Essington is an established village with lots of heritage, including a listed ancient moat.
Clearly visible are the remains of a windmill built in 1641 by the Vernon family to mill grain for the local communities, which played a vital role in the economy and importance of Essington.
Like many villages in the area, Essington has the remains of mining activity, and these have been adapted wisely.
Three colliery settling ponds have been given new life as 'Brownshore Pools', a public park enjoyed by many.
More recently Essington rose to fame in comedian Meera Syal’s semi-autographical novel Anita and Me, now also a BBC film.
Meera grew up in Essington and her fictional ‘Tollington’ in the novel is based on the village in the 1970s.
Essington is a growing, well-connected village nestled between Wolverhampton and Walsall.
Despite its proximity to the M6 and M54, it is a quiet village surrounded by farmland known for its quality beef, grain and fruit.
For hundreds of years, Essington folk have been proud of their area’s soft fruits, with the Simkin family having farmed in the village since 1892.
Visiting Essington Farm to pick strawberries in the summer has been a tradition for generations of nearby families – and now it's a thriving business that supports more than 70 local jobs and works in partnership with other Staffordshire growers and producers.
One such producer is less than a mile away, Oakley Farm Milk, which provides fresh milk and milkshakes.
Another key attraction in Essington is Millride Country Sports, a family-run business offering clay pigeon shooting, airgun shooting, trout and coarse fishing seven days a week.
New homes in the village are attracting families which have bonded over activities held at the two Rugby Clubs, St John’s Church, two thriving Working Men’s Clubs and Essington Wood Methodist Church.
Essington Scouts and Guides have been a key part of youth facilities since 1965, and that community spirit remains alive and well.
There are many other community groups volunteering their time, including the Friends of Essington and Pools Occasionals Volunteers, plus individuals who litter pick and get involved in organising and supporting events.
The community centre is an important local amenity and includes a community-driven café.
Along the road, Essington also provides the training ground for football professionals Walsall FC. It also boasts Broadlands Golf, a newly renovated golf range, with all the latest technology, equipment and professional coaching.