Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)

Wallingford
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1295–1885

Wallingford was a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It was a parliamentary borough created in 1295, centred on the market town Wallingford in Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire). It used to return two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons; this was cut to one in 1832, and the constituency was abolished in 1885. The town of Wallingford is now within the constituency of Wantage.

History

Before 1832 the borough consisted only of the town of Wallingford, which by the 19th century was divided into four parishes. The franchise was limited to (male) inhabitants paying scot and lot, a local tax. Namier and Brooke estimated that the number of electors in the mid-18th century was about 200; but the number fluctuated considerably with the fortunes of the town, which had no manufacturing interests and considerable unemployment at some periods. There were never enough voters to avoid the risk of corruption, and systematic bribery generally prevailed, with anything up to 150 votes being bought and sold at any one election. (In 1754, Thomas Sewell, one of the Whig candidates, spent over £1000 of his own money and not only was this reimbursed from the "secret service" funds but the government spent further money unsuccessfully attempting to secure him a seat in Wallingford.) By the 19th century Wallingford was regarded as one of the worst of the rotten boroughs, and Oldfield recorded in 1816 that the price of a vote was 40 guineas.

The 1831 census found the borough had a population of approximately 2,500, and 485 houses. Under the Reform Act 1832, the constituency was allowed to survive and to keep one of its two MPs, but the boundaries were considerably extended, taking in the Wallingford Castle precincts, which had previously been excluded, and all or part of a dozen neighbouring parishes including Benson and Crowmarsh, and part of Cholsey. This change of boundaries almost trebled the population, but the effect on the electorate was much smaller. According to the reports on which the Reform Act was based, Wallingford had about 300 men qualified to vote in 1831 (though no more than 230 had ever voted in the previous thirty years). Yet despite the widening of the right to vote, which preserved the ancient right voters of the borough while adding new electors on an occupation franchise, there were only 453 names on the 1832 electoral register for the extended borough. (Stooks Smith records that 166 of these claimed their vote as scot and lot payers, while 287 qualified as £10 occupiers; but many of the latter group presumably paid scot and lot within the old boundaries and could have voted before the Reform Act.)

In 1868 the franchise was further extended and there were 942 registered electors, but the constituency was much too small to survive the Third Reform Act, and was abolished with effect from the general election of 1885. The constituency was mostly included in the new Berkshire North or Abingdon county constituency, but Benson and the other parts of the extended borough on the Oxfordshire side of the Thames were placed in the Oxfordshire South or Henley division of that county.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1302 Osbert de Notele William Clericus
1304 Nicholas de la Barre William Mareschal
1306 Nicholas de la Barre Richard de Cippenham
1306 John Mariot Osbert de Notele
1307 Nicholas de la Barre John Mariot
1309 Thomas de Morton Thomas Bene
1311 Nicholas de la Barre Osbert de Notele
1311 Nicholas de la Barre Osbert de Notele
1312 Nicholas de la Barre Richard de Cippenham
1313 Nicholas de la Barre William Butty
1314 Walter at Russhe William Butty
1314/5 Osbert de Notele Thomas Bone
1318 Thomas Garston Thomas Bone
1327 John Osbern Richard Grotard
1320 Thomas Bone Thomas Bortorat
1321 Nicholas de la Barre John Osbern
1322 Reginald de Bradebourn Alexander le Vacher
1322 Thomas at Gaston Alexander le Vacher
1323 Osbert de Notele

Reginald de Bradebourn

1325 Robert Butty Richard Reswald
1327 John Osbern Roger de Saucer
1328 Thomas Bone John Osbern
1328 John Osbern John Breton
1329 John Mariot William Arnyot
1330 John Mariot Robert Butty
1331 John Mariot Robert Butty
1331 Thomas Bone William de Dene
1333 John Mariot John de Preston
1335 William de Cornwall Philip Preston
1335 William de Cornwall Thomas Bone
1336 William de Cornwall Edmund Bonham
1336 William de Cornwall Thomas Bone
1337 John Mariot William de Cornwall
1337 John Mariot William de Cornwall
1338 William le Goldsmith John Berewyk
1338 John Mariot William Arnyat
1339 John Stacy Thomas Batheshall
1339 Robert Butty William le Goldsmith
1341 John Mariot Robert Butty
1344 Roger Tylewyne John Berewyk
1347 John atte Ruysshe John at Barston
1348 Philip de Preston William le Goldsmith
1350/1 William Harewell Thomas Reynald
1355 John Louch John Brightwalton
1357/8 Robert Berot John Heronn
1360 John Louch John Andrew
1360 Nicholas Payable Roger Preston
1362 William Harewell Henry Redyng
1363 William Harewell Alexander Absolan
1364 John James Roger Preston
1366 John James Nicholas Payable
1368 Nicholas Tanner
1369 John James Nicholas Tanner
1370 John James Richard Attefelde
1371 John James Richard Attefelde
1372 Richard Attefelde Roger Melbourne
1373 Thomas Grove Roger Arnyate
1375 John James Richard Attefelde
1376 Thomas Beneshef Henry de Bedyng
1377 Thomas Reynald Richard Attefelde
1378 Roger Arnyate
1379/80 Roger Melbourne Walter Hervy
1381 Roger Melbourne
1383 Thomas Grove Robert Oxenford
1383 Roger Melbourne John Kerre
1383 Roger Arnyate John Kerre
1384 Thomas Grove John Lyttel
1384 Thomas Grove Walter Harby
1385 Thomas Beneshef Robert Oxenford
1386 Thomas Beneshef John Derby
1387 Thomas Beneshef Roger Melbourne
1388 Richard de Brugge John Bernard
1389 John Cotterell Roger Melbourne
1391 Richard Hovelock William Hende
1392 John Cotterell William Cary
1393 John Cotterell John Derby
1394 John Cotterell John Derby
1396 John Cotterell Robert Oxenford
1397 John Cotterell Walter Colete
1399 Walter Hervy John Culham
1405/6 William Essex Walter Hyndon
1407 John Culham William Clowd
1409/10 John Cotterell William Cotterell
1413 Thomas Ravening Lewis John
1413/4 Robert Deffonte Robert Carswell
1419 John Denby Richard Algate
1420 John Cotterell Richard Algate
1421 John Cotterell John Mercham
1421 John Warfeld William Bodyngton
1422 John Warfeld Laurence Haweman
1423 Laurence Haweman Henry Payne
1429 John Mercham Thomas Jones
1425/6 Laurence Haweman John Denby
1427 John Warfeld William Borde
1429 John Warfeld Laurence Haweman
1430/1 John Warfeld Thomas Ramsey
1432 John Warfeld William Bodyngton
1433 John Warfeld William Bodyngton
1435 John Warfeld William Borde
1436/7 John Warfeld William Borde
1441/2 John Bruggewater John Stoke
1446 John Stoke Robert Dalby
1448 Thomas Carlyll Henry Herleton
1449 Robert Hopton Thomas Browne
1450 Henry Spencer Richard Bulstrode
1452/3 Thomas Preston John Burgh
1459 Richard Houghton Henry Spencer
1460 William Bedeston John Bydon
1467 John Colynggrugge Robert Hopton
1472 Thomas Roos Thomas Ashynden
1477/8 Thomas Wode Thomas Vynsent
1529 Edward Chamberlain Godelacius Overton
1536 Thomas Denton
1547 Sir Thomas Parry Henry Hontley
1552-3 Sir Thomas Parry George Wright
1553 George Wright Edmund Plowden
1554 Edmund Ashfield Anthony Butler
1554 Edmund Ashfield Robert Cockson
1555 Sir Thomas Parry Thomas Mynde
1557 Thomas Mynde Radulphus Pollyngton
1558-9 Thomas Mynde John Fortesque
1563 William Dunch Thomas Browne
1571 Sir Edmund Dunch Thomas Dudley
1572 Thomas Digges John Fortesque
1584 Christopher Edmonds Richard Knollys
1586 Richard Knollys Thomas Stampe
1588/9 Michael Molyns Thomas Stampe
1592/3 Thomas Fortescue Anthony Bacon
1597 Thomas Fortescue Owen Oglethorpe
1601 (Sir John Herbert) sat for Glamorgan
and repl. by Thomas Fortescue		 Henry Doyley
1604 Sir William Dunch Griffith Payne
1614 Sir Carew Reynell Sir George Simeon
1621–1622 Sir George Simeon Samuel Dunch
1624 (Sir Edward Howard) sat for Calne, Wiltshire
and replaced by Sir Anthony Forrest		 Sir George Simeon
1625 Sir Anthony Forrest Michael Molyns
1625 Sir Anthony Forrest Unton Croke
1628–1629 Sir Robert Knollys Edmund Dunch
1629–1640No parliaments summoned

1640–1832

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
April 1660 Robert Packer Hungerford Dunch[1]
June 1660 Thomas Saunders
1661 Hon. George Fane
1663 Sir John Bennet
February 1679 John Stone Scorey Barker
August 1679 William Lenthall
1681 Taverner Harris
1685 John Stone John Holloway
1689 Thomas Tipping William Jennens
1690 John Wallis
1695 Sir Thomas Tipping
1698 Richard Pye
1701 William Jennens Thomas Renda
1705 Clement Kent
1708 Grey Neville
1709 Thomas Renda
1710 Simon Harcourt
1713 Richard Bigg
1714 Thomas Renda
1715 Edmund Dunch Whig William Hucks
1719 Henry Grey Whig
1722 Viscount Parker
1727 George Lewen
1734 Thomas Tower
1740 Joseph Townsend
1741 John Bance John Rush
1747 Joseph Townsend Richard Tonson
1754 John Hervey Richard Neville Aldworth Bedford Whig
1761 Sir John Gibbons, Bt
1765 Sir George Pigot, Bt[2]
1768 Robert Pigot John Aubrey
1772 John Cator
1774 Sir Robert Barker
1780 Chaloner Arcedeckne John Aubrey
1784 Sir Francis Sykes, Bt
1784 Thomas Aubrey
1790 Nathaniel Wraxall
1794 Francis Sykes Tory
1796 The Lord Eardley Whig Tory
1802 William Hughes Whig
1804 George Galway Mills
1806 Richard Benyon Tory
1812 Ebenezer Fuller Maitland Tory
1820 George James Robarts Whig
1826 Robert Knight Whig
1831 Thomas Leigh Whig

1832–1885

YearMemberPartyNote
1832 William Seymour Blackstone Conservative
1852 Richard Malins Conservative
1865 Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bt Liberal
1868 Stanley Vickers Conservative Died 24 February 1872
1872 Edward Wells Conservative
1880 Walter Wren Liberal Election declared void, on petition, 19 June 1880
1880 Pandeli Ralli Liberal

Notes

  1. ↑ Dunch was also elected for Cricklade, which he chose to represent, and did not sit for Wallingford
  2. ↑ The Lord Pigot from 1766

Elections

Electoral system: The bloc vote electoral system was used in two seat elections and first past the post for single member elections. Each voter had up to as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings (until the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).

Percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate, in one or both successive elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual percentage vote.

Sources (unless otherwise indicated): (1754–1784) Namier and Brooke; (1790–1831) Stooks Smith; (1832–1880) Craig. Where Stooks Smith gives additional information or differs from the other sources this is indicated in a note after the result.

Swing: Positive swing is from Whig/Liberal to Tory/Conservative. Negative swing is from Tory/Conservative to Whig/Liberal.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
1750-1760s – 1770-1780s –

1790s – 1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s

Elections in the 1750-1760s

General Election 15 April 1754: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Hervey Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Neville Aldworth Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Thomas Sewell Defeated N/A N/A
Non Partisan The 5th Viscount Castlecomer 1 Defeated N/A N/A
General Election 25 March 1761: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Hervey Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Sir John Gibbons, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 15 January 1765: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir George Pigot, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 16 March 1768: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Aubrey 69 39.66 N/A
Non Partisan Robert Pigot 67 38.51 N/A
Non Partisan Sir John Gibbons, Bt 38 21.84 N/A
Turnout 174 N/A N/A

Elections in the 1770-1780s

By-Election 27 January 1772: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Cator 90 52.94 N/A
Non Partisan Robert Pigot 80 47.06 N/A
Majority 10 5.88 N/A
Turnout 170 N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 8 October 1774: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Cator Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Sir Robert Barker Elected N/A N/A
Non Partisan Thomas Francis Wenman Defeated N/A N/A
Non Partisan William Nedham Defeated N/A N/A
General Election 8 September 1780: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Aubrey Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Chaloner Arcedeckne Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 15 July 1782: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Aubrey Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
By-Election 30 December 1783: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan John Aubrey 113 66.08 N/A
Non Partisan Thomas Keating 58 33.92 N/A
Majority 55 32.16 N/A
Turnout 171 N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
By-Election January 1784: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir Francis Sykes, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan hold Swing N/A
General Election 31 March 1784: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir Francis Sykes, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Thomas Aubrey Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1790s

General Election 1790: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sir Francis Sykes, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Nathaniel William Wraxall Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election March 1794: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Francis Sykes Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory gain from Non Partisan Swing N/A
General Election 1796: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Sir Francis Sykes, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig The Lord Eardley 1

Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1800s

General Election 1802: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Sir Francis Sykes, Bt Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election February 1804: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan George Galway Mills Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan gain from Tory Swing N/A
General Election 1806: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Richard Benyon Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1807: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Richard Benyon Unopposed N/A N/A

Elections in the 1810s

General Election 1812: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
Tory Ebenezer Fuller Maitland Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1818: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Elected N/A N/A
Tory Ebenezer Fuller Maitland Elected N/A N/A
Whig George James Robarts Defeated N/A N/A

Elections in the 1820s

General Election 1820: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Elected N/A N/A
Whig George James Robarts Elected N/A N/A
Tory Ebenezer Fuller Maitland Defeated N/A N/A
General Election 1826: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes 151 42.42 N/A
Whig George James Robarts 125 35.11 N/A
Tory John Dodson 80 22.47 N/A
Turnout 356 N/A N/A
By-Election December 1826: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Knight 117 58.21 N/A
Tory John Bailey 84 41.79 N/A
Majority 33 16.42 N/A
Turnout 201 N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1830s

General Election 1830: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Robert Knight Unopposed N/A N/A
General Election 1831: Wallingford (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Lewis Hughes Unopposed N/A N/A
Whig Robert Knight Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election September 1831: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Thomas Charles Leigh 119 63.64 N/A
Tory William Seymour Blackstone 68 36.36 N/A
Majority 51 27.27 N/A
Turnout 187 N/A N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General Election 1832: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Seymour Blackstone 202 55.04 +18.68
Liberal Charles Eyston 165 44.96 -18.68
Majority 37 10.08 N/A
Turnout 367 81.02 N/A
Registered electors 453
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +18.68
General Election 1835: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Seymour Blackstone Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 366
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1837: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Seymour Blackstone 159 57.40 N/A
Liberal Thomas Teed 118 42.60 N/A
Majority 41 14.80 N/A
Turnout 277 83.18 N/A
Registered electors 333
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1840s

General Election 1841: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Seymour Blackstone Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 386
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1847: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Seymour Blackstone 166 51.88 N/A
Liberal Alfred Morrison 154 48.13 N/A
Majority 12 3.75 N/A
Turnout 320 80.40 N/A
Registered electors 398
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1850s

General Election 1852: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Malins 174 50.88 -1.00
Liberal Alfred Morrison 168 49.12 +0.99
Majority 6 1.75 -2.00
Turnout 342 79.91 -0.49
Registered electors 428
Conservative hold Swing -1.00
General Election 1857: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Malins 149 52.46 +1.58
Liberal A. Sartoris 135 47.54 -1.58
Majority 14 4.93 +3.18
Turnout 284 76.55 -3.36
Registered electors 371
Conservative hold Swing +1.58
General Election 1859: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Malins Unopposed N/A N/A
Registered electors 381
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1860s

General Election 1865: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bt 158 54.48 N/A
Conservative Richard Malins 132 45.52 N/A
Majority 26 8.97 N/A
Turnout 290 81.23 N/A
Registered electors 357
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
General Election 1868: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Stanley Vickers 453 55.86 +10.34
Liberal Sir Wentworth Dilke, Bt 358 44.14 -10.34
Majority 95 11.71 N/A
Turnout 811 86.09 +4.86
Registered electors 942
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.34

Elections in the 1870s

By-Election 9 March 1872: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Wells Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General Election 1874: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Wells 575 56.82 N/A
Liberal E. Jones 437 43.18 N/A
Majority 138 13.64 N/A
Turnout 1,012 88.69 N/A
Registered electors 1,141
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General Election 1880: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Walter Wren 582 51.83 +8.65
Conservative Edward Wells 541 48.17 -8.65
Majority 41 3.65 N/A
Turnout 1,123 91.60 +2.91
Registered electors 1,226
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing -8.65
By-Election 1 July 1880: Wallingford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Pandeli Ralli 567 50.85 -0.98
Conservative Robert William Hanbury 548 49.15 +0.98
Majority 19 1.70 -1.95
Turnout 1,115 90.95 -0.65
Registered electors 1,226
Liberal hold Swing +0.98

Notes:-

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.