LOGE, a seaport and market town of Cornwall, England, 17 m. by sea W. of Plymouth. Pop. (1931) 2,878. It is divided by the river into East Looe and West Looe ; and is sheltered so completely by the surrounding hills that myrtles, geraniums, fuchsias and other delicate plants flourish at all seasons in the open air. Its lanes are narrow, steep and winding; many of the houses are entered by wooden staircases.
The harbourage was probably the original cause of settlement. At the time of the Domesday Survey East Looe was assessed un der Pendrym, which was of the king's demesne and West Looe under Hamelin's manor of Trelowia. In the 14th century the former manor was held by the family of Bodrugan; the latter by that of Dauney. In 1237 Henry Bodrugan received the grant of a market on Fridays and a fair at Michaelmas in his manor of Pendrym. In 1301 East Looe was granted a market and fair, and other privileges. Otto Bodrugan in 132o granted the burgesses the privilege of electing their own portreeve and controlling the trade of the town. A charter of incorporation was granted in 1558 under which the common council was to consist of a mayor and 8 chief burgesses. There was to be a court of record, a market on Saturdays and fairs at Michaelmas and Candlemas. In 1685 James II. provided that there should be a mayor and II alder men, 36 free burgesses, 4 fairs and a court of pie powder. East
Looe was governed under this charter until 1885. West Looe (known also as Porpighan or Porbuan), was constituted a free borough by a charter ratified in 1325. There were to be a market on Wednesdays and a fair at Michaelmas.
Upon the attainder of the earl of Devon in 1539 the borough fell to the Crown and was annexed to the duchy. In 1574 a charter of incorporation was granted, providing for a mayor and burgesses, also for a market on Wednesdays and two fairs. West Looe continued to be administered under this charter until 1869. Looe was second only to Fowey as a port in the 15th century. It furnished 20 ships for the siege of Calais. Of the markets and fairs only the markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a fair on May 6 remain.
The parish church of St. Martin, i m. outside the town, has a Norman doorway and font. The ancient chapel of St. Nicholas in West Looe was restored in 1862 ; in the old town-hall is pre served the ancient pillory. A considerable export trade in copper, tin and granite was formerly carried on; grain, granite, fish and clay are now exported; while timber, coal, limestone and manure are imported. There are also thriving fisheries, the Looe fisher men being particularly expert with the seine on a rocky bottom.