| Rufford Colliery | |
| Coordinates: | 53.133°N -1.112°W |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Active Years: | 1911-1993 |
| Closing Year: | 1993 |
Rufford Colliery was a coal mine located near Rainworth, a village in Nottinghamshire, England.[1] Its first shafts were sunk in 1911.[2] In February 1913, fourteen workers at the mine died when a water barrel "containing some tons of water was precipitated down the shaft on to some men who were working at the bottom" of one of shafts.[3] The mine was operated by Bolsover Colliery Company from 1915 to 1946, the National Coal Board from 1947 to 1987, and the British Coal Corporation from 1987 to 1993.[1] The mine ceased operation in 1993.[4]
In 2011, a project by Veolia to create a waste incinerator was refused by the government after public protests starting in 2006. Previously, the Forest Town area of Mansfield was considered as a possible location.[5] [6]
Initially approved by Nottinghamshire County Council and expected to process a year,[7] [8] and with a company claimed potential to create electricity for heating, power and lighting for 15,000 homes and businesses, the scheme went to a public inquiry involving then-minister Eric Pickles.[9]
In 2021, Nottinghamshire County Council commenced a project to reclaim the land and plant trees on the site of the former colliery.[4]
Rainworth Heath is an adjacent, wider area of natural heathland overlying sandstone strata, known as Bunter, under improvement.[10] [11] It is one of the last remaining areas of heathland in Nottinghamshire, and has areas of both dry and wet heath.[12] [13] [14]