Barnstaple (UK Parliament constituency)

Barnstaple
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
1885–1950
Number of members one
Replaced by North Devon and Torrington
1295–1885
Number of members two
Type of constituency County constituency

Barnstaple was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Barnstaple in Devon, in the South West of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, when its representation was reduced to a single member.

The constituency was created in 1295, and abolished for the 1950 general election. The town of Barnstaple is today represented by the North Devon constituency.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, and the Sessional Divisions of Bideford and Braunton.

1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, the Urban Districts of Ilfracombe, Lynton, and Northam, and the Rural Districts of Barnstaple and Bideford (including Lundy Island).

Members of Parliament

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1295–1885

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
1372 Thomas Raymond
Jan. 1377 Thomas Raymond
Oct. 1377 Thomas Raymond[1]
1385 John Grey[2]
1386 John Bidewell Jocelin Antony
February 1388 Thomas Norris II William Long
September 1388 John Sampford Roger Rede
January 1390 Thomas Norris II Robert Crook
1391 John Aston Robert Cobbley
1393 Richard Colecote John Herberd
1394 Thomas Norris II John Bidewell
1395 Thomas Norris II John Bidewell
January 1397 Robert Napton Thomas Holman
1399 Thomas Hoper Walter Spencer
1402 Robert Napton John But
1406 Thomas Holman alias Pyers John Luttrell
1407 John Bakwell John Hunt
1410 Alfred Wonston John Foxley
1411 Nicholas Broomford Alfred Wonston
May 1413 Thomas Haseley John Broomford
November 1414 John Pyne John Walwyn
1420 William Weldo Walter Prideaux
May 1421 John More II Richard Wood
December 1421 John Cokeworthy II Sir John Trebell
1427 Sir John Trebell
1512 John Culme John Goddisland
1515 John Goddisland ?
1529 Hugh Yeo Anthony Bury
1542 George Rolle ?
1545 George Rolle George Haydon
1547 Sir James Wilford died 1550 and repl. by
Sir Arthur Champernowne		 Bartholemew Traheron
1553 (Mar) William Gardiner Thomas Prideaux
1553 (Oct) Robert Carey Roger Worthe
1554 (Apr) Sir John Pollard George Ferrers
1554 (Nov) Robert Apley William Salusbury
1555 Robert Apley George Stapleton
1558 Richard Skinner William Salusbury
1558/9 Sir John Chichester John Darte
1562/3 Arthur Bassett Robert Apley
1571 Peter Wentworth[3] Robert Apley
1572 Vincent Skinner Robert Apley
1584 John Peryam Robert Prowse
1586 Thomas Hinson Lewis Darte
1588 Thomas Hinson John Doddridge
1593 George Chittinge Richard Leye
1597 Thomas Hinson George Peard
1601 Richard Martin[4] Edward Hancock
1604 Thomas Hinson George Peard
1614 John Gostlin[5] John Delbridge
1621 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge
1624 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge
1625 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge
1626 Sir Alexander St John John Delbridge
1628 Sir Alexander St John John Delbridge
1640 April George Peard Thomas Matthew
1640 November George Peard Richard Ferris
Peard died; Ferrers disabled
1646 Philip Skippon John Dodderidge
1653 Not represented in Barebones Parliament
1654 John Dodderidge
1656 Sir John Coppleston
1659 Sir John Coppleston George Walters
1660 John Rolle Nicholas Dennys
1661 Sir John Chichester
1667 Sir John Northcote
1677 John Basset
February 1679 Sir Hugh Acland
October 1679 Arthur Acland
1680 Richard Lee
1685 Sir Arthur Chichester
1689 Richard Lee
1690 Sir George Hutchins Arthur Champneys
1695 Sir Nicholas Hooper Tory
1705 Samuel Rolle
1708 Richard Acland
1713 Sir Arthur Chichester
1715 John Rolle
1718 John Basset
1721 Sir Hugh Acland
1722 Lieutenant-General Thomas Whetham
1727 Richard Coffin Theophilus Fortescue
1734 Sir John Chichester
1740 John Basset
1741 John Harris Henry Rolle
1747 Thomas Benson
1748 Sir Bourchier Wrey
1754 John Harris Whig George Amyand [6] Whig
1761 Denys Rolle
1766 John Clevland Whig
1774 William Devaynes
1780 Francis Basset
1784 William Devaynes
1796 Richard Wilson
1802 William Devaynes Captain Sir Edward Pellew
1804 Viscount Ebrington Whig
1806 William Taylor
1807 George Woodford Thellusson
January 1812 William Busk
October 1812 Sir Manasseh Masseh Lopes [7] Tory Sir Eyre Coote
1818 Francis Ommanney
1820 Michael Nolan
1824 Frederick Hodgson
1826 Henry Alexander
1830 Stephens Lyne-Stephens George Tudor
1831 Frederick Hodgson John Chichester Whig
1832 Charles St John Fancourt Conservative
1837 Frederick Hodgson Conservative
1841 Montague Gore Conservative
1847 Richard Bremridge Conservative Hon. John Fortescue Whig
1852 [8] Sir William Fraser Conservative
1854 John Laurie [9] Conservative Richard Samuel Guinness Conservative
1855 George Stucley Conservative
1857 John Laurie Conservative Sir William Fraser Conservative
1859 John Ferguson Davie Liberal George Potts Liberal
1863 Thomas Lloyd [10] Liberal
1864 Richard Bremridge Conservative
1865 Sir George Stucley Conservative Thomas Cave Liberal
1868 Charles Henry Williams Conservative
1874 Samuel Danks Waddy Liberal
February 1880 Newton Wallop Liberal
April 1880 Sir Robert Carden Conservative
1885 Representation reduced to one member

1885–1950

YearMemberParty
1885 George Pitt-Lewis Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1892 Alfred Billson Liberal
1895 Cameron Gull Liberal Unionist
1900 Ernest Soares Liberal
1911 Godfrey Baring Liberal
1918 Tudor Rees Liberal
1922 Basil Peto Conservative
1923 Tudor Rees Liberal
1924 Basil Peto Unionist
1935 Richard Acland Liberal
1942 Common Wealth
1945 Christopher Peto Conservative
1950 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1850s

General Election 1852: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Fraser 406 35.9
Conservative Richard Bremridge 393 34.7
Whig Hugh Fortescue[12] 332 29.4
Majority 61 5.4
Turnout 732 (est) 94.9 (est)
Registered electors 771
Conservative hold Swing
Conservative gain from Whig Swing

The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.[13]

By-election, 25 August 1854: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative John Laurie 333 35.4 −0.5
Conservative Richard Samuel Guinness 323 34.3 −0.4
Whig William Tite[14] 286 30.4 +1.0
Majority 37 3.9 −1.5
Turnout 614 (est) 78.3 (est) −16.6
Registered electors 784
Conservative hold Swing −0.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.5

Laurie's election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.[15]

By-election, 10 March 1855: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Buck Unopposed
Conservative hold
General Election 1857: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative William Fraser 344 34.7 −1.2
Conservative John Laurie 252 25.4 −9.3
Radical James Taylor[16] 180 18.2 N/A
Peelite George Potts[17] 179 18.1 N/A
Conservative Henry Thoby Prinsep 36 3.6 N/A
Majority 72 7.3 +1.9
Turnout 496 (est) 66.8 (est) −28.1
Registered electors 742
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
  • Prinsep withdrew from the election during polling.[18]
General Election 1859: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal John Ferguson Davie 348 34.0 +15.8
Liberal George Potts 266 26.0 +7.9
Conservative George Stucley 210 20.5 −4.9
Conservative William Fraser 199 19.5 −15.2
Majority 56 5.5 N/A
Turnout 512 (est) 73.8 (est) +7.0
Registered electors 693
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +12.9
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.0

Elections in the 1860s

Potts' death caused a by-election.

By-election, 20 Oct 1863: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Lloyd 305 51.8 −8.2
Conservative Richard Bremridge 284 48.2 +8.2
Majority 21 3.6 −1.9
Turnout 589 79.8 +6.0
Registered electors 738
Liberal hold Swing −8.2

On petition, Lloyd's election was declared void due to bribery and, on 15 April 1864, Bremridge was declared elected.[19]

General Election 1865: Barnstaple [11][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative George Stucley 364 28.9 +8.4
Liberal Thomas Cave 331 26.3 −7.7
Conservative Howell Gwyn 302 24.0 +4.5
Liberal Henry Hawkins 262 20.8 −5.2
Turnout 630 (est) 88.0 (est) +14.2
Registered electors 715
Majority 33 2.6 N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +7.4
Majority 29 2.3 −3.2
Liberal hold Swing −7.1
General Election 1868: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Cave 791 35.2 +8.9
Conservative Charles Henry Williams 788 35.1 −17.8
Liberal William Herbert Evans[21] 667 29.7 +8.9
Turnout 1,517 (est) 95.1 (est) +7.1
Registered electors 1,596
Majority 3 0.1 +2.2
Liberal hold Swing +8.9
Majority 121 5.4 +2.8
Conservative hold Swing −8.9

Elections in the 1870s

General Election 1874: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Thomas Cave 757 28.7 −6.5
Liberal Samuel Danks Waddy 675 25.6 −4.1
Conservative John Fleming 622 23.6 +6.0
Conservative John Holt[22] 580 22.0 +4.4
Majority 53 2.0 +1.9
Turnout 1,317 (est) 82.8 (est) −12.3
Registered electors 1,591
Liberal hold Swing −5.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −5.1

Elections in the 1880s

Waddy resigned in order to contest Sheffield, causing a by-election.

By-election, 12 Feb 1880: Barnstaple [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Newton Wallop 817 53.1 −1.2
Conservative Robert Carden 721 46.9 +1.3
Majority 96 6.2 +4.2
Turnout 1,538 93.4 +10.6 (est)
Registered electors 1,646
Liberal hold Swing −1.3
General Election 1880: Barnstaple (two seats)[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Robert Carden 856 35.9 +12.3
Liberal Newton Wallop 811 34.0 +5.3
Liberal Henry Grenfell[23] 720 30.2 +4.6
Majority 45 1.9 N/A
Turnout 1,194 (est) 72.5 (est) −10.3 (est)
Registered electors 1,646
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.5
Liberal hold Swing −0.8
Kekewich
General Election 1885: Barnstaple [24][25][26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal George Pitt-Lewis 4,577 55.1 −9.1
Conservative Arthur Kekewich 3,734 44.9 +9.0
Majority 843 10.2 N/A
Turnout 8,311 81.6 +9.1 (est)
Registered electors 10,189
Liberal win
General Election 1886: Barnstaple [24][25][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist George Pitt-Lewis 4,222 58.8 +13.9
Liberal Isaac Leadam 2,960 41.2 -13.9
Majority 1,262 17.6 N/A
Turnout 7,182 70.5 -11.1
Registered electors 10,189
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +13.9

Elections in the 1890s

Billson
General Election 1892: Barnstaple [24][25][27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Alfred Billson 4,383 50.9 +9.7
Liberal Unionist W Leedham White 4,236 49.1 -9.7
Majority 147 1.8 N/A
Turnout 8,619 82.5 +12.0
Registered electors 10,442
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +9.7
Gull
General Election 1895: Barnstaple [24][25][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Unionist Cameron Gull 4,825 51.2 +2.1
Liberal Alfred Billson 4,593 48.8 -2.1
Majority 232 2.4 N/A
Turnout 9,418 86.5 +4.0
Registered electors 10,885
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +2.1

Elections in the 1900s

General Election 1900: Barnstaple [24][25][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest Soares 5,007 51.8 +3.0
Liberal Unionist Cameron Gull 4,660 48.2 −3.0
Majority 347 3.6 N/A
Turnout 9,667 81.1 -5.4
Registered electors 11,916
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +3.0
Soares election card
General Election 1906: Barnstaple [24][25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest Soares 6,510 59.3 +7.5
Conservative Edgar Horne 4,465 40.7 −7.5
Majority 2,045 18.6 +15.0
Turnout 10,975 85.0 +3.9
Registered electors 12,908
Liberal hold Swing +7.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Barnstaple [24][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest Soares 6,236 53.8 -5.5
Liberal Unionist George Borwick 5,354 46.2 +5.5
Majority 882 7.6 -11.0
Turnout 88.3 +3.3
Liberal hold Swing -5.5
By-election, March 1910: Barnstaple [24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest Soares Unopposed
Liberal hold
General Election December 1910: Barnstaple [24][29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Ernest Soares 6,047 54.0 +0.2
Liberal Unionist Charles Sandbach Parker 5,155 46.0 -0.2
Majority 892 8.0 +0.4
Turnout 85.3 -3.0
Liberal hold Swing +0.2
Baring
Barnstaple by-election, 1911
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Godfrey Baring 6,239 52.0 -2.0
Liberal Unionist Charles Sandbach Parker 5,751 48.0 +2.0
Majority 4.0 -4.0
Turnout 88.2
Liberal hold Swing -2.0

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

  • Liberal:
  • Unionist: Charles Sandbach Parker
General Election 1918: Barnstaple [30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Tudor Rees 11,281 51.4 -0.6
Unionist Charles Sandbach Parker 10,679 48.6 +0.6
Majority 602 2.8 -1.2
Turnout 69.1 -19.1
Liberal hold Swing -0.6

Both candidates supported the Coalition Government; Rees may have received its endorsement.

Elections in the 1920s

General Election 1922: Barnstaple [31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Basil Peto 13,793 50.3 +1.7
Liberal Tudor Rees 13,619 49.7 -1.7
Majority 174 0.6 3.4
Turnout 83.1 +14.0
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +1.7
General Election 1923: Barnstaple [32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Tudor Rees 14,880 50.1 +0.4
Unionist Basil Peto 13,614 45.8 -4.5
Labour Richard W. Gifford 1,225 4.1 n/a
Majority 1,266 4.3 4.9
Turnout 87.6 +4.5
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +2.5
General Election 1924: Barnstaple [33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Basil Peto 15,479 52.0 +6.2
Liberal Tudor Rees 14,284 48.0 -2.1
Majority 1,195 4.0 8.3
Turnout 85.9
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +4.1
General Election 1929: Barnstaple [34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Unionist Basil Peto 17,382 45.9 -6.1
Liberal David Marshall Mason 16,593 43.9 -4.1
Labour Donald Evan Mullins 3,864 10.2 n/a
Majority 789 2.0 2.0
Turnout
Unionist hold Swing -1.0

Elections in the 1930s

General Election 1931: Barnstaple [35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Basil Peto 20,028 52.2 +6.3
Liberal Richard Acland 18,318 47.8 +3.9
Majority 1,710 4.5 +2.5
Turnout 38,346 86.3
Conservative hold Swing +1.2
General Election 1935: Barnstaple [36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Richard Acland 19,432 50.6
Conservative Benjamin Lampard-Vachell 18,978 49.4
Majority 454 1.2
Turnout 83.8
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing

General Election 1939/40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1940s

General Election 1945: Barnstaple [38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Christopher Peto 17,822 42.6
Liberal Mark Bonham Carter 13,752 32.9
Labour Ivor Arthur Jack Williams 10,237 24.5
Majority 4,070 9.7
Turnout 41,811 75.8
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

Notes

  1. ↑ Woodger, L. S. "RAYMOND, Thomas (d.1418), of Simpson in Holsworthy, Devon". In Roskell, J.S.; Clark, L.; Rawcliffe, C. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Woodger, L. S. "GREY, John I (d.1413), of Exeter, Devon". In Roskell, J.S.; Clark, L.; Rawcliffe, C. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. ↑  Lee, Sidney, ed. (1899). "Wentworth, Peter (1530?-1596)". Dictionary of National Biography. 60. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 261.
  4. ↑  William Wroth, Warwick (1893). "Martin, Richard (1570–1618)". In Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography. 36. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 291–292.
  5. ↑  Venn, John (1890). "Gostlin, John (1566?–1626)". In Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography. 22. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 256.
  6. ↑ Created a baronet, 1764
  7. ↑ Lopes was re-elected at the general election of 1818, but on petition was unseated for bribery
  8. ↑ At the election of 1852 Fraser and Bremridge were declared elected, but on petition the election was declared void and the constituency's writ was suspended. After investigation by a Royal Commission, a new writ was issued and a by-election was held
  9. ↑ Laurie's election at the by-election of 1854 was declared void on petition, and a second by-election held
  10. ↑ On petition, Lloyd's election was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes Bremridge was declared duly elected
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  12. ↑  Sanders, Lloyd Charles (1912). "Fortescue, Hugh". Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  13. ↑ "Barnstaple". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. 17 September 1853. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  14. ↑ Bartlett, Peter (1999). "1859 and its Aftermath". The Poor Law of Lunacy: The Administration of Pauper Lunatics in Mid-Nineteenth-Century England. London: Leicester University Press. p. 218. ISBN 0718501047. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Barnstaple Election Committee". Chelmsford Chronicle. 9 March 1855. p. 4. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  16. ↑ "Election Movements". Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser. 21 March 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  17. ↑ "North Devon". Western Times. 4 April 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  18. ↑ "Barnstaple Election". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 4 April 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  19. ↑ "The Barnstaple Election Petition". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 15 April 1864. p. 5. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  20. ↑ "Barnstaple Election". Hertford Mercury and Reformer. 22 July 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  21. ↑ "To the Electors of Barnstaple". North Devon Journal. 26 November 1868. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  22. ↑ "Barnstaple Election". North Devon Journal. 9 October 1873. p. 1. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  23. ↑ "Mr H. R. Grenfell". North Devon Journal. 25 Mar 1880. p. 9. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, FWS Craig
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  26. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  27. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1896
  28. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  29. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  30. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  31. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  32. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  33. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  34. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  35. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  36. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig
  37. ↑ The Liberal Magazine, 1939
  38. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

References

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