Old Hill was the last area of the South Staffordshire coalfield to be developed, and the local mining industry was growing when the miners' union was established, in 1870.
It soon became known for its militant approach, often striking in order to raise wages or improve working conditions.
Unlike other local unions, it refused to take part in the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Miners' Wages Board, which took a sliding scale approach to wage - they would automatically rise and fall with the price of coal.
As a result, the strike was lost, and in search of solidarity from workers in other industries, the union affiliated to the Midland Counties Trades Federation (MCTF).
As a result, when all the other local unions merged into the West Bromwich Miners' Association, Old Hill remained independent.