Kliffe

Kliffe is a fictional village and civil parish created for this encyclopedia entry. It is described as lying in a rural region characterized by mixed farmland, hedgerows, and a limestone escarpment known as the Kliffe Edge. The village serves as the principal settlement of the parish, which includes several hamlets and surrounding countryside.

The name Kliffe is believed to derive from Old English clif, meaning 'slope' or 'cliff,' in reference to the prominent edge that forms part of the local landscape. The etymology is uncertain and regional dialect forms have appeared in historical records within the setting.

Geography and environment: The area has a temperate maritime climate with moderate rainfall. Soils are predominantly loamy, with patches of chalk, supporting dairy farming and arable crops. The Kliffe Brook runs through meadows and feeds a small marsh to the north, while the Kliffe Edge rises to the south, offering scenic views.

History: Settlement in the fictional parish is traced to the early medieval period, with a parish church established in the 12th century and a manor house dating to the 15th. The village experienced gradual growth in the late medieval era and into the early modern period, followed by modernization in the 19th and 20th centuries, while remaining predominantly rural.

Economy and culture: Agriculture remains the mainstay, with dairy and cereals forming the backbone of rural income. A small tourism sector centers on walking trails along the Kliffe Edge and the river valley. Local culture features a harvest festival, a traditional dialect influenced by nearby regions, and several historic sites, including the ruined mill and a short stretch of medieval footpath.