The Crooked House: Former farmhouse that gave its owner a sinking feeling

The Glynne Arms as it was more correctly know for most of its life, was originally built as a private farmhouse in 1765. Once dubbed 'Britain's wonkiest pub', it's now been sold for alternative use and is unlikely to open its doors to drinkers again.

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.

In March 1815, Sir Stephen Glynne Baronet died in Nice, leaving both his baronetcy and Oak Farm to his seven year-old son, also called Stephen.

At this time these lands were wholly agricultural, but as the younger Sir Stephen grew up, he began to take advantage of the Industrial Revolution which was gripping the area.

In 1835 he and his brother-in-law, future prime minister William Gladstone, co-founded the Oak Farm Ironworks, and began mining the area extensively. Records also show that, by 1840 the land was owned by the Oak Farm Colliery Company, of which Sir Stephen was a major shareholder.

To meet the needs of the thirsty miners, farm and factory workers, the farmhouse was converted to a pub sometime in the 1830s.

For all the ambitions of its owners – or maybe because of them – the Oak Farm business empire collapsed in 1848, leaving both Glynne and Gladstone severely out of pocket. It was later said that the experience proved a valuable grounding in harsh world of economics when he later became Chancellor of the Exchequer, and later Prime Minister.

And it seems Sir Stephen's business empire was not the only thing on the brink of collapse. About the same time, the extensive mine workings beneath the pub began to crumble, causing the subsidence which has left one side of the building 4ft lower than the other.

Following the collapse, the pub became known as the Siden House or Crooked House. As series of postcards published in the 1920s showed how visitors would marvel as bottles and marbles appeared to roll uphill, curtains hung away from the window frames, and the grandfather clock appeared about to topple over at any moment.

But while it had a certain novelty appeal, there were also growing concerns about its safety. In the 1940s it was condemned, and appeared set for demolition, but was saved when Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries bought the pub and reinforced it to stop it sinking any further.

An extension was later added to the back of the building, housing a new lounge and conservatory.

In September 2002, the structural improvements were put to the test when the area was shaken by the famous Dudley earthquake, whose epicentre was less than a third of a mile away. The pub stood firm, with no damage.

Over the years, numerous celebrities, including the cast of Coronation Street and pop group Bucks Fizz have frequented the pub, which also featured on the cover of a Fine Young Cannibals album.

Sir Stephen, who like his brother-in-law also served for many years as an MP, died in 1874.