The Church of Scientology Worldwide is interested in Lundy

which might have ‘certain peculiar advantages. But at this stage it would not be true to say we are going to buy it” said Mr David Gaiman, chief spokesman. He was speaking from the headquarters of the Church in this country, Hubbard College, East Grinstead.

Meanwhile a ‘Lundy for the nation’ campaign is gathering momentum. Three Devon M.P.s who believe the National Trust would be ‘the best and most experienced body to own and administer the island’ are issuing a nationwide appeal. Mr Peter Mills was due to meet the Director-General of the Trust, Sir John Winnifrith, on behalf of the group which includes Mr Jeremy Thorpe and Dr David Owen.

Mr Mills was asking Sir John to seek a three months’ option to purchase from the present owners, which would allow time for the launching of a national appeal for funds to buy and maintain the island. Mr Mills revealed that since Lundy was placed on the market he had received ‘a mass’ of anxious letters together with many offers of money. It was reported that regional representatives of the National Trust are visiting Lundy to prepare a preliminary report.

Torridge Chat writes

Islands always have an air of romance about them, and Lundy has this in abundance, based on a history that stretches back over centuries. The island has gone through many vicissitudes and had many different owners. It has been the haunt of pirates, and in the 17th century Algerian, French, Spanish and even Turkish freebooters made it a rendezvous from which to ravage our western coasts and approaches. Now it is for sale after having been in the devoted ownership of the Harman family for nearly 45 years. Among North Devon people there is, not unnaturally, some anxiety as to what may become of the island under new ownership. When Lundy was for sale in 1925, Mr Basil Peto, then MP for the old North-West Devon division, asked the Home Secretary in the House of Commons if he would take steps to ensure that it did not fall into the hands of any alien.

The value of the island has fluctuated considerably but, of course, as ever one must take into account the change in value of the £, not just over present years, but over centuries. In 1391 Lundy was valued at £10. In 1754 it was sold for £510 but by 1781 it has soared to £12,000. But when it changed hands in 1803 fear of French invasion brought about a drop to £700. It was once lost in a game of cards, the stake being £4,500, but the winners sold it four years later (1834) for £9,870. When it last changed hands in 1925 the price was £16,000. Now the talk is of £100,000.

The National Trust launched an appeal to raise the necessary £150,000 after the conservation charity, The Landmark Trust, offered to underwrite it. No sooner had the appeal been launched when the philanthropic businessman Jack Hayward stepped in with a gift of the purchase price. The Landmark Trust, under the guidance of its then chairman, John Smith, agreed to lease Lundy for 60 years and to restore, maintain and run the Island and to keep it as a tranquil and unaffected place for the Islanders and visitors to share and enjoy.

Credits - Gazette articles dated 3 April 1969; The Landmark Trust website