The Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol holds a fascinating display of Looe’s past within a 15th century listed building.

This includes Fishing & Boat Building, Smuggling, Looe Island, The Looe Valley Railway Line, Tourism, World War II and Court room regalia.

The building itself is a marvellous exhibit on its own, retaining many of its Medieval features, with ancient cells and the original raised magistrates bench, complete with the Royal Coat of Arms from when the local court was held there.

With exhibits from the Bronze Age to the modern day, there’s no shortage of things to look at! Domestic equipment, 17th century porcelain, regalia, model boats, the remains of a WWII US bomber and much more. There is also a large archive of old photographs.

The museum is spread over two floors and you enter into the upper floor of the building. Downstairs, you will find more exhibits, plus the two cells used to hold the criminals of Looe in the past.