Crooked House: How iconic pub helped people meet life partners, marry and enjoy life

Visitors from the likes of Australia, China, Japan and the United States used to come to the Black Country to see The Crooked House. Now, however, it is nothing but memories for people, following the devastating fire and subsequent demolition.

We took a look back at the history of the pub, what made it special and shared memories and moments from those who used to visit 'Britain's wonkiest pub'.

Visitors to the iconic pub have marvelled at its gravity-defying appearance since mining subsidence caused one side of the building to sink in the mid-1800s.

The Glynne Arms, as it was more commonly known for most of its life, was originally built as a private farmhouse in 1765.

The Glynne family were prominent landowners in the area, with their 100-acre Oak Farm stretching from Kingswinford to Gornal. The building now known as The Crooked House was built at the northern extremity of the site, between Himley and Gornal.

Many people have described The Crooked House as a gem in the Black Country. Tom and Laura Catton used to work and live at the pub, and so described seeing the images of the famous establishment on fire as seeing their home go up in flames.

Tom, from Kingswinford, said: "I worked here when I turned 18 and it was my first job.

"Laura was running the pub at the time, and she was my gaffer. We got together and eventually I moved in with her at the pub.

"It is a lot more than just a pub for us. Without this place, our home, our lives would be a lot different. It has been 15 years since we moved but it is a special place to us.

"We only came back once since we left, and so it was a little disappointing we didn't come back more.

"There are so many special memories here. We had our first child here, only for two months, but it was that special place for us."

Both Tom and Laura attended a gathering where hundreds of people visited the site of rubble, where the pub once stood, and the couple sat on the rubble, drinking one last pint at The Crooked House, knowing they will probably never get the opportunity to do so again.

Tom met his life partner at the pub, whilst others had their wedding celebrations at The Crooked House, including Kellie Coey-Archer.

Kellie said: "My wife and I got married on October 31 2021.

"We had our evening do at the Crooked House. It holds a very close place in our heart, and it's a shame we cannot relive those memories and visit on our anniversary.

"It is unbelievable what has happened to the pub over these last few days.

"These photos of our wedding celebration are now not only our memories, but now have a part of history in them."

John Hutchinson shared his story about working at the famous pub.

He shared: "I first started working the pub when I was 17 as a glass collector to earn a bit of extra cash back in 1989.

"Gary and Dawn were the landlords at that time. I quickly fell in love with the place, the tourists and even more so, the regulars.

"When I turned 18 I was allowed to pull my first real pint of mild.

"Locals at the time included Stan the man who grew huge onions, Derek the barmaid's dad - and her mom Nora was the cleaner too.

"There was a real family feel to the place.

"In 1990 aged 18 I left my other job as an electrician and started full time at the pub. Over a few more years I was shown how to manage the cellar, run the kitchen and run the pub.

"I learnt so much there that I ended up being the relief manager and lived there every weekend and would run the pub when Gary and Dawn went on holiday.

"It became a family affair, my mom worked in the kitchen alongside my sister and eventually my niece too. The pub was so busy in the summer that we would work 12-hour shifts so that all the visitors could marvel at the pub.

"We would look out the window up the lane some days and we'd see a coach coming down the lane! Then it was all hands on deck and the bar staff would give a speech on the history of the place. Happy memories indeed.

"I left around 1998 to pursue an office job but regret it ever since. When I had seen it had been sold I must admit I was heartbroken to think it wouldn't open again. But, nothing like watching it burn down and then the next day be demolished!

"It's part of my history and more importantly it's at the centre of the Black Country's history."

One thing that people have shared is that their parents or grandparents first took them to The Crooked House, and they then continued that trend by taking their children or grandchildren and so on.

However, for many, that chance will never arise.

Jayne Cartwright shared her sadness at the fact that she will never be able to show her future grandchildren, adding: "I, like so many others, thought it would be there forever to show my future grandchildren, but in just 48 hours it disappeared.

"Like so many I am gutted with the happenings of the last week.

"My early memories of the great pub is being taken there by family when i was young and watching the older children swing across the brook on a rope swing.

"As I got older my uncle used to drive us there in his old Spitfire, which led to it being the place I tasted my first lager and black!

"A few years later I would drive there myself with friends, I was always the designated driver.

"To my shame the last time I went was as a sales representative for a steel company, when I took a local customer to lunch... which has to be 20 years ago."