Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Bridgwater
County constituency
for the House of Commons
South West England - Bridgwater constituency.svg
Boundary of Bridgwater in South West England
County Somerset
Electorate 71,418 (2023) [1]
Major settlements Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, North Petherton
Current constituency
Created 2024
Member of Parliament Ashley Fox (Conservative)
Created from Bridgwater & West Somerset
1885–2010
SeatsOne
Type of constituency County constituency
Created from West Somerset
Replaced by Bridgwater & West Somerset
1295–1870
SeatsTwo
Type of constituency Borough constituency
Replaced by West Somerset

Bridgwater is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Ashley Fox of the Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Contents

From 2010 to 2024 it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat has been re-established for the 2024 general election, primarily formed from the now abolished of Bridgwater and West Somerset seat but excluding the area comprising the former District of West Somerset. [2]

History

Bridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of Parliament since 1295, the Model Parliament.

The original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. From 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset.

From Parliament's enactment of the major Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which took effect at the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created, which lasted with modifications until 2010. The constituency expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself from 1885.

Bridgwater frequently compared to other seats had a radical or game-changing representative, though since 1950 this became less noticeable in its candidates elected.

The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour and Liberal parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative candidate, but to instead jointly back an independent standing on a platform of opposition to the Government's foreign policy, in the hope that this would be the precursor to the formation of a more general Popular Front of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain in anticipation of the General Election due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett stood as the independent Popular Front candidate and achieved a sensational victory in what was hitherto a Conservative seat. He represented the constituency for the next twelve years.

In 1970 another by-election in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds were able to vote in a UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative, Ian Liddell-Grainger, until its abolition in 2010.

Liddell-Grainger served as the MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset from 2010 to 2024, but opted to stand at the 2024 general election for the new seat of Tiverton and Minehead, which he failed to win. Ashley Fox was selected as the Conservative candidate for the re-established constituency, which he narrowly won.

Boundaries

Historic

Bridgwater within Somerset in 2005 BridgwaterConstituency.svg
Bridgwater within Somerset in 2005

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Sessional Division of Bridgwater, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Taunton and Ilminster.

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton.

1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton. Highbridge Urban District had been absorbed by Burnham-on-Sea UD in 1933, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

1983–2010: The District of Sedgemoor wards of Cannington and Combwich, Central, Dowsborough, Eastern Quantocks, Eastover, East Poldens, Hamp, Huntspill, Newton Green, North Petherton, Parchey, Pawlett and Puriton, Quantock, Sandford, Sowey, Sydenham, Victoria, Westonzoyland, West Poldens, and Woolavington, and the District of West Somerset wards of Alcombe, Aville Vale, Carhampton and Withycombe, Crowcombe and Stogumber, Dunster, East Brendon, Holnicote, Minehead North, Minehead South, Old Cleeve, Porlock and Oare, Quantock Vale, Watchet, West Quantock, and Williton.

Current

Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries from 2024

Under the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the re-established constituency was defined as being composed of the following as they existed on 1 December 2020:

With effect from 1 April 2023, the District of Sedgemoor was abolished and absorbed into the new unitary authority of Somerset. [4] Consequently, the constituency now comprises the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:

It comprises:

Members of Parliament

Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870

MPs 1295–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1377 William Tomer [8] John Sydenham [9]
1380 (Jan) William Tomer [8]
1383 (Oct) William Tomer [8]
1385 William Tomer [8]
1386 John Sydenham Richard Mayne [9]
1388 (Feb) John Sydenham Richard Mayne [9]
1388 (Sep) John Palmer John Wynd [9]
1390 (Jan) William Tomer John Palmer [9]
1390 (Nov)
1391 William Tomer John Sydenham [9]
1393 William Tomer Robert Boson [9]
1394 John Cole John Palmer [9]
1395 William Tomer John Kedwelly [9]
1397 (Jan) William Tomer John Kedwelly [9]
1397 (Sep) William Tomer John Sydenham [9]
1399 William Tomer John Kedwelly [9]
1401
1402 William Tomer John Kedwelly [9]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 William Tomer William Gascoigne [9]
1407 William Gascoigne Richard Ward [9]
1410 William Gascoigne John Kedwelly [9]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) William Gascoigne William Gosse [9]
1414 (Apr) William Gascoigne Thomas Cave [9]
1414 (Nov) William Gascoigne John Kedwelly [9]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417 William Gascoigne John Kedwelly [9]
1419 William Gascoigne Richard Mayne [9]
1420 William Gascoigne Martin Jacob [9]
1421 (May) James FitzJames William Gascoigne [9]
1421 (Dec) William Gascoigne John Pitt [9]
1442 William Dodesham William Gascoigne
1449 Thomas Driffield John Maunsel
1453 John Maunsel
1467 James FitzJames
1467 John Kendall (4 terms)
1472 Sir Thomas Tremayle
1483 John Hymerford William Hody [10]
1510–1523No names known [11]
1529 Henry Thornton Hugh Trotter [11]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 Thomas Dyer Alexander Popham [11]
1547 Sir Thomas Dyer Alexander Popham [11]
1553 (Mar) Sir Thomas Dyer Richard Gubby [11]
1553 (Oct) Sir Thomas Dyer Nicholas Halswell
1554 (Apr)John Newport Robert Molyns (or Mullens) [12]
1554 (Nov)John Newport John Chapell
1555 Thomas Dyer Edmund Lyte
1558John Newport Robert Molyns (or Mullens)
1559 Sir Thomas Dyer Robert Molyns (or Mullens)
1563–1567 John Edwards Nicholas Halswell
1571 Edward Popham
1572–1581
1584–1585 Robert Blake
Parliament of 1586–1587 John Court
Parliament of 1588–1589 Alexander Popham
1593 Robert Bocking William Thomas
1597–1598 Alexander Jones Alexander Popham
1601 Sir Francis Hastings
1604–1611 Sir Nicholas Halswell John Povey
Addled Parliament (1614) Robert Halswell Thomas Warre
1621–1622 Roger Warre Edward Popham
Happy Parliament (1624–1625)
Useless Parliament (1625) Sir Arthur Lake
1625–1626
1628 Thomas Smith Sir Thomas Wroth
1629–1640No Parliament summoned

1640–1868

YearFirst member [13] First partySecond member [13] Second party
April 1640 Robert Blake Edmund Wyndham [14] Royalist
November 1640 Sir Peter Wroth Parliamentarian
February 1641 Thomas Smith Royalist
August 1642Smith disabled from sitting — seat vacant
May 1644Wroth died — seat vacant
1645 Admiral Robert Blake [15] Sir Thomas Wroth
1653Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Admiral Robert Blake Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 Sir Thomas Wroth
January 1659 John Wroth
May 1659 One seat vacant
April 1660 Francis Rolle
1661 Edmund Wyndham John Tynte
November 1669 Sir Francis Rolle
December 1669 Peregrine Palmer
February 1679 Sir Halswell Tynte Sir Francis Rolle
September 1679 Ralph Stawell
1681 Sir John Malet
1685 Sir Francis Warre Tory
1689 Henry Bull Tory
1692 Robert Balch
1695 Nathaniel Palmer Roger Hoar
1698 George Crane
1699 Sir Francis Warre Tory
January 1701 John Gilbert George Balch Tory
November 1701 Sir Thomas Wroth
1708 George Dodington Whig
1710 Nathaniel Palmer Tory
1713 John Rolle
1715 George Dodington Whig Thomas Palmer Tory
1720 William Pitt
1722 George Dodington
1727 Sir Halswell Tynte Tory
1731 Thomas Palmer Tory
1735 Charles Wyndham Tory
1741 Vere Poulett Tory
1747 Peregrine Poulett Tory
1753 Robert Balch Tory
1754 The Earl of Egmont
1761 Edward Southwell
1762 Viscount Perceval [16]
1763 The Lord Coleraine
1768 Benjamin Allen [17] Whig [18]
1769 Anne Poulett Tory [18]
1781 John Acland Tory [18]
1784 Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood [19] Tory [18]
1785 Robert Thornton
1790 Major Vere Poulett [20] Tory [18] John Langston Tory [18]
1796 George Pocock Tory [18] Jeffreys Allen Tory [18]
1804 John Hudleston Tory [18]
1806 Major-General Vere Poulett Whig [18] John Langston Whig [18]
1807 William Thornton Tory [18] George Pocock Tory [18]
1820 Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) Whig [18] [21]
1832 William Tayleur Whig [18]
1835 John Temple Leader Radical [18] [22] [23]
May 1837 Henry Broadwood Conservative [18]
August 1837 Philip Courtenay Conservative [18]
1841 Thomas Seaton Forman Conservative [18]
1847 Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) Whig [24] [25]
1852 Brent Follett Conservative
1857 Alexander William Kinglake Whig [26]
1859 Liberal Liberal
1865 Henry Westropp [27] Conservative
1866 George Patton Conservative
1866 Philip Vanderbyl Liberal
1869Writ suspended — both seats vacant [28]
1870Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870

Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010; 2024–present

YearMember [13] Party
1885 Edward Stanley Conservative
1906 Henry Montgomery Liberal
1910 Sir Robert Sanders Unionist
1923 William Morse Liberal
1924 Brooks Wood Unionist
1929 Reginald Croom-Johnson Conservative
1938 by-election Vernon Bartlett Independent Progressive
1942 Common Wealth
1945 Independent Progressive
1950 Sir Gerald Wills Conservative
1970 by-election Tom King Conservative
2001 Ian Liddell-Grainger Conservative
2010 constituency abolished, replaced by Bridgwater and West Somerset
ElectionMemberParty
2024 Ashley Fox Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Bridgwater [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ashley Fox 12,281 30.6 –27.3
Labour Leigh Redman10,93227.2+6.5
Reform UK William Fagg8,91322.2N/A
Liberal Democrats Claire Sully5,78114.4–3.2
Green Charlie Graham1,7204.3+2.2
IndependentPelé Barnes3340.8N/A
Workers Party Gregory Tanner1680.4N/A
Majority1,3493.4–33.8
Turnout 40,12956.1–6.9
Registered electors 71,571
Conservative hold Swing –16.9

Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result [30]
PartyVote %
Conservative 26,05857.9
Labour 9,33420.7
Liberal Democrats 7,93217.6
Green 9252.1
Others7551.7
Turnout45,00463.0
Electorate71,418

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Bridgwater [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger 21,240 44.10 +3.70
Labour Matthew Burchell12,77126.50−0.30
Liberal Democrats James Main10,94022.70−3.50
UKIP Raymond Weinstein1,7673.70+0.90
Green Charlie Graham1,3912.90New
Majority8,46917.60+7.20
Turnout 48,10963.50−0.90
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2001: Bridgwater [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger 19,354 40.40 +3.47
Liberal Democrats Ian Thorn14,36730.00−3.65
Labour Bill Monteith12,80326.80+2.05
UKIP Vicky Gardner1,3232.80New
Majority4,98710.40+7.12
Turnout 47,84764.40−10.01
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Bridgwater [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 20,174 36.93 −9.83
Liberal Democrats Michael Hoban18,37833.65+3.96
Labour Roger Lavers13,51924.75+3.02
Referendum Fran Evens2,5514.67New
Majority1,7963.28−13.79
Turnout 54,62274.41−5.11
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Bridgwater [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 26,610 46.76 −4.76
Liberal Democrats WJ Revans16,89429.69−0.61
Labour PE James12,36521.73+3.54
Green G Dummett7461.31New
IndependentA Body1830.32New
Natural Law G Sanson1120.20New
Majority9,71617.07−4.15
Turnout 56,91079.52+1.34
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Bridgwater [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 27,177 51.52 −0.74
SDP Christopher Clarke15,98230.30+0.30
Labour John Turner9,59418.19+0.45
Majority11,19521.22−1.05
Turnout 52,75378.18+3.38
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Bridgwater [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 25,107 52.26
SDP Rosemary Farley14,41030.00
Labour Andrew May8,52417.74
Majority10,69722.26
Turnout 48,04174.80
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 31,259 54.0 +9.7
Labour J Beasant16,80929.05−3.8
Liberal Christina Baron9,79316.9−5.5
Majority14,45025.0+13.5
Turnout 57,86179.2+2.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 23,850 44.3 +0.7
Labour A Mitchell17,66332.78+4.3
Liberal JHG Wyatt12,07722.4−4.4
United DemocraticSR Harrad2880.5New
Majority6,18711.5−2.6
Turnout 53,87877.2−5.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 24,830 43.65 −8.7
Labour R Undy16,78629.5−6.3
Liberal JHG Wyatt15,26926.8+14.9
Majority8,04414.1−2.4
Turnout 56,88582.25+5.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 26,685 52.3 +7.9
Labour Raymond J Billington18,22435.8−2.3
Liberal Patrick M O'Loughlin6,06611.9−5.6
Majority8,46116.5+10.2
Turnout 50,97577.0−3.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.3
1970 Bridgwater by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Tom King 25,687 55.5 +11.1
Labour Richard Mayer14,77231.9−6.2
Liberal Patrick M O'Loughlin5,83212.6−4.9
Majority10,91523.6+17.3
Turnout 46,29170.3−9.9
Conservative hold Swing +8.6

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 20,850 44.4 −0.4
Labour Richard Mayer17,86438.1+6.6
Liberal Philip Watkins 8,20517.5−1.9
Majority2,9866.3−7.0
Turnout 46,91980.2−0.1
Conservative hold Swing +3.5
General election 1964: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 20,822 44.8 −5.6
Labour Norman J Hart14,64531.5−0.7
Liberal Philip Watkins 9,00919.4+2.1
Independent Michael L de V Hart2,0384.4New
Majority6,17713.3−4.9
Turnout 46,51480.3−1.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 23,002 50.44
Labour James Finnigan14,70632.25
Liberal Philip Watkins 7,89317.31New
Majority8,29618.19
Turnout 45,60181.77
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 24,887 59.17
Labour Albert E Sumbler17,17040.83
Majority7,71718.34
Turnout 42,05778.00
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Bridgwater [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 25,365 56.34
Labour Co-op Norman E Carr19,65643.66
Majority5,70912.68
Turnout 45,02184.63
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Bridgwater [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 21,732 48.84
Labour Co-op Norman E Carr16,05336.08
Independent Stephen King-Hall 6,70815.08New
Majority5,67912.76N/A
Turnout 44,49385.75
Conservative gain from Independent Progressive Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Progressive Vernon Bartlett 17,937 45.79 N/A
Conservative Gerald Wills 15,62539.89
Labour Norman Corkhill5,61314.33
Majority2,3125.90
Turnout 39,17572.69
Independent Progressive hold 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 1930s

1938 Bridgwater by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Progressive Vernon Bartlett 19,540 53.2 New
Conservative Patrick Gerald Heathcoat-Amory17,20846.8−10.1
Majority2,3326.4N/A
Turnout 36,74882.3+9.6
Independent Progressive gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1935: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Reginald Croom-Johnson 17,939 56.9 −18.6
Liberal Norman David Blake7,37023.4New
Labour Arthur W Loveys6,24019.8−2.7
Majority10,56933.5−21.5
Turnout 31,54972.7−1.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Reginald Croom-Johnson 24,041 77.5 +30.7
Labour James Musgrave Boltz6,97422.5+3.1
Majority17,06755.03+42.0
Turnout 31,01573.8−6.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Reginald Croom-Johnson 15,440 46.8 −5.9
Liberal Joseph William Molden11,16133.8−6.2
Labour James Musgrave Boltz6,42319.4+12.1
Majority4,27913.0+0.3
Turnout 33,02480.4−4.0
Registered electors 41,068
Unionist hold Swing +0.1
General election 1924: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Brooks Wood 14,283 52.7 +5.4
Liberal William Morse 10,84240.0−12.7
Labour James Musgrave Boltz1,9667.3New
Majority3,44112.7N/A
Turnout 27,09184.4+1.0
Registered electors 32,111
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +9.1
General election 1923: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal William Morse 13,778 52.7 +6.3
Unionist Robert Sanders 12,34747.3+0.4
Majority1,4315.4N/A
Turnout 26,12583.4+5.2
Registered electors 31,317
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +3.0
General election 1922: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Robert Sanders 11,240 46.9 −21.7
Liberal William Morse 11,12146.4New
Labour Thomas Williams 1,5986.7−24.7
Majority1190.5−36.7
Turnout 23,95978.2+15.8
Registered electors 30,657
Unionist hold Swing −34.1

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Bridgwater
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Unionist Robert Sanders 12,58768.6+10.9
Labour Sid Plummer5,77131.4New
Majority6,81637.2+21.8
Turnout 18,35862.4
Registered electors 29,411
Unionist hold Swing N/A
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
By-election, 1918: Bridgwater [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Sanders Unopposed
Conservative hold

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 from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Sanders is appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring him to seek re-election.

General election December 1910: Bridgwater [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Sanders 5,160 57.7 −1.2
Liberal Harold C. Hicks3,77942.3+1.2
Majority1,38115.4−2.4
Turnout 8,939
Conservative hold Swing −1.2
General election January 1910: Bridgwater [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Robert Sanders 5,575 58.9 +9.0
Liberal Harold C. Hicks3,89641.1−9.0
Majority1,67917.818.0
Turnout 9,471
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.0

Elections in the 1900s

Montgomery Greville Montgomery.png
Montgomery
General election 1906: Bridgwater [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Henry Montgomery 4,422 50.1 New
Conservative Robert Sanders 4,40549.9N/A
Majority170.2N/A
Turnout 8,82786.7N/A
Registered electors 10,180
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Edward Stanley Edward Stanley of Bridgwater.jpg
Edward Stanley
General election 1900: Bridgwater [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Bridgwater [43] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Bridgwater [43] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stanley 4,555 57.5 N/A
Liberal James Douglas Walker3,36242.5New
Majority1,19315.0N/A
Turnout 7,91777.5N/A
Registered electors 10,220
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Bridgwater [43] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1885: Bridgwater [43] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Stanley 3,935 50.6
Liberal Edwin Brook Cely Trevilian3,83549.4
Majority1001.2
Turnout 7,77078.8
Registered electors 9,861
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 731 26.2 −5.1
Liberal Philip Vanderbyl 725 26.0 −2.8
Conservative Henry Westropp 68124.4+4.4
Conservative Charles William Gray [45] 65023.3+3.3
Majority441.6N/A
Turnout 1,394 (est)93.0 (est)+3.7
Registered electors 1,499
Liberal hold Swing −4.2
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −3.6

A Royal Commission found extensive bribery in the seat and, from 4 July 1870, the writ was suspended, both MPs were unseated, and the electorate was absorbed into West Somerset.

By-election, 12 Jul 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Philip Vanderbyl 312 53.2 −6.9
Conservative George Patton 27546.8+6.9
Majority376.4N/A
Turnout 58791.1+1.8
Registered electors 644
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −6.9
By-election, 7 Jun 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Patton 301 50.7 +10.8
Liberal Walter Bagehot [46] 29349.3−10.8
Majority81.4−7.2
Turnout 59492.2+2.9
Registered electors 644
Conservative hold Swing +10.8

Patton was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.

General election 1865: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Westropp 328 39.9 −3.6
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 257 31.3 +3.6
Liberal John Shelley 23728.80.0
Majority718.6N/A
Turnout 575 (est)89.3 (est)+7.3
Registered electors 644
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing −3.6
Liberal hold Swing +2.7

Westropp's election was declared void on petition on 25 April 1866, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1859: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Charles Kemeys-Tynte 290 28.8 −10.8
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 279 27.7 −8.4
Conservative Henry Padwick [47] 23022.8+10.6
Conservative Henry Westropp 20820.7+8.5
Majority494.9−6.9
Turnout 504 (est)82.0 (est)−6.0
Registered electors 614
Liberal hold Swing −10.2
Liberal hold Swing −9.0
General election 1857: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 330 39.6 +10.8
Whig Alexander William Kinglake 301 36.1 +25.4
Conservative Brent Follett 20324.3−20.4
Majority9811.8+8.9
Turnout 519 (est)88.0 (est)+11.5
Registered electors 589
Whig hold Swing +10.5
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +17.8
General election 1852: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44] [48]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 271 28.8 −17.3
Conservative Brent Follett 244 25.9 +10.4
Conservative John Clavell Mansel [49] [50] 17718.8+3.3
Whig Anthony Henley 14915.8N/A
Whig Alexander William Kinglake 10110.7N/A
Turnout 471 (est)68.5 (est)−12.4
Registered electors 688
Majority272.9−12.2
Whig hold Swing −15.5
Majority9510.0+1.9
Conservative hold Swing +9.5

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: Bridgwater (2 seats) [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 395 46.1 −0.7
Conservative Henry Broadwood 265 31.0 −22.2
Radical Stephen Gaselee [51] 19622.9N/A
Turnout 428 (est)80.9 (est)−7.3
Registered electors 529
Majority13015.1N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +5.2
Majority698.1+5.3
Conservative hold Swing −10.9
General election 1841: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18] [44] [52]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 280 26.8 −22.8
Conservative Thomas Seaton Forman 276 26.4 −22.8
Whig Edward Simcoe Drewe [53] 24723.6+22.7
Whig Augustin Robinson [54] 24223.2+22.8
Majority292.8−45.5
Turnout 52588.2+37.3
Registered electors 595
Conservative hold Swing −22.8
Conservative hold Swing −22.8

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18] [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 279 49.6 +25.7
Conservative Philip Courtenay 277 49.2 +28.8
Whig Thomas Lethbridge 50.9−13.9
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan [55] 20.4−14.4
Majority27248.3N/A
Turnout 28450.9−21.0
Registered electors 558
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +19.9
Conservative gain from Radical Swing +21.5
By-election, 16 May 1837: Bridgwater [18] [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 279 55.8 +11.5
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan [56] 22144.2+14.7
Majority5811.6N/A
Turnout 50089.6+17.7
Registered electors 558
Conservative gain from Radical Swing −1.6
General election 1835: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18] [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 234 29.5 N/A
Radical John Temple Leader 208 26.2 N/A
Conservative Henry Broadwood 19023.9New
Conservative Francis Mountjoy Martyn [57] 16220.4New
Turnout 30971.9N/A
Registered electors 430
Majority263.3N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority182.3N/A
Radical gain from Whig Swing N/A

Leader resigned, by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, in order to contest a by-election at Westminster, causing a by-election.

General election 1832: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18] [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte Unopposed
Whig William Tayleur Unopposed
Registered electors 484
Whig hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 1831: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 337 44.8 N/A
Tory William Astell 213 28.3 N/A
Radical Henry Shirley20226.9N/A
Turnout 430N/A
Majority12416.5N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority111.4N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1830: Bridgwater (2 seats) [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory William Astell Unopposed
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig hold

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ↑ 2023 review South West Boundary Commission for England
  3. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  4. ↑ "The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022".
  5. 1 2 "New Seat Details - Bridgwater". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  7. ↑ "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
  8. 1 2 3 4 "THOMER (TOMERE), William, of Bridgwater, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  12. ↑ Browne Willis gives Molyns' name only tentatively for 1555
  13. 1 2 3 "Bridgwater". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  14. ↑ Expelled as a monopolist, January 1641
  15. ↑ Cobbett lists the second MP elected in 1645 as John Palmer, MD, and gives Blake as MP for Taunton. Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography in naming Blake as MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.
  16. ↑ Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Poulett, was seated in his place.
  17. ↑ Allen was initially declared re-elected in 1780, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Acland, was seated in his place.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 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. 28–31. Retrieved 28 October 2018– via Google Books.
  19. ↑ Vice-Admiral from 1787
  20. ↑ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1793, Colonel from 1796
  21. ↑ Jenkins, Terry (2009). "KEMEYS TYNTE, Charles Kemeys (1778–1860), of Halswell House, Goathurst, Som.; Cefn Mably, Glam.; Burhill, nr. Cobham, Surr. and 16 Hill Street, Hanover Square, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  22. ↑ "John Bull" . 30 July 1837. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 24 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ↑ "County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent" . 1 August 1837. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ↑ "The Elections" . Morning Post. 30 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ↑ "Bridgwater" . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ↑ Porter, Mary (1898). "The Lions of London". Annals of a Publishing House: John Blackwood (PDF). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. p. 127.
  27. ↑ The election of Westropp was declared void and a by-election was held
  28. ↑ The election of Kinglake and Vanderbyl in 1868 declared void. The writ (of election) was suspended and a Royal Commission was appointed, which reported that it had found proof of extensive bribery.
  29. ↑ "Election of a Member of Parliament to the Bridgwater Constituency - Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  30. ↑ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament . Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ↑ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ↑ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ↑ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. ↑ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  37. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  38. ↑ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
  39. ↑ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN   9781349022984.
  41. 1 2 Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  42. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
  45. ↑ "Bridgwater Election" . Western Daily Press . 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ↑ "Election Intelligence" . London Daily News . 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ↑ "Bridgwater Mercury" . 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ↑ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  49. ↑ "The General Election" . Bristol Times and Mirror. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ↑ "Election Intelligence" . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 18 April 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ↑ "Bridgwater" . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ↑ "General Election" . Western Times. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ↑ "Local Elections" . Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ↑ "The Elections" . Dorset County Chronicle. 1 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ↑ "The Close of the Elections" . Bell's Weekly Messenger. 14 August 1837. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 9 September 2019– via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ↑ "Close of the Election" . Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 20 May 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2019– via British Newspaper Archive.
  57. ↑ Gapper, Anthony. "List of the Electors at the Bridgwater Election" (PDF). Bridgwater Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

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