Rufford, Nottinghamshire

Rufford, in the Newark and Sherwood district of Nottinghamshire, is the site of two villages whose inhabitants were evicted in the 12th century. Cistercian monasteries were established and the monks wished to ensure their isolation.

The area is centred around Rufford Abbey, a large country estate, and adjacent Rufford Country Park, a leisure amenity run by Nottinghamshire County Council. The population count was 536 residents at the 2021 census.

A small portion of Bilsthorpe village falls across the eastern boundary. Other local features include Clipstone forest which is part of the Sherwood Pines Forest Park. There is also a holiday village to the north of the parish.

Mill and ford
Rufford Mill ford is located within the settlement on Rufford Lane. The mill pond is fed by Rainworth Water.

Rufford Lane was closed to through-traffic by Nottinghamshire County Council in December 2022, at a point near to the old mill, using a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), partly due to having become a spectator-attraction with a regular social media following particularly during flooding, exacerbated by vehicles drawn to the area to create a wash for filming.

Nottinghamshire Police made the request for closure after one casualty was reported, a motorcyclist who attempted to cross the watersplash at an inappropriate speed, who afterwards confirmed a mental-health episode, stating "...I'm that one idiot who went through the ford at 50mph on a motorbike". In December 2023, the council expressed a preference for making the closure permanent, but had to undertake a four-week minimum consultation, starting on 5 February 2024, ending 4 March.

In May 2024, a further 18-month closure was announced "to allow the council time to consider the public’s responses to the consultation". The order will run consecutively, starting from the June expiry of the initial closure period.

Rufford Lane is a link between the A614 and A616 main roads. Due to through-road closure, in early 2024 the BBC reported increased traffic levels and dangerous driving with vehicles short-cutting away from the main 'A' roads, using instead Station Road, in nearby Ollerton.

Closed-circuit television shows vehicles mounting the footways, and narrow-misses of residents themselves. The village street has long-standing traffic calming measures, using raised, textured plateaux and pinch points.

A 2023 Nottinghamshire County Council report quoted a detour-length of four miles.