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'{{Other uses}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox UK place |country = England |label_position = left |static_image = RiverLooe.jpg |map_type = Cornwall |region = South West England |official_name = Looe |cornish_name = ''Logh'' |latitude = 50.354 |longitude = -4.454 |population = 5,112 |population_ref = (United Kingdom Census 2011) |civil_parish = Looe |unitary_england = [[Cornwall]] |lieutenancy_england = [[Cornwall]] |constituency_westminster= [[South East Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)|South East Cornwall]] |post_town = LOOE |postcode_area = PL |postcode_district = PL13 |dial_code = 01503 |os_grid_reference = SX254533 }} '''Looe''' ({{lang-kw|'''Logh'''}},<ref name="swfplacenames">{{cite web|url=http://www.magakernow.org.uk/pdf/placename_masterlist.pdf|title=List of Place-names agreed by the MAGA Signage Panel|accessdate=11 January 2015|publisher=Cornish Language Partnership|date=May 2014}}</ref> meaning ''deep water inlet'') is a small coastal town, fishing port and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in the former [[Caradon]] [[municipality|district]] of south-east [[Cornwall]], England, [[UK]], with a population of 5,280 at recent census (2001 & 2011 census). The two electoral wards mentioning Looe but also including [[Polperro]] had a total population of 7,117 at the 2011 census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/looe-east-e05008244#sthash.U70OYTXD.dpbs|title=Looe East Ward|accessdate= 8 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/looe-west-and-lansallos-e05008245#sthash.LYJuzRes.dpbs|title=Looe West and Lansallos ward|accessdate= 8 February 2015}}</ref> The town of Looe is approximately 20 miles (32&nbsp;km) west of the city of [[Plymouth]] and seven miles (11&nbsp;km) south of [[Liskeard]].<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 201 ''Plymouth & Launceston'' ISBN 978-0-319-23146-3</ref> and is divided in two by the [[River Looe]], '''East Looe''' ({{lang-kw|links=no|'''Logh'''}}<ref name="swfplacenames" />) and '''West Looe''' ({{lang-kw|links=no|'''Porthbyhan'''}},<ref name="swfplacenames"/> meaning ''Little Cove'') being connected by a bridge.<ref>[http://looeharbour.com/background www.looeharbour.com]</ref> The town centres around a small harbour and along the steep-sided valley of the River Looe which flows between East and West Looe to the sea beside a sandy beach. Offshore to the west, opposite the stonier Hannafore Beach, lies [[Looe Island|St George's Island]], otherwise known as Looe Island. ==History== ===Prehistory and foundation=== Archeological evidence, such as the so-called Giant's Hedge<ref>[http://www.visitcornwall.com/things-to-do/south-cornwall/looe/looe-talland-giants-hedge#.VGsWTLDbLIU www.visitcornwall.com]</ref> and the [[stone circle]] at Bin Down (from the [[Cornish language|Cornish]] "Bin Dun", meaning "[[hill fort]]") on a hill above East Looe, indicates that the area around Looe was inhabited as early as [[1000s BC (decade)|1000 BC]]. At the time of the [[Domesday Book]] in 1086 the [[manor]] of Pendrym, which included much of the site of modern-day East Looe, was still held by [[William the Conqueror]], as part of his own [[demesne]], which he later devolved to the Bodgrugan ([[Bodrigan]]) family. Land across the river belonged to the manors of Portalla (or Portallant) and Portbyhan (variously spelt Portbyan, Porthbyghan, Porthpyghan, among others). Shutta, on the steep hillside over East Looe, is recorded as being inhabited by the 12th century.<ref>[http://www.ilovelooe.co.uk/looe/ www.ilovelooe.co.uk]</ref> Between 1154 and 1189 [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] granted a [[Royal charter|charter]] in favour of [[Henry Bodrugan|Sir Henry Bodrugan]] as [[Mayor]] of East Looe. West Looe was given free [[borough]] status sometime after this (the first known historical mention of the town dates from 1327) and in the 1230s East Looe secured the right to hold a weekly market and a [[Michaelmas]] [[fair]]. East Looe's layout looks like a "planted borough", a concept similar to modern [[new town]]s, since most of its streets form a grid-like pattern.<ref>[http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/parking/cornwall-council-car-parks/car-park-locations-charges-and-facilities/looe-area/ www.cornwall.gov.uk]</ref> Low-lying parts of Looe continue to suffer frequent [[flooding]] when the [[tide]]s are very high. For practical reasons, most [[fishermen]]'s houses in ancient Looe, like elsewhere along the south coast, were constructed with their living quarters upstairs and a storage area at [[Storey|ground level]] below: for [[boat]]s, [[tool]]s and [[fishing tackle]], ''etc''; these are termed "fishermen's [[Basement|cellars]]".<ref>[http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/term_definitions.asp?thesaurus_code=ty&term_id=3699 www.ncl.ac.uk]</ref> ===Early churches=== Some time before 1144, [[Order of Saint Benedict|the Order of Saint Benedict]] occupied [[Looe Island]], building a chapel there, and the monks established a rudimentary lighthouse service using [[beacon]]s. Another chapel was founded on an opposite hillside just outside West Looe; both are now marked only by ruins. The parish church of East Looe was at [[St Martin by Looe]] but there was a [[chapel of ease]] in the town. The Church of [[Saint Mary|St. Mary]] in East Looe was dedicated in 1259 by [[Walter Bronscombe]], [[Bishop of Exeter]]. Despite rebuilding commencing in 1805, it has since fallen into disrepair, although the original Tower still remains. On the centre of the bridge in medieval times stood the Chapel of St Anne (dedicated in 1436): this dedication was attributed to the town chapel by [[George Oliver (freemason)|Dr George Oliver]] and has been adopted ever since, displacing that of St Mary.<ref name="Cornish Church Guide 1925 pp. 148-49">''Cornish Church Guide'' (1925) Truro: Blackford; pp. 148-49</ref> West Looe comprised part of the [[parish]] of [[Talland]] since the early [[Middle Ages]], but a chapel of ease, [[Saint Nicholas|St. Nicholas]]' Church, was extant before 1330 when it is recorded as being further endowed and enlarged. After spells as a [[Guildhall|common hall]] and a schoolhouse, this building has reverted to its original ecclesiastical use, having been substantially restored in 1852, 1862 and 1915.<ref name="Cornish Church Guide 1925 pp. 148-49"/> ===Development, trade and politics=== [[File:FoweyLooeRiversMapCornwallUK.gif|thumb|Sketchmap of the East and West Looe Rivers]] An early wooden bridge over the Looe River was in place by 1411, which burned down and was replaced by the first stone bridge, completed in 1436 and featured a chapel dedicated to [[Saint Anne|St Anne]] in the middle (the current bridge, a seven-arched [[Victorian era|Victorian]] bridge, was opened in 1853). By this time Looe had become a major port, one of Cornwall's largest, exporting local [[tin]], [[arsenic]] and [[granite]], as well as hosting thriving [[fishing]] and [[Boat building|boatbuilding]] industries. The town was able to provide some 20 ships for the [[Siege of Calais (1346)|Siege of Calais]] in 1347. With effective civic leadership, Looe thrived in the Middle Ages and Tudor era, being both a busy port and situated with close access to the main road from London to [[Penzance]]. By this time the [[textile industry]] had come to play an important part in the town's economy, in addition to the traditional boatbuilding and fishing (particularly [[pilchard]]s and [[crab]]s). Trade and transport to and from thriving [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] also contributed to the town's success. The Old Guildhall in East Looe is believed to have dated from around 1500. The constituencies of [[East Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|East Looe]] and [[West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)|West Looe]] were incorporated as [[parliamentary borough]]s in 1571 and 1553 respectively, surviving as [[rotten borough]]s with each returning two [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s to the [[unreformed House of Commons]] until the [[Great Reform Act]] of 1832. For example, [[Charles Wager|Admiral Sir Charles Wager]], a son and grandson of Kentish mariners, held the [[Electoral district|seat]] as MP for West Looe early in (1713&ndash;1715) and at the end (1741&ndash;1743) of his political career. The [[coat of arms|seal]] of East Looe was [[blazon]]ed ''An antique one-mast vessel in it a man and boy against the side of the hulk three escutcheons each charges with three bends'', with the legend "Si, comunetatis de Loo". The seal of West Looe was ''An armed man holding a bow in his right hand and an arrow in his left'', with the legend "Por-tu-an ''vel'' Wys Westlo".<ref>{{cite book|last=Pascoe|first=W. H.|title=A Cornish Armory|page=133|year=1979|publisher=Lodenek Press|location=Padstow, Cornwall|isbn=0-902899-76-7}}</ref> ===19th century=== By the start of the 1800s, Looe's fortunes were in decline. The [[Napoleonic Wars]] had taken its toll on the country; in 1803, the town formed a volunteer company to man guns in defence against attack from the French. The blockade of 1808, which prevented the Looe fleet from reaching their pilchard-fishing areas, also put considerable financial strain on the community. In 1805, the old St. Mary's Chapel (apart from the [[Bell tower|tower]]) had to be demolished due to dilapidation, and in 1817, the town was badly damaged by heavy storms and flooding. With the building of the [[Liskeard and Looe Union Canal]] linking Looe to Liskeard in 1828, and the development of booming [[copper]] mines in the [[Caradon]] area from 1837, Looe's fortunes began to revive. The Herodsfoot mine produced 13,470 tons of lead between 1848 and 1884 and more than 17 tons of silver between 1853 and 1884. The canal was used first to transport [[Lime (mineral)|lime]] from [[Wales]] for use in Cornish farming, and later to carry copper and granite between the railhead at Liskeard (from where rail links reached to the [[Cheesewring]] on [[Bodmin Moor]]) and the port of Looe. In 1856 the large quay of East Looe was built to handle the demands of the shipping trade, and in 1860, with the canal unable to keep up with demand, a [[Looe Valley Line|railway]] was built linking Looe to [[Moorswater]] near Liskeard, along the [[towpath]] of the canal, which was used less and less until, by 1910, traffic ceased entirely. The railway was later linked to [[Liskeard]] proper, and as the mining boom came to an end, it adapted to carry passengers in 1879. In 1866, a [[Lifeboat (rescue)|lifeboat]] station had been established on East Looe Beach, and in 1878 a new town hall was built: Looe's present-day Guildhall. Around this time recommendations were made that the two towns be merged under one governing body, and despite much protest '''Looe Urban District Council''' was formed in 1898 <ref>{{cite journal|last1=Byron|first1=G.W.|title=Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom|date=1977|volume=57|issue=1|pages=75–92|url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=4318260&fileId=S002531540002124X|accessdate=21 July 2015}}</ref> with jurisdiction over the communities on both sides of the River Looe. ===20th century=== With the Victorian fashion for seaside holidays, Looe evolved as a tourist town, with nearby [[Talland Bay]] being dubbed "the playground of Plymouth". This trend continued throughout the 20th century; more and more hotels and tourist facilities were built in the town, and Looe grew and prospered, with peaks in fishing and boatbuilding following the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second World Wars]]. ==Looe today== [[File:West Looe.jpg|thumb|West Looe viewed across the river from East Looe]] Looe remains a fishing town, and retained several fish dealers operating from the quayside of East Looe until the advent of EU regulations. With its fleet of small fishing boats returning their catches to port daily, Looe has a reputation for procuring excellent fresh fish. The town is also a centre for [[shark]] [[Big-game fishing|fishing]], and is the home of the [[Shark Angling Club of Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharkanglingclubofgreatbritain.org.uk/|title=Shark Angling Club of Great Britain|publisher=Shark Angling Club of Great Britain|accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref> [[File:View towards Looe.jpg|right|thumb|View towards Looe, taken from near '''Looe Island''']] Nonetheless, Looe's main business today is tourism, with much of the town given over to hotels, [[guest house (lodging)|guest house]]s and [[holiday home]]s, along with a large number of [[public house|pubs]], [[restaurant]]s and beach equipment, ice cream and [[Pasty|Cornish pasty]] vendors. Inland from Looe lie many camping and [[Travel trailer|caravan]] sites, as well as the famous [[Monkey Sanctuary|Woolly Monkey Sanctuary]]. Other local attractions include the beaches, sailing, fishing and [[Scuba diving|diving]], and spectacular coastal walks (especially via Talland to [[Polperro]]). South East Cornwall boasts several stately homes, including [[Antony House]], [[Cotehele]], [[Mount Edgcumbe House|Mount Edgcumbe]] and [[Lanhydrock House]], as well as the [[Eden Project]] near [[St Austell]] which tourists can access by road. Outside the busy summer months, the town remains a centre for shopping and entertainment for local villagers. Annually in late September, the town is the destination of choice for thousands of music lovers and top name performers for the [[Looe Music Festival]], which takes place in temporary venues around the town, harbour and on East Looe beach. There is a tradition of the townsfolk wearing [[fancy dress]] on [[New Year's Eve]], when the streets are thronged with revellers in inventive outfits.<ref>[http://www.lifesize-models.co.uk/gallery/gallery_image.php?id=794 East Looe Gallery]</ref> Looe has been on the list of the top 10 places in the UK to celebrate New Year, and ranked third on the list for 2007-08. Looe is regenerating itself, like many other ports, to serve as a small cargo port. On the high ground north of East and West Looe there are many modern houses and a recreational area called 'the Downs'. ===East Looe=== [[File:Looe Lifeboat Station 2007.jpg|thumb|Looe [[RNLI]] Lifeboat Station]] East Looe centres on its broad sandy beach, with the distinctive [[Banjo Pier]] designed by [[Joseph Thomas (architect)|Joseph Thomas]], a new lifeboat station and St Mary's Church. Stretching back from the church is a grid of narrow streets forming the main business area of the town, packed with many small shops, restaurants and pubs and the Old Guildhall, now a museum. Along the estuary lies the quay with its fish merchants. Towards Looe Bridge lies the [[Victorian Era|Victorian]] Guildhall, and just north of the bridge the [[Looe railway station|railway station]]. This is the [[Terminal station|terminus]] of the [[Looe Valley Line|Looe Valley branch line]] to [[Liskeard railway station|Liskeard]], where it connects to the [[Great Western Main Line]] and services to [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]]. On the hilltop above East Looe lies Shutta, and beyond that the Sunrising [[housing estate]] and [[Looe Community Academy]].<ref>http://www.looe.cornwall.sch.uk Looe Community Academy</ref> Along the cliffs to the east is Plaidy Beach, and further on the bay and village of [[Millendreath]]. [[File:West looe hill.jpg|thumb|View down West Looe Hill, looking towards the harbour]] ===West Looe=== West Looe spreads west from the bridge on the Polperro Road towards [[Sclerder]], and along the river south of the bridge, with hotels, restaurants and boarding houses along the waterfront and houses climbing the perilous cliff above, towards a cluster of shops and businesses and the Church of St. Nicholas. Further south along the coast road is Hannafore Point, marking the edge of Looe Harbour, with to the west the wide, stony Hannafore Beach, facing across a narrow channel to Looe Island. Beyond lies the [[South West Coast Path|coastal path]] leading to [[Portnadler Bay]], Talland and [[Porthallow (Talland)|Porthallow]], and then onward to Polperro. Two towers mark one end of a [[nautical measured mile]], the other end is marked by two towers near Talland Bay.<ref>{{cite web|title= Nautical Measured Mile Markers|publisher=Polperro village website|url=http://www.polperro.org/measuredmile.html|author=Tony White|date=March 2003}}</ref> ===New Year festivities=== On [[New Year's Eve]], Looe provides a surprisingly exciting and large celebration. The small fishing town, usually quiet in winter, due to the largely seasonal economy, is host to an influx of visitors. People flock to the streets in their hundreds, wearing fancy dress, a tradition upheld by all ages. The crowds begin the evening in the town and slowly move towards the seafront for a fireworks display to see in the [[New Year]]. ==Twinning== Looe is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Quiberon]] ({{Lang-br|'''Kiberen'''}}) in [[Brittany]], [[France]].<ref>[http://www.looetowncouncil.gov.uk/textonly/twinning.htm www.looetowncouncil.gov.uk]</ref> == Notable Residents == Joe Elford, the esteemed Grime Rap-star who singlehandedly saved Looe and rap from white people. Cameron Hyndman, The director who created classics such as "$labsgang (Get Mad)". This video generated over £4.5 Million Pounds, and saved Africa from aids. Finley O'Brien, Who is bald. ==See also== *[[:Category:People from Looe|People from Looe]] ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Looe}} {{Wikivoyage}} ===General=== * {{dmoz|/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Looe/|Looe}} * [http://www.looetowncouncil.gov.uk Looe Town Council] * [http://www.looe.org Looe official website] * [http://looeandpolperrochamber.co.uk Looe Chamber of Commerce website] * [http://www.ilovelooe.co.uk/2010/new-year-in-looe-2009 2009 New Year celebrations at Looe] ===Historical resources=== * [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Cornwall/Looe/index.html Various historical and genealogical data] * [https://books.google.com/books?id=t33ZkDL3juQC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=%22Topographical+and+historical+sketches+of+the+boroughs+of+East+and+West+Looe%22+gilbert&source=web&ots=2efGL5JvjD&sig=zX3P6Gb1rkwgpHYXqA2puj8lJGw&hl=en#PPP8,M1 Thomas Bond's ''Topographical and historical sketches of the boroughs of East and West Looe, in the county of Cornwall'' (1823) - available online on GoogleBooks]. * [http://crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Overview.tcl&dsqSearch=((text)='looe') Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Looe] * [http://looeoldcornwallsoc.com/default.aspx Looe Old Cornwall Society] ===Miscellaneous=== * [http://www.buttervilla.com/lma/ The Looe Maritime Archive an interactive multimedia project with images, sounds and videos] * [http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/teammanley/CaradonRail/Companys.htm%23LLUC&date=2009-10-25+22:40:15 Information about the canal and railway] * [http://www.museumsincornwall.org.uk/museums/looe-museum-east-looe-town-trust Looe Museum] * [http://www.looefilmsociety.org.uk Looe Community Cinema] * [http://www.macwebguru.com/2010/04/08/east-looe-boys/ 'East Looe Boys'] - folk song by Alan Moorhouse {{Cornwall|state=collapsed}} {{South East Cornwall CP navigation box}} {{Authority control}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Ports and harbours of Cornwall]] [[Category:Towns in Cornwall]] [[Category:Beaches of Cornwall]] [[Category:Seaside resorts in Cornwall]] [[Category:Civil parishes in Cornwall]] [[Category:Fishing communities in England]]'