Anger at Crooked House 'demolition' days after devastating blaze

There has been an angry response to news of the demolition of the Black Country's landmark Crooked House pub just days after a fire ripped through it.

The area around where the pub stood is now covered in rubble. Photo: Andy Cashmore

News of the remains of the Crooked House appearing to have been reduced to a pile of rubble has provoked angry comments from people about the swift nature of the demolition and the loss of an historical building.

The fire on Saturday night left the Himley pub a hollow shell, with only the exterior of the building still standing, but with people hoping that it could still be preserved and kept in its current form.

However, in photos published on a Facebook page, the building appears to have been completely demolished, with rubble lying everywhere, and only the gazebo from the pub still visible.

The pub had stood in the area for decades, but appears to have been razed to the ground. Photo: Andy Cashmore

The person responsible for posting the photos said her husband had taken them at around 5.30pm on Monday, but said she felt the building had been knocked down earlier in the day.

The entrance to the site was also blocked off, with a large mound of dirt and sod along the road and security guards visible in the area.

The blaze which destroyed the historic pub has been described as a "tragedy", as police and fire investigators continue to work out what caused the fire.

On Facebook, news of the pub being apparently razed to the ground provoked an emotional response.

One person wrote: "No way?!!! They have demolished the place THAT quickly?!!! Really???"

Only the gazebo appears to be untouched on the site. Photo: Andy Cashmore

Another person questioned whether it had been a listed building, saying: "Omg they soon knocked that down. Why hadn't it got a listed building order on it."

Another said it was sad to see the end of an historic building, saying: "That is awful as I loved to go and see this place and it was so quirky and a lovely landmark.

"What is this world becoming? Before long, we will have nothing unusual and beautiful to look at. Such a real shame."

The pub was alight on Saturday night and appears to have been demolished. Photo: Chris Green

One person spoke of their memories going there, saying: "Really saddened me, Grandad first took us in the early 70s, I was amazed to see the marble roll up the ledge, and scared to death when the geese chased us back to his Hillman imp."