George Durant (1731–1780)

As a young man he had an affair with Elizabeth Lyttleton, the second wife of George Lyttelton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

On his return as a wealthy man he purchased the village of Tong in Shropshire from the Duke of Kingston in 1764, knocked down the ancient Tong Castle, and built in its place a new house in a unique style based on plans drawn up by Capability Brown.

Two weeks before the next general election in which he reportedly hoped to stand again for Evesham, he died in 1780 aged 48 and was buried in St Bartholomew's Church, Tong.

Tong Castle passed to his son, who proved to be a somewhat lascivious Lord of the Manor.

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