CLEEVE (BISHOP'S), a parish forming the hundred
of CLEEVE, or BISHOP'S-CLEEVE, in the county
of GLOUCESTER, comprising the chapelry of Stoke-Orchard,
the township of Bishop's Cleeve, and the hamlets
of Gotherington, Southam with Brockampton, and
Woodmancott, and containing 1548 inhabitants, of
which number, 458 are in the township of Bishop's
Cleeve, 3 miles (N. by E.) from Cheltenham. The
living is a rectory, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the
rector, in concurrence with the consistory court of the
Bishop of Gloucester, wills and administrations being
deposited in the bishop's registry: it is rated in the
king's books at £84. 6. 8., and is in the patronage of
the Rev. W. L. Townsend. The church, dedicated to-
St. Michael, is a curious and spacious structure, principally
of Norman architecture, with a noble arch of
exquisite workmanship in that style over the western
entrance: the spire fell down in 1696, and caused considerable
dilapidation, and, in 1700, it was replaced by
the tower that now rises from the centre of the building,
which underwent a thorough repair at, the same
time. The village occupies an eminence on the high
road from Cheltenham to Evesham: its name, Clive,
or Cleeve, is probably derived from the Saxon term
Cliv, a steep ascent; and its adjunct given to distinguish
it from Prior's Cleeve, it having been the property
of the bishops of Worcester, whose ancient residence
is now the rectory-house. On the ridge of Cleeve-
Cloud hill, upon which races are annually held, is a
large double intrenchment, called the Camps, in form
of a crescent, three hundred and fifty yards in length,
but accessible only in front.