The Crooked House, a distinctive 17th-century building in Canterbury, Kent, has been listed for sale at £650,000. Also known as Sir John Boys House, the Grade II listed property is a well-recognized landmark in the city, drawing tourists with its noticeably slanted appearance.
The unusual tilt of the timber-framed building is believed to be the result of an internal chimney slipping. This has led to its distinctively askew structure, including a slanted doorway. The property, named in memory of Sir John Boys, a former MP and recorder of Canterbury, has a history of varied uses, including as a gallery, a school outfitter, and an instrument shop.
Most recently, the building housed the Catching Lives charity, which operated a second-hand bookshop within its walls. The property is situated at the end of Palace Street, on Canterbury's King's Mile.
The freehold commercial premises spans three floors and offers approximately 3,134 square feet (291 square meters) of office space. Estate agents Christopher Hodgson describe the property as a 'unique and exciting opportunity' and a 'delightfully skewed 17th-century half-timbered building' with a 'rich architectural character'. The building is considered one of the city's most photographed attractions.
This listing comes in the wake of a different 'wonky' property, the former 'Black Country pub' in Himley, Staffordshire, which was destroyed by fire in August 2023. The owners of that building, which was also known for its tilted appearance due to land subsidence from mining, were later ordered by South Staffordshire district council to rebuild it within three years. However, the owners launched an appeal against the enforcement notice, with a hearing postponed pending a criminal investigation into the fire. The site of the pub has since reportedly become a dumping ground.