HE terrible demise of the Crooked House pub at Himley in the Black Country—distressingly alight, fire-hollowed walls, flattened dune of bricks and all in fewer than 48 hours—is a reminder of the vulnerability of all kinds of old buildings. They are at risk of wear and tear, abandonment, unsuitable development and, sometimes, even ruthless intent. What was once a plain Georgian farmhouse was made famous by its chance location. Situated partly on top of coal deposits owned by the Earl of Dudley, the peculiar skewing of its structure was the result of the seams underneath being mined in the 19th century. Many have called for a compulsory brick-for-brick reinstatement
