Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Worcestershire, Mid or Droitwich Division | |
---|---|
Former Borough constituency |
Droitwich was the name of a
History
The borough consisted of three parishes and parts of two others in the town of
Although these details of the franchise were unique to Droitwich, in practice it in many ways resembled a burgage borough, and like most of those came under the influence of a local magnate. The Foley family, Worcestershire industrialists, controlled Droitwich from the middle of the 17th century, although they seem to have allowed the townspeople to choose one of the two members at some periods. There was no contested election between 1747 and 1832, and by the time of the Reform Act it was estimated that only 28 men had the right to vote.
In 1831, the population of the borough was 2,487, and contained 533 houses. However, the boundaries were revised by the provisions of the
There was a further slight enlargement of the boundaries to the east in 1868. However, the constituency was not big enough to keep its MP under the
The constituency was abolished in 1918, being divided between the redrawn Kidderminster and Evesham constituencies.
Members of Parliament
Droitwich borough
MPs 1554–1660
The constituency was re-established during the reign of Queen Mary I. The following were members of Parliament during the succeeding period:[1]
MPs 1660–1832
Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1660 | Samuel Sandys I | Thomas Coventry | ||||
1661 | Samuel Sandys II | Henry Coventry[1] | ||||
1681 | Samuel Sandys I | |||||
1685 | Samuel Sandys II | Whig
|
Thomas Windsor | Tory
| ||
1689 | The Earl of Bellomont | Whig
| ||||
1690 | Philip Foley | Country Whig
| ||||
1695 | Edward Harley | Tory
|
Charles Cocks | Whig
| ||
1698 | Thomas Foley | Tory
| ||||
1699 | Thomas Foley | Tory
| ||||
February 1701 | Philip Foley | Tory
| ||||
November 1701 | Edward Foley | Tory
| ||||
1708 | Edward Winnington from 1709 Jeffreys[2] |
Tory
| ||||
1711 | Richard Foley | Tory
| ||||
1726 | Thomas Winnington[3] | Whig
| ||||
1732 | Edward Foley | Tory
| ||||
1741 | Thomas Foley, later Lord Foley | Tory
| ||||
1742 | Lord George Bentinck
|
Whig
| ||||
July 1747 [4] | Francis Winnington | |||||
December 1747 | Edwin Sandys | Tory
| ||||
1754 | Thomas Foley, later Lord Foley | Whig
|
Robert Harley
|
Tory
| ||
May 1768 | Edward Foley[5] | |||||
April 1774 | Andrew Foley[6] | Whig[7]
| ||||
May 1774 | Rowland Berkeley | |||||
October 1774 | Thomas Foley, later 2nd Lord Foley | Whig[7]
| ||||
1777 | Sir Edward Winnington, Bt | Whig[7]
| ||||
1805 | Thomas Foley | Whig[7]
| ||||
1807 | Sir Thomas Winnington, Bt | Whig[7]
| ||||
1816 | The Earl of Sefton | Whig[7]
| ||||
1819 | Thomas Foley | Whig[7]
| ||||
1822 | John Hodgetts-Foley | Whig[7]
| ||||
1831 | Sir Thomas Winnington | Whig[7]
| ||||
1832 | Representation reduced to one member |
MPs 1832–1885
Election | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1832 | John Hodgetts-Foley | ||
1835 | John Barneby | Conservative[7] | |
1837 | Sir John Pakington | Conservative[7] | |
1874 | John Corbett | Liberal | |
1885 | Borough abolished – county division established |
Mid or Droitwich Division of Worcestershire
MPs 1885–1918
Election | Member | Party | |
---|---|---|---|
1885 | John Corbett | Liberal | |
1886 | Liberal Unionist | ||
1892 | Richard Martin | Liberal Unionist | |
1906 | Cecil Harmsworth | Liberal | |
Jan. 1910 | John Lyttelton | Liberal Unionist | |
1916 b-e | Herbert Whiteley
|
Unionist
| |
1918 | Constituency abolished |
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William Molyneux | Unopposed | |||
Whig | John Hodgetts-Foley | Unopposed | |||
Whig hold | |||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | John Hodgetts-Foley | Unopposed | |||
Whig | Thomas Winnington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | c. 28 | ||||
Whig hold | |||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | John Hodgetts-Foley | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 243 | ||||
Whig hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Barneby | 128 | 50.6 | ||
Whig | John Hodgetts-Foley | 125 | 49.4 | ||
Majority | 3 | 1.2 | |||
Turnout | 253 | 88.8 | |||
Registered electors | 285 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig |
On petition, Barneby's tally was reduced to 125, and Foley's to 124.[7]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 341 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1840s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 347 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 346 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1850s
Pakington was appointed Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 367 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 371 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Pakington was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 394 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Elections in the 1860s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 400 | ||||
Conservative hold |
Pakington was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Pakington was appointed Secretary of State for War, requiring a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | Unopposed | |||
Conservative hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | John Pakington | 790 | 56.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | John Corbett | 603 | 43.3 | New | |
Majority | 187 | 13.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,393 | 90.9 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 1,532 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1870s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Corbett | 787 | 66.2 | +22.9 | |
Conservative | John Pakington | 401 | 33.8 | −22.9 | |
Majority | 386 | 32.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,188 | 86.3 | −4.6 | ||
Registered electors | 1,377 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +22.9 |
Elections in the 1880s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Corbett | 857 | 70.8 | +4.6 | |
Conservative | George Allsopp
|
348 | 28.8 | −5.0 | |
Liberal | Ernest B. A. Jones[12] | 5 | 0.4 | N/A | |
Majority | 509 | 42.0 | +9.6 | ||
Turnout | 1,210 | 85.9 | −0.4 | ||
Registered electors | 1,408 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +4.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Corbett | Unopposed | |||
Liberal hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
John Corbett | 4,031 | 59.3 | New | |
Liberal | Arthur James Dadson[15] | 2,761 | 40.7 | N/A | |
Majority | 1,270 | 18.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 6,792 | 71.6 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 9,484 | ||||
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal
|
Swing | N/A |
Elections in the 1890s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
Richard Martin | 3,980 | 53.9 | −5.4 | |
Liberal | Thomas English Stephens[17] | 3,410 | 46.1 | +5.4 | |
Majority | 570 | 7.8 | −10.8 | ||
Turnout | 7,390 | 75.5 | +3.9 | ||
Registered electors | 9,786 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold
|
Swing | −5.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
Richard Martin | Unopposed | |||
Liberal Unionist hold
|
Elections in the 1900s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
Richard Martin | 4,020 | 51.7 | N/A | |
Liberal | Cecil Harmsworth | 3,752 | 48.3 | New | |
Majority | 268 | 3.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,772 | 76.4 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,175 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold
|
Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Cecil Harmsworth | 5,165 | 52.8 | +4.5 | |
Conservative | Eric Ayshford Knight | 4,611 | 47.2 | −4.5 | |
Majority | 554 | 5.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,776 | 86.6 | +10.2 | ||
Registered electors | 11,283 | ||||
Liberal Unionist
|
Swing | +4.5 |
Elections in the 1910s
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
John Lyttelton | 5,078 | 50.5 | +3.3 | |
Liberal | Cecil Harmsworth | 4,973 | 49.5 | −3.3 | |
Majority | 105 | 1.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 10,051 | 89.7 | +1.1 | ||
Registered electors | 11,200 | ||||
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal
|
Swing | +3.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist
|
John Lyttelton | 4,880 | 50.4 | −0.1 | |
Liberal | Clifford H Brookes | 4,808 | 49.6 | +0.1 | |
Majority | 72 | 0.8 | −0.2 | ||
Turnout | 9,688 | 86.5 | −3.2 | ||
Registered electors | 11,200 | ||||
Liberal Unionist hold
|
Swing | −0.1 |
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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
- Unionist: John Lyttelton
- Liberal: Clifford H Brookes[20]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist
|
Herbert Whiteley
|
Unopposed | |||
Unionist hold
|
References
- ^ a b 1557–1640, 1659, 1681: Treadway Russell Nash, History and Antiquities of the County of Worcester I (1782), introduction, xxxii.
- ^ Winnington changed his name to Jeffreys during the Parliament of 1708–10
- ^ Winnington was re-elected at the election of 1741 but had also been elected for Worcester, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Droitwich
- ^ At the election of 1747 the returning officer made a double return, naming Thomas Foley, Francis Winnington and Samuel Masham as elected; after the consideration the Commons committee declared Winnington and Edwin Sandys (who had petitioned against the result) as the duly elected members
- ^ Thomas Foley elected to sit for Herefordshire, replaced by Edward Foley
- ^ Robert Harley died 15 March 1774 and replaced by Andrew Foley
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 129–130. Retrieved 18 August 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Elections". Worcester Journal. 29 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Election Intelligence". Morning Post. 22 July 1847. p. 3. Retrieved 19 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b Salmon, Philip. "Droitwich". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
- ^ "Great Liberal Meeting at the Music Hall". Worcestershire Chronicle. 27 March 1880. p. 8. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c The Liberal Year Book, 1908
- ^ ISBN 9781349022984.
- ^ [16 Jul 1886 "Droitwich"]. Diss Express. 16 July 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
{{cite news}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - ^ a b c d e British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
- ^ "A Liberal for the Droitwich Division". Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette. 25 November 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons, 1901
- ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons, 1918
- ^ Birmingham Daily Post 29 Jan 1914
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Michael Kinnear, The British Voter (London: BH Batsford, Ltd, 1968)
- Henry Pelling, Social Geography of British Elections 1885–1910 (London: Macmillan, 1967)
- J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
- Edward Porritt and Annie G Porritt, The Unreformed House of Commons (Cambridge University Press, 1903)
- Frederic A Youngs, jr, "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Vol II" (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 3)