The Sign

The sign is topped by the coat of arms of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The monks of Canterbury, received a good income from the village seen here waiting for their money. The crossed keys are the emblem of St Peter who is the patron saint of the parish church, which stands on a Saxon site. The three sheaves on a blue background are there to symbolise the agricultural heritage of the parish. The book represents "Notes on the History of Monks Eleigh" written by Revd. The Hon. Arthur Northcote in 1930. The two bridges with three arches across the River Brett, still exist in the parish, one at the east entrance to the parish, the other, called Scripscross Bridge at the west end of the parish on the B1115. The year of AD991 represents the year in which the village was granted to the monks of Canterbury. The village sign stands on the village green, at the corner of the A1141 and the road to the church. It is made of painted cast metal.

The Name and Population
In 1086 Eleigh was called Ilelega / Illeleia / Lelega. The name means "Illa's woodland clearing", held by St Paul's, London from at least 1254, originating from Old English. The population was 505 in 2011.