The church of St James was built in 1837–38 using Bunter sandstone from Mansfield quarries, the chancel being added in 1877.

After the final closure of Brinsley Pit they had been moved to a Park but have recently been restored and brought back to near their original place.

In 2023, Broxtowe Borough Council dismantled and removed the headstocks using cranes,[10] following a structural engineer's report earlier in the year concluding they were in dangerous condition.

[1] As of December 2023, a public petition has been organised calling on Broxtowe Borough Council to "...Preserve and Restore Brinsley's Headstocks".

The Carnival evolved into a family day out, fete or gala over many years, with enforced gaps over the two world wars.