Crooked House fire: Over 25,000 bricks recovered from pub

Over 25,000 bricks have been salvaged from the remains of the Crooked House pub after it was destroyed by a fire last month.

Campaigners have called for the 18th century building, once known as Britain’s “wonkiest” inn, to be rebuilt after it was damaged in a suspected arson attack on 5 August.

The pub was then demolished, reportedly without council permission, just two days later.

South Staffordshire Council said the bricks had been cleaned and were stored on pallets in secure containers at the site.

It followed a report in The Mirror that vandals had taken bricks from the site to sell on Facebook Marketplace for as much as £50 each.

Enough bricks have been recovered to build around two average UK houses, which are typically built from between 7,000 and 15,000 bricks, the council added.

The ongoing security and safety of the site is now the responsibility of the pub’s owners.

“We are in regular contact with the HSE and building control, and we would ask again, that people do not breach the fencing or attempt to go on site as it remains in private ownership and is potentially unsafe,” South Staffordshire Council said in a statement.

“We still have an active and ongoing investigation, and we remain in contact with the site owners and their representatives.”

A 66-year-old man, from Dudley, and a 33-year-old man, from Milton Keynes, were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life on 24 August.

Both men were released under conditional police bail on 25 August and the investigation into the fire continues.

The Crooked House was built in the 18th century and became a tourist attraction after mining in the area caused the building to partially sink, allowing visitors to roll coins and marbles uphill along the bar.

The fire occurred two weeks after the building was sold by Marston's brewery to ATE Farms Limited, a company controlled by businesswoman Carly Taylor.

The loss of the landmark has sparked outrage in the local community with West Midlands mayor Andy Street calling for the pub to be rebuilt "brick by brick".

*Image: Stephen Clarke / Shutterstock *