[2] The parish contains suburbs of Burnley (including Harle Syke and Haggate), and the rural area north east of the town.

The name Briercliffe probably comes from the Old English words brer "briar" and clif, a steep slope or declivity.

Extwistle had been granted as a manor by the 12th century, when the mesne lord Richard de Malbis gave half of its land to the canons of Newbo Abbey.

Robert Parker had bought the land, which had previously belonged to Kirkstall Abbey, in 1537 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

2004 saw the parish gain some territory from the unparished area of Burnley at the western end of Harle Syke.

[18] The Briercliffe ward on the borough council covers the same area as the parish along with a small part of Burnley.

[21] The Member of Parliament for Burnley, the constituency into which the parish falls, is Oliver Ryan of the Labour Party, who was first elected in 2024.