[1] The name of the village, Monkleigh, originates from the Old English "Munckenelegh", used in 1244 to describe a "wood or clearing of the monks", referring to a 12th-century property owned by the Montacute Priory.

[5] Located west of the River Torridge valley, the village sits on high ground with scenic views of the parish.

[10] When the monasteries were dissolved, the manor was granted by the crown gratis on 26 August 1540 to James and Anne Coffyn (also Coffin) of Alwington for the term of her life.

[13] The former historic estate of Annery was a neo-Classical mansion house that stood in a "fine timbered park" dating back to the 13th century or before.

[18] Sir William Hankford, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, left monies for the church to complete construction of the south aisle in his will.

A kneeling effigy of James Coffin, Esquire (1566) in armour sat on a high tomb and was since destroyed.

[6] Pevsner stated that a small monumental brass of a kneeling knight, affixed to a stone tablet, and with heraldic escutcheons of the arms of Coffin, is dated from the 16th century.

[6] Some of the other historic buildings in Monkleigh include the early 19th century Monkleigh Millhouse;[20] an early 19th-century country house, Petticombe Manor;[21] Rudha Bridge Millhouse;[22] The Bell Inn, originally built in the 17th century;[23] and farmhouses, cottages, outbuildings, and bridges.

A ferry operates between Bideford Quay and Lundy Island, which lies about 22 miles (35 km) away in the Bristol Channel.

[24] Bus routes in the area are provided by Stagecoach South West and MD Coaches; these are:[25] The nearest railway stations are at Umberleigh, Chapelton and Barnstaple; these are stops on the Tarka line.