Sign inValentine & Sons series (JV), 1894
The photograph shows the town of Looe/Logh (‘logh’ means deep water inlet) in south east Cornwall. Originally, a small fishing village, Looe now attracts tourists and retirees. The breakwater protects both a small beach and the outlet to the River Looe. Some sailing boats are lying outside the harbour, and offshore, just visible on the left-hand side of the horizon, is Looe Island.
The town has built up on both sides of a steep-sided valley. The two parts are linked by a bridge (not shown). Many of the houses are constructed of local stone although the more recent ones are made of brick. Looe town is crowded with small houses, shops, services and tourist facilities. Traffic congestion is a huge problem in Looe, especially in the tourist season.
Student focus
- Few of the inhabitants of Looe rely on fishing now, most work in tourism and some income comes from people who retire to the town. In your opinion, is this balance of economic activity good or bad for Looe?
- Explore the Visit Looe website to discover how tourist traffic is managed, while making the town accessible to local residents and the emergency services. What problems might this solution cause?
Current OS Explorer sheet: 107