The Essington Wood Colliery was originally owned by a Samuel Mills who operated Darlaston Green Furnaces and in 1860, also Darlaston Steel Company. In 1877 the Darlaston Coal and Iron company Limited was incorporated and by 1883 owned the original furnaces, Kings Hill Iron Works, Wednesbury, and the Essington Wood Colliery, when the iron and steel interests were sold off in order to concentrate on the colliery.
In 1891 it became Holly Bank, please refer to later history under that name.