Background of the Kiffs


The Kiff Family


The Kiff's of Harpenden, now one of the biggest families, if not the biggest, are well known as one of the original families of Harpenden village, living here from the 1940's.

For nearly 80 years,generation after generation of new Kiff family members have been born and bredin Harpenden and have infiltrated the town, helping shape it into what is now
.
At last count there were approx 110 people who are direct members of the Kiff family. (Not including spouses). Many still remain today in Harpenden and its surrounding areas.

Let me start at the beginning by providing you with the background information for the two people responsible for the Kiff legacy. My grandparents! Both sadly now deceased.

History of the Kiff’s and the Steers families

Cecil John Kiff (known as Jack, pop and grandad) was born 24th March 1911 in Westdown, Devon, son to parents who owned a dairy farm and part of a large farming family spanning many generations. Sadly many members of this large family unit died young due to World War 1 and various maladies typical of that time.

Grandad and his father 1970

Gladys Jessie Steers (known as Ben, mum and nan) was born 4th February 1916 in Markyate, one of six children to George Steers, a Game Keeper (who would turn poacher) and a wellknown character in Markyate known as "Hoppy".

From an old newspaper article (the Hare story) on 11th September 1886, it states that George Steers,whose father kept the Plough public house, Leverstock Green, was fined 13/-plus costs of 17/- (poaching carried a very hefty penalty in those days) for his criminal act of poaching.
He was caught trying to sell a hare he poached to a farmer claiming it had been hurt. Unfortunately a witness came forward claiming to have seen a lurcher dog belonging to George run into the field and catch the hare and not for the first time!


(In the late 1800s, with widespread poverty, despite the tough penalties, poaching was,for many, the only way to provide for your family. The legend of Robin Hood has its roots in him being a poacher in Sherwood Forest to feed the poor so George,you could say, was the Robin Hood of Markyate!)


My nans mother was the daughter of a very wealthy family from Hampstead, London.
Her father, nans grandfather,was a stock broker who lost everything in the 1890's.


(Without any hard facts,I can only presume this was due to the 1890 "Barings Panic" when the insolvency of Barings Merchant Bank caused a panic resulting in the 1893 Global financial crisis and a decade of depression, unemployment and widespread poverty.)



On his death, his widow and
children relocated to Markyate. (It was one of those children who was to become
the mother of my nan, Gladys)



Nans grandmother


When Cecil met Gladys



While working in Jersey in the farming profession, my grandad met and became very good friends with a gentleman named Percy, also working in Jersey.
Percy was my nans older brother.


He accompanied Percy on a
visit to Markyate in 1935 and on meeting my nan, they fell in love and were
married at Hemel Hempstead registry office soon after.



Cecil and Gladys Kiff 



Then
there were three, then four



Their first child Ida was born 1st March 1936, followed a few years later by a son Robert born 9th January 1939. 



At the outbreak of WW2, grandad joined the army but was declared unfit for active duty due to a heart murmur so was assigned to the Home Guards.  


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