Looe Museum
Old Guildhall Museum & Gaol
Higher Market Street
East Looe
Cornwall
Opening Information:
Open 11:00 to 16:00 daily late March to mid October
Admission:
Adults £1.80, Children 80p, Families £4.50
Disabled access is very restricted due to the design of the building. However, the curator has collated files of information on displays on the first floor for the use of those who cannot manage stairs.
Special exhibitions and projects during 2012
History of the museum building and World War II
Old Guildhall
The 15th Century listed Ancient Museum is in the main street to East Looe sea front.
It has a fascinating display of Looe’s history, especially fishing, boat building and, of course, smuggling.
The building itself is a marvellous exhibit as it retains many of its 550 years old original features with ancient cells (complete with prisoners) and the very old, raised magistrates bench complete with the Royal Coat of Arms.
All sorts of toys, domestic equipment, porcelain, regalia, model boats and much more besides provide interest for all the family.
History of a Town
As you walk into the upper floor of the building, you are entering the room which, from 1587 to 1878, was the East Looe Town Hall and Magistrates Court. Beneath the magnificent timber-framed roof, laws were made and enforced and the town was administered by the Mayor and Corporation, known as Burgesses. The weights and measures used to enforce fair trading are displayed in this area, as are a growing number of local wills and deeds.
It’s People
The fireplace around which the worthies gathered now houses an 18th century grate, the heart of a home. Children can handle objects from the 19th and 20th centuries that are displayed in the hearth and on a table.
Looe museum covers the social and economic history of Looe from early times to the present day. On the lower floor there are also several prehistoric artefacts from the area, notable a tooth from a Mastadon, similar to a mammoth, over two million years old, plus a collection of crystals and minerals.
And their Daily Lives
Fishing has been a mainstay of the town for centuries and we have several displays of artefacts, model boats and even a pilchard press. In addition, there are a number of easy to follow folders on a range of related topics about the industry and the sea. We even have a “cat o’9 tails”.
The area behind the museum is the old town, sometimes called the “back streets”. This dates from medieval times and, as part of our extensive photographic archive, we have images of the area from c 1870 as well as photos of West Looe, boats, ships and local people. We even have the old town stocks from the 18th century.
Looe Island
Looe Island is a place of mystery and legend and the place which is most popular with museum visitors. In the early centuries, there was a Celtic Christian chapel here linked with the mainland Priory of Lamanna. Later, it was at the centre of smuggling in the 18th and 19th centuries and from the 1960’s until 2003, the Atkins sisters lived busy and well documented island life.
Family History at the Museum
Researching family history is a popular hobby and many visitors, having begun their trees, want to explore the locality where their ancestors lived. Those with roots in Looe area can search 13 local Parish Registers by microfiche in the museum, and can see their forebears’ signatures or marks. Also, we hold some local Victorian Census listings which will give clues to wider family groups.
Our staff can help with advice on how to start or continue your research and in addition, some local family tree information is already on our files and you may even find images of ancestors or their neighbourhood, in our archive of over 400 old photographs.
We have details of some old deeds & wills & much, much more so contact us if you'd like further information.
