The village has also been known as Rolling Mill, and Stonehouse. The name of Slitting Mill is derived from the type of work carried out along the stream where mills would split (slit) wood and metal. The stream originates on the Chase, and runs through the village forming Horn's Pool, also known as Dutton's Pool. It then runs down past what was once Hagley Hall, again forming a pool, and on to Rugeley and to the Trent.
The road through the village is approximately 1 mile long with rows of terraces dotted along its length with roads and cul-de-sacs off it. Cannock Chase was originally an ancient forest owned and used for hunting by the Earls of Mercia and the Plantagenet Kings. In 1189 Richard the First sold the forest to the Bishop of Lichfield to raise money to fight in the Crusade. As only Kings could own a forest it then became a "Chase".
It now forms a precious wildlife habitat, including the largest herd of fallow deer in Britain. A vivid description of the village of Slitting Mill is contained in a book entitled 'The Best of Cannock Chase' by "Pitman" reprinted by the Express and Star in 1933. We are told that Cannock Chase was a busy place for the smelting of iron as far back as the days of Elizabeth I.
The village is part of the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail, and their web pages have some more interesting information about the village and surrounding area.