Brightwell Manor

In 1933, the house was purchased by William Ralph Inge, a theologian who was nominated on three occasions for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Inge served as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral for over twenty years from 1911 to 1934, becoming well known as the ’’Gloomy Dean’’ on account of his pessimistic views, which included supporting eugenics and opposing democracy. His wife wrote in her diary "It is a most attractive house but rather small." and that she had written to Paul Edward Paget and his business partner John Seely (later John Seely, 2nd Baron Mottistone) about adding to it. Dean Inge died there in 1954 (and is buried next door in the churchyard), and the family owned the house until…