and, even though the fire was put off, most of the pub was damaged BBC 2 OCT 2023 The Greyhound and Punchbowl pub was torched in the early hours of Saturday Another historical "wonky pub" has gone up in flames in a suspected arson attack - and it is located just a few minutes from the now-demolished Crooked House. The 500-year-old Greyhound and Punchbowl pub was torched after fire gutted its interior on Saturday morning. The Grade 2 listed building - which has bendy exterior beams - is just a short 13-minute drive away from the now-demolished Crooked House pub that burned down. Firefighters rushed to the historical building in Bilston at around 3.40am on Saturday morning to tackle the blaze. Footage from the fire shows flames blasting out one of the downstairs windows while members of the public watched helplessly. West Midlands Fire Service confirmed the building was unsafe to enter on Saturday. The fire was put out by 5.20am but over a quarter of the first floor suffered fire damage, while all three floors were smoke-damaged. The historic pub is thought to have been built in 1450 as a manor house before it was reopened with a license sometime between 1774-1820. It underwent a thorough restoration in the 1930s when a concrete skin was added to the timber frame for longevity. Locals said they were left devastated after the fire ripped through the ground floor of the pub. Ivan Addiss, 73, said a big part of Bilston had been lost. He said: "Unfortunately another big part of Bilston is gone, the Greyhound. It's been around for a long, long time and it's just another part of Bilston gone. "There's not much of the old Bilston left now. That's literally been around for hundreds of years, it was the manor house as well. But things change and it looks like some moron has probably thrown a petrol bomb through the window or something. Hopefully they might rebuild it, you never know. Inside there's a lot of wood paneling and old fireplaces, and the wood paneling was fantastic." Andrew Mason, 59, from Wednesbury, said: "I was in there not so long ago, it’s beautiful with all the wooden paneling. Let’s hope they restore it to its original glory and what happened to the Crooked House doesn’t happen again." Marik Bahra, 60, used to go to the pub three to four times a week and said he liked it as they had mostly cheap drinks. Marik, who has drunk at the pub since the 70s, said: "It's an old building so most likely an electrical fault. Very much a locals pub and he was supposed to be going today." Firefighters at the scene of the fire. A police investigation is ongoing West Midlands Police said in a statement: "We are continuing our enquiries into a suspected arson attack at the Greyhound and Punchbowl in Bilston. Officers are carrying out CCTV and door to door enquiries to find out more about the circumstances of how the fire started. "We were called shortly after 4am on 30 September to support West Midlands Fire Service, who believed the fire had been started deliberately. We are hoping anyone who was in the area may have seen more, so anyone with further information can contact us via LiveChat or 101 quoting log 585 of 30 September." This week, Staffordshire Police arrested two more people as their investigation into the fire at the Crooked House pub continues. On Wednesday, a 34-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man from Leicestershire, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. They were released on bail while the investigation continues. The 66-year-old man, the 51-year-old man, and the 33-year-old man, who were previously arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, remain on conditional police bail at this time. Anyone who might have information on the incident is still being asked to get in touch with the police. The Crooked House pub in Himley, Staffordshire, prior to the fire The famously wonky pub in Himley, Staffordshire, burned down in a fire on August 5, less than two weeks after being sold by the pub company Marston's to ATE Farms Limited. The whole building was then demolished less than 48 hours later, with South Staffordshire council later saying it was investigating planning breaches as it had not "agreed to the demolition of the whole structure". __________________ PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL ..................*SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP*.......................... *TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath* If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING** PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE & Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1.. THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES

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