Following several months on the real estate market, The Crooked House, a distinctive landmark near Dudley, has successfully secured a private buyer. However, the prospective owner has indicated that the iconic establishment will not be resuming its operations as a pub.
Originating as an 18th-century farmhouse, The Crooked House underwent a transformation in the subsequent century due to land subsidence caused by mining activities in the vicinity. As a result, the structure developed a notable tilt, with its sash windows reportedly leaning at an astonishing 16-degree angle—a lean roughly four times more pronounced than the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In the 1940s, the property came under the ownership of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, which christened it ‘The Crooked House’. Over the passing decades, the pub’s unique and quirky architecture, complete with reinforced wonky walls for safety, elevated it to a status of tourist attraction, captivating visitors from distant locales.
The peculiar establishment was listed for sale by Marston’s Brewery in March, with a price tag of £675,000. This move was part of a strategic initiative by the brewery group to divest several of its pubs, aiming to optimize financial returns.
A recent update posted on the pub’s official Facebook page announced the successful identification of a buyer. However, it lamented that the incoming proprietor (whose identity remains undisclosed) does not intend to preserve its legacy as a public house: “The Crooked House has been sold. Unlikely to open its doors again. Marston’s have sold the site to a private buyer for alternative use that is all we know. This is just to update the page so nobody makes any wasted journeys to the site. Again, thanks all for your custom and support in the 10 months I had there and wish things could have been very different. But unfortunately not. Keep supporting the great other local pubs to make sure they stay as they should be.”
While the precise nature of this proposed “alternative use” remains shrouded in uncertainty, reactions from the community reflect a sense of regret over the potential transformation of this historical gem:
“Another piece of history going.”
“Absolutely shocking, it should stay open to the public, it’s a local treasure.”
“It needs to go to The Black Country Museum I think, instead of being demolished and gone forever.”
As the fate of The Crooked House hangs in the balance, sentiments of preserving its cultural and historical significance underscore the deep connection that locals and visitors alike share with this charmingly crooked abode.
