Sunnybrow Village grew around the colliery that was called Willington Colliery. The village was originally known as SunnyBank. It was a private village owned by the Mine owners.

The colliery opened in 1840 after which the village population exploded.

The Love family owned the colliery around which the village developed. (Strakers & Love). Access to the village was via a Toll gate just off Hunwick Lane.

Before coal mining arrived, the only employment would have been provided by local farms.