Opened in the 1890s by the Highley Mining Company. Sinking started about 1890 to reach the Brooch Seam - a good quality coal seam about 3ft. 9in. thick.
A large horizontal steam winding engine house was built in 1896, which wound from the Upcast shaft. Steam was provided by 4 Lancashire boilers. A fan house at the rear of the large winder house worked on the Downcast or 'Back' shaft - a small horizontal winder also worked this shaft.
Screens were erected around the upcast shaft, with coal being loaded into railway wagons and sent down an incline to join the branch line from Billingsley Colliery and eventually the GWR main line of what is now the Severn Valley Railway.
There was a brickworks on the West side of the large horizontal winding engine house, with the colliery loco shed at the top of the incline with a spur running round the hillside between the winder and headframe (see the postcard in the Archive album).
Kinlet closed in 1937. (Note: Although in Shropshire it is classed as being on the "Forest of Wyre" coalfield).