Glamorgan County Council election, 1895

The third election to Glamorgan County Council election was held on 4 March 1895.[1] It was preceded by the 1892 election and followed by the 1898 election.

Glamorgan County Council had been established by the 1888 Local Government Act, and the first elections held in early 1889. The county of Glamorgan was at this time becoming heavily industrialised, although some areas such as the Vale of Glamorgan remained essentially rural. The rise of nonconformist liberalism, especially since the 1860s, throughout Wales, had challenged the prevailing influence of the landed gentry. However, even in 1889, the traditional forces remained influential and no working men were elected to the Council. This changed in 1892 with the unopposed return of David Morgan in Aberdare and the success of Isaac Evans in Resolven.

Overview of the Result

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. In 1895 there were more unopposed results than in previous elections and the Conservatives made some headway, reflecting the position in the United Kingdom as a whole where the party took power that year.

Results are drawn from the Cardiff Times.[2] Results also appeared in the Celt (Bala).[3] Some additional results are drawn from local newspapers in South Wales.

Boundary Changes

There were some boundary changes at this election. In the Aberdare area the wards were reorganised too reflect those operating for the new Aberdare Urban District Council.[4]

An additional ward was created at Cadoxton following the division of the existing Barry division.

Unopposed Returns

As in previous elections there were a fair number of unopposed returns, including some seats not contested by the Liberals.[5][6]

Retiring Aldermen

Of the eleven retiring aldermen, two were Conservatives. Following the episode in 1892 when all but two aldermen did not seek re-election, only for the Council to decide that this was a pre-requisite for election as aldermen, a larger number sought re-election. Each was re-elected, including Sir John Llewelyn at Loughor and Penderry, although he faced Liberal opposition unlike in 1889.

Those who did not seek re-election included F.L. Davis at Ferndale.

Contested Elections

There were more uncontested elections than in the previous two contests for the County Council and the vast majority of those contested were straight fights between Liberal and Conservative candidates (or in some cases Independents who were widely regarded as Conseravtives). In a small number of cases, Liberals faced each other.

Results

Aberaman

The sitting member, first elected at the 1889 election and re-elected in 1895 was opposed by Thomas Rees, landlord of the Swan Hotel, Aberaman and elected a member of the Aberdare Urban District Council at the inaugural 1894 election. The Merthyr Times opined that there was no necessity for a contest, and that the unsuccessful candidate had wasted his time and money.[7]

Aberaman 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Davies* 481
Independent Thomas Rees 375
Majority 106
Liberal hold Swing

Aberavon

John Morgan Smith had previously stood as an Independent, though this was commonly regarded as meaning Conservative.

Aberavon 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Morgan Smith* unopposed

Aberdare Town

Aberdare Town 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John William Evans* 586
Liberal Thomas Thomas* 376
Majority 210
Liberal hold Swing

Barry

The former seat of Barry and Cadoxton was divided.

Barry 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Cory* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr

The new Blaengwawr ward was created following boundary changes connected to the formation of the Aberdare Urban District Council.

Blaengwawr 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Howell unopposed


Bridgend

The election was fought on party lines and covered in detail in the Glamorgan Gazette.[8] The election was said to have attracted 'an exceptionally keen and widespread interest, not only immediately within the town boundaries, but in many an adjacent town, hamlet and village besides'.[9] Against the tide in the county the Liberals captured Bridgend for the first time

Bridgend 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Powell 447
Conservative W.M. O'Gaull 399
Majority 48
Liberal hold Swing

Briton Ferry

Briton Ferry 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr E.V. Pegge 425
Liberal Jenkin Hill* 404
Majority 21
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Cadoxton

Boundary Changes. A new seat of Cadoxton was created.

Cadoxton 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr Edward Treharne 367
Liberal Rev William Williams 318
Majority 49
Conservative win (new seat)

Caeharris

Caeharris 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Pritchard Martin unopposed

Caerphilly

As a result of boundary changes, two sitting members opposed each other. Hill-Male admitted that he had once been a Conservative but claimed to have been converted to the Liberal cause during his twenty years in Wales.[4]

Caerphilly 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Edsell Morgan Lindsay 864
Liberal Richard Hill Male* 489
Majority 365
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Cilfynydd

Cilfynydd 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Lewis unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)

Coedffranc

Coedffranc 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Newell Moore* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Coity

Coity 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Howell* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cowbridge

Cowbridge 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ralph Thurstan Bassett unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cwmavon

It was reported that Thomas Davies, the sitting member, was expected to be returned unopposed, but he was opposed by Llewellyn Griffiths, overseer, and a fellow deacon at Penuel Baptist Church, Cwmavon.[10] Davies eventually withdrew.

Cwmavon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Llewellyn Griffiths unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Cyfarthfa

The result was largely attributed to the fact that Thomas was a member of several public bodies and this was a difficult arguemnet to counter.[11]

Cyfarthfa 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Watkin Moss 547
Lib-Lab Thomas Thomas* 540
Majority 7
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Cymmer

Cymmer 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr Naunton Davies** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Dinas Powys

Dinas Powys 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Henry Jones* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Dowlais

Dowlais 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Jenkins* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Dulais Valley

Dulais Valley 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Evan Evans Bevan* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Ferndale

Morgan Thomas, the sitting member, was defeated by another Liberal candidate.

Ferndale 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D. Thomas 643
Liberal Morgan Thomas* 597
Majority 46
Liberal hold Swing

Gadlys

Morgan was re-elected although heavily defeated in the Aberdare Urban District Council election a short time before.

Gadlys 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab David Morgan* 770
Liberal William Thomas 355
Majority 415
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Garw Valley

Garw Valley 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas* unopposed

Gellifaelog 1895

Gellifaelog 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Lewis* unopposed

Gelligaer

Gelligaer 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry William Martin unopposed

Gower

Gower 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Frank Cory Yeo* unopposed

Kibbor

Kibbor 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lewis* unopposed

Llandaff

Llandaff 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Forrest* unopposed

Llandeilo Talybont

Llandeilo Talybont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Harries* unopposed

Llansamlet

Llansamlet
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Sims unoppposed

Llantrisant

Llantrisant
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Blandy Jenkins* unopposed

Llwydcoed

As a result of boundary changes, the Hirwaun Ward had been abolished and the sitting member, Richard Morgan, challenged the incumbent, Rees Hopkin Rhys in the Llwydcoed Ward.

Llwydcoed 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Hopkin Rhys* 577
Liberal Rev Richard Morgan* 561

Llwynypia and Clydach

Llwynypia and Clydach 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Lewis unopposed

Lougher and Penderry

Lougher and Penderry 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir John Llewellyn** 636
Liberal S. Thomas 433

Maesteg

James Barrow, the sitting member, was opposed by another Liberal candidate, Jenkin Jones, due to his voting against disestablishment at a council meeting. It was a lively election, with all workmen having a holiday, leaving the streets crowded throughout the day. On the following day, some od Barrow's supporters paraded through the locality on horseback but were attacked by women who threw buckets of water and ashes over them.[12]

Maesteg 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Barrow* 938
Liberal Jenkin Jones 883

Margam

Margam
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Arthur Pendarves Vivian* unopposed

Merthyr Town

This result was attributed by the Merthyr Times to Liberal Party apathy and to publicans' support for the Conservative candidate.[11]

Merthyr Town 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.W. Lewis 706
Liberal Alfred Edwards 597

Merthyr Vale

There was initially some uncertainty whether Walter Bell, who had been narrowly defeated in 1892, would oppose the sitting member.[4]

Merthyr Vale 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Bell 721
Liberal David Prosser* 587
Majority 134

Morriston

Morriston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Williams unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Mountain Ash

Mountain Ash 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Morris 549
Liberal Samuel Evans 459
Liberal John Lewis 316
Majority 90
Liberal hold Swing

Neath (North)

Neath (North) 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist John Henry Rowland* unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold Swing

Neath (South)

Neath (South) 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative W.B. Trick unopposed
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Newcastle

Newcastle 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas J. Hughes unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ogmore

In this largely rural ward, J.D. Nicholl of Merthyr Mawr captured the seat, reversing the result of three years previously.[13]

Ogmore 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.D. Nicholl 458
Liberal Evan Evans* 372
Majority 86
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Ogmore Valley

Ogmore Valley 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewellyn* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Oystermouth

Oystermouth 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Sir John Jones Jenkins unopposed
Liberal Unionist hold Swing

Penarth North

Penarth North 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.B. Shepherd* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Penarth South

Penarth South 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Frederick Henry Jotham unopposed

Penrhiwceiber

Penrhiwceiber
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Dr. R. W. Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Pentre

Pentre 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Morris* 473
Lib-Lab Howell Price 348
Majority
Liberal hold Swing

Penydarren

Penydarren 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies* 516
Conservative Thomas Edward Morgan 370
Majority 146

Pontardawe

Pontardawe 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ernest Hall Hedley* 578
Liberal W.D. Thomas 143
Majority 435

Plymouth

Plymouth 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Watkin Lewis* 603
Conservative Arthur Daniel 440
Majority 163

Pontlottyn

Two rival Liberal candidates enabled innkeeper David Benjamin Owen to win by 23 votes from Baptist minister John Penry Williams.[5]

Pontlottyn 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative David Benjamin Owen 280
Liberal Rev John Penry Williams 257
Liberal R. Williams 178
Conservative Alfed Phillips 7
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Pontypridd

Pontypridd 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Walter T. Morgan** unopposed

Porth and Penygraig

Porth and Penygraig 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Jones Griffiths** 779
Conservative J.W. Jones 224
Majority 555
Liberal hold Swing

Resolven

Resolven 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab Isaac Evans* unopposed
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Sketty

Sketty 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Armine Morris 433
Liberal Rev John Davies 395
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Swansea Valley

Boundary Change

Swansea Valley 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Llewellyn Davies unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Treforest

Treforest 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent David Leyshon 684
Liberal William Spickett* 520
Majority 164

Treherbert

Treherbert 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Morgan** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Treorchy

Treorchy 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab T. Daronwy Isaac* unopposed
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Trealaw and Tonypandy

Trealaw and Tonypandy 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Williams* 497
Liberal D. Thomas 400
Majority 97
Liberal hold Swing

Tylorstown and Ynyshir

Tylorstown and Ynyshir 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal T.H. Morris unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr David Thomas* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Ystrad

Clifford Cory in 1912
Ystrad 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Clifford J. Cory* 804
J.B. Price 133
Majority 671
Liberal hold Swing

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1895 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies (the additional one following the death of a sitting alderman).

The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.[14] They included three miners' agents who, together with Moses Moses, elected as alderman in 1892, made four labour members on the aldermanic bench. Conversely, following the retirement of Sir William Thomas Lewis, Sir John Llewellyn was now the only Conservative among the aldermen. Lewis and another retiring alderman, the prominent Liberal, Thomas Williams of Gwaelod y Garth, received some votes (presumably from Conservative councillors) but the liberal group held to the convention that only elected councillors could be made aldermen.[14]

elected for three years

By-elections

Cymmer

Cymmer by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr Naunton Davies** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Gadlys by-election

Following the election of David Morgan as alderman, Richard Morgan, member for Hirwaun from 1889 until 1895 was selected as Liberal candidate following a well-attended public meeting.[15] As a result of boundary changes, Morgan had contested Llwydcoed against Rees Hopkin Rhys and had been narrowly defeated. Richard Morgan's selection was not immediately accepted and other meetings were held to promote other candidates, including Benjamin Evans.[16] Eventually, however, Richard Morgan was comfortably elected.[17]

Gadlys by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Morgan 763
T. Whitty Evans 199
Majority 564
Liberal hold Swing

Garw Valley by-election

Following the election of John Thomas, miners' agent, as alderman, D. Johns was elected after a contest with two other Liberal candidates, including Thomas Lewis who was also unsuccessful at the initial election.[18]

Garw Valley by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D. Johns 469
Liberal Thomas Lewis 319
Liberal J. Maddocks 134
Majority 150
Liberal hold Swing

Gellifaelog by-election

Following the election of Evan Lewis as alderman, concerns had been expressed that a split Liberal vote would lead to a Conservative victory.[15] But this did not prove to be the case.[17]

Gellifaelog by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Evans 281
Liberal John Lloyd Atkins 225
Conservative Thomas Edward Morgan 154
Majority 56
Liberal hold Swing

Loughor and Penderry by-election

Following the election of Sir John Llewelyn as alderman, Samuel Thomas, defeated by Llewelyn at the original election, was now returned. His opponent had sought to succeed Llewelyn on his appointment as alderman in 1889 but was defeated on that occasion by Edward Rice Daniel.[19] This can be considered a Liberal hold as Daniel had stood down at the original election in favour of Llewelyn.

Loughor and Penderry by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Thomas 601
Conservative John Roper Wright 506
Majority 95
Liberal hold Swing

Llwynypia and Clydach by-election

Llwynypia and Clydach 1895 by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal
Liberal hold Swing

Maesteg by-election

Following the election of James Barrow as alderman, Jenkin Jones, narrowly defeated in a hotly contested initial election, was on this occasion successful.[18]

Maesteg by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jenkin Jones 1,024
Liberal Thomas Rees 759
Majority 265
Liberal hold Swing

Penydarren by-election

The by-election took place following the election of David Davies, Glebeland, as alderman. Thomas Williams, Gwaelodygarth, Merthyr, vice-chairman of the previous council, did not seek re-election partly due to the desire of Davies, as the sitting councillor, David Davies, Glebeland, to contest the seat but also because Williams himself was visiting Palestine and Egypt.[17]

Penydarren by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Williams** 530
Conservative Dan Thomas 372
Majority 158

Pontypridd by-election

Following the re-election of Walter Morgan as alderman, Hopkin Smith Davies, who stood down in his favour, was returned amongst 'great enthusiasm'.[19]

Pontypridd by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hopkin Smith Davies* 478
Conservative R.l. Phillips 381
Liberal Patrick Gowan 320

Porth and Penygraig by-election

The election followed John Jones Griffiths's re-election as alderman.[19]

Porth and Penygraig by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J.R. Evans 641
Lib-Lab Thomas Evans 541
Majority 100
Liberal hold Swing

Resolven by-election

Following the election of Isaac Evans as alderman, Daniel Evans of Abergwynfi was elected in a four-cornered contest.[18]

Resolven by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Evans 388
Liberal Llew Howell 357
Liberal A. Russell Thomas 272
Liberal Edmund Law 194
Majority 31
Lib-Lab hold Swing

Treherbert by-election

Following the re-election of William Morgan as alderman, John Walters, who had stood down to enable Morgan to be re-elected, retained his seat.[19]

Treherbert by-election 1895
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Walters* 600
Independent W.H. Davies 307
Liberal hold Swing

References

  1. ↑ "County Council Elections. Result of the Polls". South Wales Daily News. 5 March 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "County Council Elections. Results of the Polls". Cardiff Times. 9 March 1895. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Etholiad Cynghor Sirol Morgannwg". Y Celt (Bala). 15 March 1895. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "The County Council Election". Merthyr Times. 7 February 1895. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 "County Council Elections. County of Glamorgan. Nominations.". South Wales Daily News. 26 February 1895. p. 7. Retrieved 11 November 2015.. A full list of nominations appears here.
  6. ↑ "The New County Councils". Evening Express. 27 February 1895. Retrieved 16 March 2014.. This source includes a list of nominations, including unopposed returns (although some wards are missing)
  7. ↑ "County Council Elections". Merthyr Times. 7 March 1895. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Nominations". Glamorgan Gazette. 1 March 1895. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "County Council Election". Glamorgan Gazette. 8 March 1895. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "County Council Elections". South Wales Daily News. 23 February 1895. p. 7. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Editorial". Merthyr Times. 7 March 1895. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Maesteg". Glamorgan Gazette. 8 March 1895. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Ogmore Division". Glamorgan Gazette. 8 March 1895. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Glamorganshire County Council. First Meeting". South Wales Daily Post. 15 March 1895. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  15. 1 2 "County Council Bye-Elections". Merthyr Times. 21 March 1895. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "County Council Bye-Elections. Noisy Proceedings at Aberdare.". Merthyr Times. 28 March 1895. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 "County Council Elections". Merthyr Times. 4 April 1895. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 "Glamorgan County Council. Bye-Election Results". Cambrian. 5 April 1895. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Glamorgan County Council. Result of the Bye-Elections". South Wales Daily Post. 2 April 1895. Retrieved 25 April 2014.

Bibliography

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, December 09, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.