In the 1870s, Brent Eleigh was described as:
The church shows Norman features, has a later English tower, and is good; and there are charities £90.
A market was formerly held in the parish.

As well as the possible meaning of the village name, Brent Eleigh, derives from brende, meaning burnt in Middle English, and the Old English word lēah, meaning a forest.

The village was not only a market town under the reign of Henry III, but also one of the 'cloth villages', where Lavenham merchants had wool spun for them.
St Mary's Church revealed a remarkable wall of 14th century paintings in 1961, and the act of the repairs that were to be taken place, created an important feature in Suffolk, and a landmark in the village.


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.
In the 1870s, Brent Eleigh was described as:
The church shows Norman features, has a later English tower, and is good; and there are charities £90. A market was formerly held in the parish.
As well as the possible meaning of the village name, Brent Eleigh, derives from brende, meaning burnt in Middle English, and the Old English word lēah, meaning a forest.
The village was not only a market town under the reign of Henry III, but also one of the 'cloth villages', where Lavenham merchants had wool spun for them. St Mary's Church revealed a remarkable wall of 14th century paintings in 1961, and the act of the repairs that were to be taken place, created an important feature in Suffolk, and a landmark in the village.

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.
Brent Eleigh