The Sign
I believe the sign was erected in 2000 to commemorate the Millennium. On top are the arms of the Colman family and below a fire relating to the name affix where the village was consumed in Medieval times.

The Name and Population
The name means "Illa's woodland clearing". Later addition of 'burnt' as a distinguishing affix, from Old and Middle English. Called Ilelega / Illeleia / Lelega in the Domesday Book. There are now two Eleigh's at Brent and Monks. The population was 174 at the 2011 census.

Other Points of Interest
Brent Eleigh Manor was originally owned by the Illeigh/Ely family, then taken over by the Shelton family in the 13th century till the 16th/17th century. When Samuel Colman bought the manor from Robert Jermyn of Rushbrook in 1607 he established what was to be a long period of association of his family with the village.

The church is dedicated to St Mary which has a remarkable wall of 14th century paintings, revealed in 1961.