Trio of 'amazing' models depicting Crooked House's heyday and tragic demise created
A trio of diorama pieces have been created telling the story of the Crooked House.
The three pieces were created by Ian Young, a Yorkshireman who moved to the Black Country, who felt that after seeing the iconic pub's demise, he had to create the piece.
Ian, 58, initially created one of the pieces and posted it into the Facebook group 'Save the Crooked House'.
After getting a lot of positive feedback, a man named David Smith was so impressed that he got in touch with Ian to buy it off him. Since then he has commissioned Ian to build two more models, one of the famous watering hole on fire, and the second one of the rubble with protestors on the land.
Speaking about this, David, 56, from Sedgley said: "I first went there as a child and I fell in love with the Crooked House.
"So when I first saw Ian post it on Facebook, I thought that I had to buy it off him, and then I had the idea that the full story had to be told, as a lot of people are upset with what has gone on.
"Each piece is tagged with dates, and they have little intimate details such as flashing lights on the emergency service vehicles, there is smoke vapour - they are amazing pieces that have been created.
"With everything that has gone on with the Crooked House, it saddened me and I wanted to document it.
"I plan to exhibit these pieces, and one local venue, the Conservative club in Sedgley is planning to host it - which will be a great opportunity for people to come round and see it, as a lot of people have been asking to come and see them.
"I feel that by being able to come and see the pieces in person, they will be able to share the sadness and memories, as it really does evoke the emotions."
The whole set in the glass case is measured around 26 inches wide and 11 inches wide, and Ian, who created the pieces says that as he is retired, he likes to make models in his spare time, and is open to other commissions from people for more Crooked House models.
He said: "These pieces took around four weeks to complete, with a total of 40 hours of work.
"I had initially made the original diorama for myself but after putting it on Facebook, I got a lot of positive comments and David got in touch asking to buy it and then called the next day asking to recreate the whole story with a range of dioramas.
"The actual pub is 3D printed, and I then make it up and paint everything.
"Each piece tells a story which I think is quite nice. From the pub in its glory, to then having it on fire, and then the rubble - and what I'm hoping is that one day, I will hopefully be able to make a fourth diorama, to complete the story.
"I'm working on another one at the moment, and so, if people are interested in commissioning more, then they can get in touch and we will discuss it."
If anyone would like to discuss commissioning a piece with Ian, they can email him at: [email protected]
When asked what inspired Ian, a retired civil servant, to create the first diorama piece, he said: "I'm originally from Yorkshire but I move into the Black Country around 23 years ago.
"I have a lot of memories from the Crooked House. I first visited there with my wife, we took my parents there.
"We once had friends over from Sweden and we visited there with them, and so whilst I didn't go regularly, it was a major point of interest.
"And I have been model making for years, and so when I saw what happened, I thought I had to create a diorama."
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