Rufford Colliery was a coal mine located near Rainworth, a village in Nottinghamshire, England. Its first shafts were sunk in 1911. 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. 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. The mine ceased operation in 1993.

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.

Initially approved by Nottinghamshire County Council and expected to process 180,000 tonnes (180,000 long tons; 200,000 short tons) a year, 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.

In 2021, Nottinghamshire County Council commenced a project to reclaim the land and plant trees on the site of the former colliery.

Natural amenity

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