Tibbetts

Tibbetts was built of pale granite to a functional and satisfying design in 1909, on the second highest point of the island.

It is said that 14 lighthouses can be seen from it on a clear night. The interior is lined with varnished matchboarding and keeps its original purposeful atmosphere. Because of its distance from the village Tibbetts is the only property that has no electricity; however it has a pumped water supply and a shower. It also retains the original four built-in bunks.

Until it was removed during repairs by Landmark, Tibbetts had a lookout room on its roof with an outside iron ladder, from which it was said 14 lighthouses could be seen on a clear night. This was taken down in February 1971, having become too rotten to mend. The semaphore mast that stood beside the building came from the Castle parade ground.

Before the Second World War Tibbetts was let out to the Smith-Savills. From time to time at that deserted out-post Mrs Smith-Savill, accompanied by her Pekinese dog Twee, entertained Mrs Gade for tea from a silver teapot. At other times Mrs Smith-Savill,  an immaculate 1930s lady with red-painted nails, would paddle round to the village in her canoe, wearing a white hat.

Lundy's first holiday cottage

The Harmans converted Tibbetts into the first Lundy holiday cottage. It has been little altered and despite its isolation is remarkably comfortable with its match-boarded walls. In the winter of 1975/6 the Landmark Trust demolished the kitchen shed, which was sited directly in front of the building, and put a new kitchen where the store rooms used to be. The elsan was moved to the coal shed, the front door replaced and the stonework repaired.

At the same time, the sitting room was re-floored with timber. In 1988, the stone wall was built around the building by a visiting stonemason, John Steer, to prevent livestock sheltering round the building in winter. In 1992 its name was changed to the more self-explanatory Admiralty Lookout.

Mr Gade wrote "to enjoy Tibbetts one has to be the right kind of person", for it is a mile and three quarters from the village. However, those who choose to stay here seem to relish its isolation.

At the same time the sitting room was re-floored with timber. In 1988, the stone wall was built round the building by a visiting stonemason, John Steer, to prevent livestock sheltering round the building in winter. In 1992 its name was changed to the more self-explanatory Admiralty Lookout.

Mr Gade wrote "to enjoy Tibbetts one has to be the right kind of person", for it is a mile and three quarters from the village. However, those who choose to stay here seem to relish its isolation.