The museum has many amazing photos of ships in full sail, some moored alongside our quays with cargo being loaded, others sailing majestically into the harbour and out in the bay. In old documents and census reports, I often come across references to ‘Master mariners’, ‘sailors’ and ‘fishermen’ but there were other tradespeople in the town who were also closely associated with the sea.

One of those trades is rope maker, and the earliest reference to a rope maker I have found is Mr. Walters of West Looe from a 1790 trade directory. He is listed as a "Roper".                                                                                                                                                                                       
This got my curiosity going so I started searching for rope makers in East Looe. Later directory listings didn't show any rope makers, but the 1841 census had father & son Thomas Tatchell snr & jnr, and Henry Debell as rope makers. Interestingly they were all neighbours of Edward Spear, now 80 years old, and the Quay Master, living in Lower Market Street.

Over the decades many young men served their apprenticeship with the Tatchell family. They would have been about 13 years old when they started and their training lasted for seven years. Of the 10 men I have found who worked with the Tatchell’s only one remained in Looe (and he emigrated to West Looe...), this was William Jago, born 1849, who joined the Merchant Service, possibly as a rope maker on board a ship?

Two others died relatively young, one aged 24, the other, Walter Adams aged 32. John West was drowned in the English Chanel in 1876 when his vessel ‘The Clio’ was "run down", he was only 28, and three others moved to Plymouth. it’s highly likely the wages being offered to rope makers there were higher than in Looe. One of these men was John Pinch who joined the Navy as a rope maker. He had married Louisa Adams who was the sister of Walter. John and Walter were apprentices together on the 1861 census.

There are directory listings for Thomas Tatchell as "Rope Manufacturer & Ship's Chandler" for 1844, 1852 and 1856. In 1873 the listing is for "Rope & Twine Manufacturers". His business address was "On the Quay" and this is the link and crossover with sail making. Thomas Tatchell snr died about 1856 and Thomas jnr in 1875, age 77. Rope making in East Looe appears to have died with him.

About 1857 Robert Barrett, age 34, moved to East Looe from Polperro after marrying a local lady. His family had been sail making in Polperro for generations. It appears to me that he joined forces with Thomas Tatchell jnr and they ran their respective trades together in the building that is now The Old Sail Loft Restaurant.

In 1860 Charles Meech of Lower Chapel St became sail making apprentice to Robert Barrett. Robert's nephew Thomas was also an apprentice, but was living in Polperro at the time. He had moved to The Bay, East Looe by 1871.

I have found six men who worked with the Barrett family, but, rather like the rope makers, only two remained in East Looe. Two sail making apprentices listed on the 1871 census just disappear off the record. (alien abduction anyone?) Two others moved away, to Plymouth and Torpoint, again probably for better prospects. Abraham Butters remained in Looe, I believe he became a fisherman. He died at sea in 1927 age 61 and there are descendants of his in Looe today. That just leaves Charles Meech, who remained a sail maker in East Looe until his death in 1903 aged 56.

An 1873 directory has Robert Barrett of East Looe, Richard Barrett of Polruan and Thomas Barrett of East Looe, West Looe & Liskeard all listed as sail makers alongside Thomas Tatchell rope maker. By 1881 only Richard of Polruan (who died in 1895) and Charles Meech were still alive, which means Charles was the only sail maker in East Looe. He employed two boys or men and operated from East Looe quay.

In 1894 Charles' nephew, Charles Mavin, was taken on as his apprentice. Charles Meech and his wife had no children and his nephew became like a son to them, he lived with them from an early age into adulthood, eventually taking over the business. 

There is a brilliant directory listing from 1897 for Charles Meech; Sailmaker & Dealer in flags, wire, hemp & manilla rope, blocks, flax & cotton, canvas & twines, fishing cork, cutch and copper paint. (They forgot the kitchen sink!)

By 1906 Charles Meech had died and Charles Mavin is listed as a sailmaker & ships chandler. A 1914 directory has him solely as a sail maker and by 1939, aged 59, he had retired. By this time boats & ships were generally powered by engines, and the 1939 Register, taken just before WW2 started, shows no record of any sail or rope makers in Looe.

Thankfully there are descendants of Mavin in Looe today who endeavour to make sure his skills are not forgotten and the museum has some wonderful photos of Charles at work in his sail loft, plus others showing the interior & exterior of the building with signage for both Meech and Mavin.
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When a masted ship arrives in our harbour today, the sight evokes a great sense of nostalgia. The biennial Lugger Regatta is always looked forward to, with the sight of old fishing boats in full sail out in the bay an awe inspiring image not to be forgotten.
 
Penny McHugh
Curator of the Old Guildhall Museum & Gaol, East Looe