St. Martin’s rectory is situate in the hundred of West, and hath upon
the north Morvall by Looe, south and west the British Channel and Looe
Haven, east Seaton River and St. Germans.
This parish is denominated from the church thereof, as it is from its
tutelar guardian and patron St. Martin, Bishop of Tours in France,
which was a famous endowed rectory church before the Norman Conquest,
as is testified by the Domesday book in Cornwall 20 William I. 1087,
wherein we read, Lant Martin, i. e. Martin’s church, chapel, or
temple, now turned to St. Martin.
In the Inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester into the
value of Cornish Benefices 1294, Ecclesia de Sancto Martino in
decanatu de West, was valued 9_l._ 6_s._ 8_d._ In Wolsey’s Inquisition
1521, St. Martin juxta Looe 36_l._ The patronage in the Duke of
Bolton; the Incumbent Hancock. The Parish rated to the 4_s._ per pound
Land Tax 1696, 178_l._ 17_s._ 5_d._; East Looe town, within its
precincts, 53_l._ 9_s._; in all 222_l._ 6_s._ 5_d._
Within this parish stands the borough town of East Looe, that is to
say, the town that stands on the east side of the River Looe; for as
loo, looe, lough, in the old Scots and Irish tongues and the French,
signifies a lough, a lake, or pool of water, so it is sometimes used
in the same sense in old British. East and West Looe towns, situate in
the Looe Haven or harbour thereof, afford opportunities to the
inhabitants for foreign and domestic trades and merchandizes to be
imported and exported, to their no small advantage. In which town of
East Looe there is a chapel or oratory for divine service, wherein the
rector of St. Martin’s, or his curate, officiates on Sundays for
convenience of its inhabitants. It was of old a privileged manor by
prescription, all which was confirmed by a charter from Queen
Elizabeth, the 29th year of her reign, whereby it was also
incorporated by the name of the Mayor and free Burgesses, consisting
of a Mayor and eight chief Burgesses or Council, the two Members of
Parliament elected by the majority of them. It is also privileged with
administration of justice within the liberties or precincts thereof,
as also with a market on Saturday weekly, and fairs on the 2d of
February and the 29th of September yearly.
The arms of this town are a gallot (high ship) in the sea, rigged with
ropes and yard, bearing three escutcheons, each charged with the arms
of De Bodrugan.
The writ to remove an action of law, depending in this Court Leet of
East Looe, to a superior; and the precept for election of Members of
Parliament from the Sheriff must be thus directed: “Majori et
Burgensibus Burgi sui de East Looe, in comitatu Cornubiæ, et eorum
cuilibet, salutem.”
The history of Kevorall is by mistake placed under St. Germans, a
contiguous parish, only parted by the Lynar or Seaton river, which
should be placed here.