Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

I am researching the area to the east of Burnley and although there is reference to Briercliffe as far back as the 1300’s, I am finding it difficult to see the town or village of Briercliffe on historical maps. For instance, on the ‘1818 Greenwood’s Map of Lancashire’, only the district of Briercliffe and Extwistle is shown, and on the 1896 Ordnance Survey map, the name of Harle Syke appears where Briercliffe is today. Can anyone please help?

Hi,
Roger Frost would be the best person to speak to about this.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

A few basics follow. You really need Roger Frost's comprehensive 1982 book.

Briercliffe-with-Extwistle was one of the townships of Burnley, along with for instance Worsthorne(with Hurstwood) and Cliviger. There was never any 'village' of Briercliffe (or Extwistle). Within Briercliffe however were/are the 'villages' (nucleated settlements) of Haggate, Lane Bottom, Hill Lane (these two running together, and into Holt Hill), and since early Victorian times Harle Syke. This was originally just a farm name, I think. Extwistle had no real 'village', Roggerham being only a hamlet really.

Cop Row just below Harle Syke was in Burnley.

Rex