Crooked House pub fire: police make arrests

United Kingdom | When the famously wonky 19th century pub in Himley, Staffordshire, burned down in a fire on 5 August, less than two weeks after being sold by the pub company Marston’s to the property firm ATE Farms, the news made headlines across the world and caused a nationwide outcry.

Punters were almost braying for blood when less than 48 hours later - and even before the cause of the fire could be established - the site was demolished. On 9 August, Staffordshire Police announced they were treating the circumstances as arson.

The pub, which started life as a farmhouse in 1765 before becoming a pub in about 1830, was famous for its warped appearance, caused by mining subsidence in the area.

Punters in a shock

More than 30,000 people have since joined a Facebook group calling for the Crooked House to be rebuilt. Campaigners worked with building contractors to secure 25,000 bricks salvaged from the rubble, which have been stored in locked containers on site, The Guardian newspaper reported.

A man and a woman were arrested on 28 September on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson.