Police now treating hearth at ‘Britain’s wonkiest’ pub The Crooked House as arson

Aug 09, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Police now treating hearth at ‘Britain’s wonkiest’ pub The Crooked House as arson

Police say they’re investigating a fireplace which gutted a historic pub as arson.

A blaze brought on intensive harm at The Crooked House close to Dudley, an 18th-century constructing, on Saturday night.

Up to 30 firefighters had been wanted to sort out the blaze on the pub in Himley.

The pub turned extensively considered “Britain’s wonkiest” as a result of one facet being considerably decrease than the opposite, attributable to the results of close by mining.

The constructing was levelled on Monday regardless of South Staffordshire Council saying it had permitted solely the highest flooring to be demolished for security causes.

Its complete demolition prompted Dudley North MP Marco Longhi to query why police didn’t intervene.

The Crooked House before the fire
Image:
The Crooked House earlier than the hearth

Staffordshire Police stated in an announcement on Wednesday night: “Our investigation into a fireplace on the Crooked House on Himley Road final Saturday (5 August) continues as we attempt to perceive the circumstances, which we at the moment are treating as arson.

“This fire has shocked and upset so many given the, albeit not listed, cultural importance and heritage of the building.

“This is just not misplaced on us and a sturdy investigation utilizing all out there info and forensic alternatives is being carried out.

“We have spoken to, and continue to engage, with the owners. However, speculation is extremely unhelpful and could hinder our investigation.

The burnt out remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley. A fire gutted the 18th century pub just days after it was sold to a private buyer. Firefighters and police were called to the pub in Himley, West Midlands, at 10.45pm on Saturday. The blaze was extinguished and no-one was reported to have been injured, Staffordshire Police said. Picture date: Monday August 7, 2023.
Image:
The burnt out stays of the 18th century pub

“We’re conducting a joint investigation with colleagues at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service and are liaising closely with their fire investigators, who have confirmed that the cause of the fire cannot currently be determined.

“However, police are following up on a lot of strains of enquiry.”

They said following an examination by a specialist fire investigator, into the cause of the fire, they “imagine the hearth could have been began intentionally”.

The burnt out remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley. A fire gutted the 18th century pub just days after it was sold to a private buyer. Firefighters and police were called to the pub in Himley, West Midlands, at 10.45pm on Saturday. The blaze was extinguished and no-one was reported to have been injured, Staffordshire Police said. Picture date: Monday August 7, 2023.

Officers and specialist accelerant detection canines visited the positioning on Wednesday to research the grounds.

In a letter written by Mr Longhi, he questioned who was liable for the demolition of the constructing and requested whether or not the police had been notified earlier than it occurred, including that the “public is extremely angry”.

In their response on Wednesday, Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Chisholm stated: “There are certain things that police and fire do not have the powers to deal with, the decision around partial demolition of the building, for example, when the scene was handed back to the owner”.