Tucked on Windsor’s bustling High Street, just a short train ride from London, stands a three-storey, bay-windowed building that leans so dramatically it looks as though it might topple over at any moment.
England’s oldest teahouse, just outside London
Known as the Crooked House of Windsor (or Market Cross House), this Grade II-listed structure is widely described as England’s oldest teahouse – a quirky, much-photographed landmark with a history that stretches back to the late 17th century.
A 17th-century origin with a very crooked twist
The building on the site dates to the late 16th century, but the present “crooked” structure was reconstructed around 1687 after the original Market Cross House was demolished to make way for the neighbouring Guildhall, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
Local legend (and several travel write-ups) say the council rebuilt it as cheaply and quickly as possible, using unseasoned green oak; as the timber dried, it warped and buckled, giving the house its signature slant.
An alternative explanation suggests the building stood relatively straight while flanked by adjoining properties, only beginning to twist noticeably after those supports were removed in the 1820s.
Either way, the result is the same: a structure that now stands “on an outrageous slant”, with its frame visibly warped and its floors and windows clearly off-kilter.
From butcher’s shop to tearoom (and beyond)
Before it became famous as a teahouse, the Crooked House served a string of very different purposes. Originally built on the edge of Windsor’s market square, it was first rented by a butcher when the area functioned as the town’s meat market. Over the centuries it has also operated as:
- A beer shop (the Royal Standard) in the late Victorian era
- A florist in the 1960s
- An antique shop, gift shop and jeweller in more recent decades
- A tearoom/teahouse for many years, earning its “oldest teahouse in England” tag
Recent reports note that the tearoom operation has changed hands and concepts over time at various points described as a café, wine bar, or community venue but the building’s identity as a long-standing hospitality spot remains central to its story.
Royal connections and a secret passage
One of the Crooked House’s most famous stories concerns a now-blocked secret passageway said to link the building to Windsor Castle.
According to local lore, the tunnel allowed market produce to be delivered directly to the castle kitchens beneath what was once the butcher’s shop.
A more romantic version claims the passage was used by King Charles II for clandestine meetings with his mistress, the actress Nell Gwynn – “Pretty, witty Nell”, one of his best-known partners.
Whether or not the tunnel ever existed in this form, the tale adds a layer of Stuart-era intrigue to an already characterful building.
While the building’s exact use has shifted in recent years – from teahouse to jeweller to café/bar concepts , the Crooked House remains a landmark address at 51 High Street, Windsor. \
