There are remains of disused coal mines in a number of areas of Cannock Chase, including Brindley Heath.
The area has been used for many things including RAF Hednesford which was set up in 1938 as home to the 6th Technical Training School.[4][5] In 1957 the camp was used to house around 900 Hungarian refugees. The camp was then demolished in 1960. The area was also used a tank training ground, leading to much soil disturbance.
A military hospital was built on the heath during World War I. After the hospital was closed in the 1920s, local miners moved onto the site and dubbed it Brindley Village. It was finally demolished around 1951, and the occupants moved to Hednesford.[6] The parish electoral ward for the southern part of Brindley Heath parish is also named Brindley Village.