Looe Museum

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Looe Old Guildhall Museum is housed in a 15th Century listed building on Higher Market Street, one of the medieval streets which lead to the seafront. The museum details Looe’s history – including tales of fishing, boat building and smuggling! Exhibits include a pilchard press, model boats, a “cat o’nine tails” and even some town stocks from the 18th century. The building itself is an exhibit, having been extended after Queen Elizabeth I granted the town a Charter in 1588. The first floor became the Magistrates Court and Town Hall, used until the New Guildhall was opened in 1878. Today the Royal Coat of Arms, Magistrates’ bench, and the weights and measures used to enforce fair trading, can be seen here. There are two holding cells on the lower floor. As well as detailing the town’s social and economic history, though, the museum includes prehistoric artefacts which were found in the area – including the tooth of a Mastodon, which is over 2 million years old, and a collection of crystals and minerals. For those with roots in Looe, the museum offers a chance to research family history using local Parish Registers and a number of Victorian Census listings. The museum’s volunteer staff are happy to help you start or continue a search, and you may even find images of your ancestors in the museum’s archive of over 600 old photographs. Looe Museum is open from 11am to 4pm daily from late March to mid-October each year. Admission prices are £1.80 for adults, 80p for children and £4.50 for families. Please be aware that disabled access is limited due to the design of the building. Anyone who is unable to manage stairs should contact the museum prior to their visit.