Rufford Colliery

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]

Not to be confused with the hamlet and ruined Rufford Abbey site at Rufford, Nottinghamshire.
Rufford Colliery
Derelict buildings on old Rufford Colliery site, 2007
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates53.133°N 1.112°W / 53.133; -1.112
History
Opened1911 (1911)
Active1911-1993
Closed1993

After mining

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 180,000 tonnes (180,000 long tons; 200,000 short tons) 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][10]

Natural amenity

Rainworth Heath is an adjacent, wider area of natural heathland overlying sandstone strata, known as Bunter, under improvement.[11][12] It is one of the last remaining areas of heathland in Nottinghamshire, and has areas of both dry and wet heath.[13][14][10]

References
  1. "Mindat - Rufford Colliery, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, England, UK". Hudson Institute of Mineralogy. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  2. Thacker, Jonathan. "SK5959 : The site of the former Rufford Colliery". Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. "Hansard - 14 February 1913 - Rufford Colliery Disaster". Hansard. Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. "Rufford Colliery: Work starts to create new forest at ex-mining site". BBC News. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. County reveals incinerator site BBC News, 10 July 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  6. Incinerator plan meets opposition BBC News, 11 July 2006. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  7. Council backs incinerator plans Incinerator plan meets opposition BBC News, 9 January 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  8. Permit is granted for incinerator BBC News, 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  9. Rainworth incinerator plan turned down BBC News, 27 May 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  10. "MIDBRYG: Rufford Colliery Recreated Heathland". British Bryological Society. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  11. Better Habitats. Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve Miner2Major via Nottinghamshire County Council. Retrieved 1 February 2024
  12. Habitat action plan for lowland heathland Nottinghamshire Heathland Strategy Steering Group at Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group, March 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2024
  13. Rainworth Heath Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 5 February 2024
  14. Rainworth Heath nottinghamshirewildlife.org. Retrieved 5 February 2024
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