A historic 18th-Century boozer erupted into flames last night, just days after it was revealed the pub had been ‘closed forever’ after being sold to a private buyer.

Photos shared with MailOnline show how a fire ripped through the Crooked House pub in Himley, West Midlands last night, and destroyed what was once Britain’s wonkiest pub.

Crews reportedly responded to reports of a fire at the property around 10pm with witnesses alleging the blaze was still burning shortly after midnight.

Ash Smith, who witnessed the fire and called emergency responders, told the Express and Star that he saw six engines at the scene pumping water from the local stream to the pub as they tried to put out the inferno.

It is unclear at this time what caused the blaze, which prompted road closures in the area. Footage captured at the pub today show that investigators remain on scene and are still probing the incident.

A historic 18th-Century boozer erupted into flames last night, just days after it was revealed the pub had been ‘closed forever’ after being sold to a private buyer. Pictured: The burnt out remains of The Crooked House pub this morning

The Crooked House pub was set alight last night. West Midlands and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called at 10pm. The remains of the pub are pictured today

Police are pictured at The Crooked House pub today as they investigate the fire hat erupted at the building late last night

Crews from multiple fire services were called to the pub last night, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service told the newspaper. Photographs show that a bright orange glow and cloud of smoke billowed over the pub as the inferno raged.

Officials closed traffic to Himley Road, between High Arcal Road and the junction between Brookbank Road and Summit Place, while crews battled the blaze.

Mr Smith, a local who claims to have contacted officials about the fire, said he discovered the fire after going to his yard to check on his horses. 

He recalled how he saw a ‘lot of smoke coming from the area of The Crooked House’. He said that he then ‘drove closer to have a look and could see that it was on fire’.

Mr Smith alleged that crews were unable to get their fire trucks near the building because the lane up to the pub off of Himley Road had been blocked.

He told the Express and Star around midnight: ‘Six fire engines are there and they are pumping water all the way down the lane with hoses and pumping water from the local stream.’

Details surrounding the cause of the fire or extent of the damage were not available at the time of publishing. However, the photographs suggest it is unlikely that much of the pub still remains.

MailOnline has approached Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Services, both of whom are understood to have responded to the incident, for comment. 

A fire ripped through the Crooked House pub in Himley, West Midlands last night

Crews responded to reports of a fire at the historic 18th-Century boozer around 10pm with witnesses alleging the blaze was still burning shortly after midnight

The blaze comes just days after it was revealed that The Crooked House, which has been dubbed Britain’s wonkiest pub, had been closed and is unlikely to ever open again after 192 years of trading.

Customers were informed in a Facebook post that the iconic pub had been flogged by a brewery to a ‘private buyer for alternative use’.

The quirky building had attracted visitors from across the world due to its unique leaning effect which causes several illusions. It was famed for being the place where coins and marbles seemingly rolled uphill along the bar.

It was constructed in 1765 as a farmhouse but became a pub in the 1830s with people flocking to see how one side is 4ft (1.2m) lower than the other.

However, earlier this year the unlikely tourist attraction was put up for sale with a guide price of £675,000, leaving punters fearing for its future.

Brewery Marston’s confirmed the lopsided pub has been sold for an undisclosed price.

The pub said in a Facebook post: ‘The Crooked House has been sold.

‘Unlikely to open its doors again. Marston’s have sold the site to a private buyer for alternative use.

‘This is just to update the page so nobody makes wasted journeys to the site.

‘Thanks all for your custom and support. Keep supporting the great other local pubs to make sure they stay as they should be.’

Locals reacted with sadness after learning the landmark pub was likely to remain closed forever.

Originally called ‘The Siden House’, meaning crooked in Black Country dialect, the pub got its bizarre effect through subsidence caused by mining in the 1800s.

Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries bought it, made it structurally safe in the 1940s and renamed it the Crooked House due to its appearance. 

The Crooked House, in Himley, Dudley, West Midlands, is dubbed Britain’s wonkiest pub. It is pictured before last night’s fire

The leaning boozer of Himley was built in 1765 as a farmhouse. The interior of The Crooked House Pub is pictured before the fire

Inside the pub, the windows and walls all appeared crooked due to a bizarre effect through subsidence caused by mining in the 1800s. The interior of the pub is pictured before the blaze

People from as far as America, Australia, Japan, China and New Zealand have travelled to have a pint at the Black Country boozer over the years. Pictured: A sign out side the pub before the blaze

People from as far as America, Australia, Japan, China and New Zealand have travelled to have a pint at the Black Country boozer over the years.

The slanted structure is kept standing as a result of being propped up by buttresses made of bricks and metal bars.

In July it was forced to close its doors when tens of thousands of pounds of damage was caused during a break-in.

A spokesman for Marston’s said last month: ‘We’re pleased to confirm the sale of The Crooked House has now completed. At this stage we’re unable to disclose any details on the buyer or price.’