Description: Rufford Colliery is situated in the Nottinghamshire Group of British Coal, one mile north of the village of Rainworth and 3.5 miles east of Mansfield. The colliery now has two shafts. No 1 and 2 Shaft were sunk during the period 1911-13 to a depth of 541 metres to give access to the Top Hard Seam. In the period 1954-1969 the Colliery underwent a major reconstruction which included the sinking of No. 3 Shaft, 7.3 metres in diameter to the Low Main Seam at a depth of 880 metres below the surface. Also the deepening of No 2 Shaft to the same horizon At the same time the Colliery winders were electrified and two function winding towers installed. Due to the closing of the High Hazles Seam, No. 1 Shaft was demolished in 1987, leaving No. 2 and No. 3 Shafts Installation of a fully automated 1000 Tonne Strata Bunker was completed in 1989. The pit stopped producing coal in 1993.