So ... Why is this site called Burwains?

Burwains is the ancient family seat. It's a manor house kind of building in the foothills of the Pennines.

The Briercliffes are first recorded there in 1170, though thought to be resident before that by one or two generations at least. The current building dates from the 1460's and is Grade II listed.

There is a historic connection here for Methodists, in that the small chapel in the grounds was the first place that John Wesley preached the gospel in Lancashire (apparently).

I have been there a few times and once crossed the threshold of the main house to feel a very tingly spine, I can tell you.

Basically, it left the family in the 1700's along with a total evacuation of the clan wealth - a story I still don't really understand and one that is shrouded in myth and rancour.

There was death, murder, execution, HMS Victory and double dealing going on at the time - so far as I can tell.

Anyway - Burwains is the root of the mini-diaspora of the Briercliffes, Brearcliffes and Britcliffes of this world, so that's why we gave this re-union site the name.

Burwains - will it one day return to Briercliffe family ownership? Who knows?

Famous Briercliffe Clan People:

Nellie Briercliffe of D'Oyly Carte fame

Harold Briercliffe - Writer on Cycling and Motorcycling

Sir Rupert Briercliffe of Medical Standing and resident of Tortola BVI