Looe Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol
THE Punchbowls
The Punchbowls
The Museum has in its collection, six punchbowls that once belonged to the “old Corporation”. Two (one for each borough) were given by Admiral Sir Joseph Knight, born in Looe and who died in 1775. A further three were presented by John Buller MP in the late 1700s. The origin of the sixth remains a mystery.
In Thomas Bonds ‘History of Looe’, published in 1823, it is written “East Looe has three other elegant China bowls, two of them holding four gallons each, presented to them by the late John Buller, Esq”. Each of these bowls has an inscription ‘To the worthy Electors of East Looe, Health and Prosperity’; on the opposite side under Mr Buller's arms, ‘John Buller, of East Looe, Esq.’; and a view of Looe, taken from William Borlase's History of Cornwall, published in 1758.
The illustration shows the old bridge across the river and is thought to be the oldest printed view of Looe. The river was wider at this time, in fact it was only with the creation of Buller Quay in 1856 that it narrowed to the present width.
When Mr. Buller sent these bowls he was living in India, working for the East India Company, but he was soon to return, having become an MP for East Looe in 1796, even though he was still living in India.
The Museum has in its collection, six punchbowls that once belonged to the “old Corporation”. Two (one for each borough) were given by Admiral Sir Joseph Knight, born in Looe and who died in 1775. A further three were presented by John Buller MP in the late 1700s. The origin of the sixth remains a mystery.
In Thomas Bonds ‘History of Looe’, published in 1823, it is written “East Looe has three other elegant China bowls, two of them holding four gallons each, presented to them by the late John Buller, Esq”. Each of these bowls has an inscription ‘To the worthy Electors of East Looe, Health and Prosperity’; on the opposite side under Mr Buller's arms, ‘John Buller, of East Looe, Esq.’; and a view of Looe, taken from William Borlase's History of Cornwall, published in 1758.
The illustration shows the old bridge across the river and is thought to be the oldest printed view of Looe. The river was wider at this time, in fact it was only with the creation of Buller Quay in 1856 that it narrowed to the present width.
When Mr. Buller sent these bowls he was living in India, working for the East India Company, but he was soon to return, having become an MP for East Looe in 1796, even though he was still living in India.
The Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol is run by East Looe Town Trust
The Guildhall
Fore St
East Looe
Cornwall
PL13 1AA
Tel: 01503 263709
e-mail: [email protected]
www.eastlooetowntrust.co.uk
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