Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)

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Devizes
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
Devizes2007Constituency.svg
Boundary of Devizes in Wiltshire
EnglandWiltshire.svg
Location of Wiltshire within England
County Wiltshire
Electorate 68,846 (December 2010) [1]
Major settlements Devizes, Marlborough, Durrington, Pewsey
18852024
SeatsOne
1331–1885
SeatsTwo until 1868, then One
Type of constituency Borough constituency

Devizes /dɪvzɪz/ was a constituency [n 1] in Wiltshire, England, which included four towns and many villages in the middle and east of the county. The seat was held by members of the Conservative Party continuously for a century from 1924.

Contents

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was subject to boundary changes which entailed the loss of the town of Devizes to the newly created constituency of Melksham and Devizes . As a consequence, it was renamed East Wiltshire , and first contested under its new name at the 2024 general election. [2] [3]

History

Until 1885 Devizes was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system until the 1868 election, when the Reform Act 1867 reduced its representation to one MP, elected by the first-past-the-post system of election. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 abolished the parliamentary borough, and created a new county constituency of the same name, covering a wider area and electing one member. It returned a Conservative MP at every election from 1924, though between the 1950 and 1970 general elections, the seat often had narrow and marginal majorities over the Labour Party.

Its most notable MP was Henry Addington, who held the seat during his term as Prime Minister, as well as when he was Speaker of the House of Commons.

Boundaries

Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)
Map of boundaries 2010–2024

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Sessional Divisions of Devizes, Everley, and Marlborough and Ramsbury, and part of the Sessional Division of Pewsey.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Rural Districts of Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey, and Ramsbury, and part of the Rural District of Highworth.

1950–1983: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, and the Rural Districts of Devizes, Highworth, Marlborough and Ramsbury, and Pewsey.

1983–1997: The District of Kennet, and the Borough of Thamesdown wards of Blunsdon, Chiseldon, Covingham, Highworth, Ridgeway, St Margaret, St Philip, and Wroughton.

1997–2010: The District of Kennet, the District of North Wiltshire wards of Calne Abberd, Calne Central, Calne North, Calne North East, Calne South, and Calne Without, and the District of West Wiltshire wards of Blackmore Forest, Melksham Forest, Melksham Lambourne, Melksham Roundpoint, Melksham Town, and Melksham Woodrow.

2010–2024: The District of Kennet, and the District of Salisbury wards of Bulford and Durrington.

The constituency covered Devizes in Wiltshire and the surrounding former Kennet district, which included the towns of Marlborough, Ludgershall and Tidworth, together with the large villages of Bulford, Durrington and Pewsey.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386 Richard Gobet William Salter [4]
1388 (Feb) Richard Cardmaker William Salter [4]
1388 (Sep) Richard Cardmaker William Spicer [4]
1390 (Jan) Richard Gobet William Spicer [4]
1390 (Nov)
1391
1393 William Coventre I William Spicer [4]
1394 John Tapener Richard Brunker [4]
1395 Richard Cardmaker William Spicer [4]
1397 (Jan) William Salter Henry Webbe [4]
1397 (Sep) William Salter John Peyntour [4]
1399 Richard Cardmaker William Salter [4]
1401
1402 Simon Skinner Richard Smith [4]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 John Huwet John Kingston [4]
1407 John Peyntour Simon Skinner [4]
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) John Coventre Simon Skinner [4]
1414 (Apr) Thomas Coventre Robert Smith [4]
1414 (Nov) William Coventre III Thomas Coventre [4]
1415 William Coventre III Roger Barbour [4]
1416 (Mar) Richard Litelcote John Peyntour [4]
1416 (Oct)
1417 William Coventre III Robert Tyndale [4]
1419 Robert Tyndale William Hendelove [4]
1420 John Coventre I Robert Chandler [4]
1421 (May) William Coventre III Robert Smith [4]
1421 (Dec) John Baker John Fauconer [4]
1425 Robert Chandler [5]
1429 Robert Chandler [5]
1442 Henry Long
1492 Richard Pudsey [6]
1510–1523No names known [7]
1529 John Poyntz Richard Mytton [7]
1536?
1539?
1542?
1545 Clement Throckmorton Geoffrey Danielle [7]
1547 Sir George Howard Nicholas Throckmorton [7]
1553 (Mar)?
1553 (Oct) William Rede Thomas Hull [7]
1554 (Apr) Thomas Highgate Henry Leke [7]
1554 (Nov) Thomas Hull Edward Heynes [7]
1555 Thomas Hull James Webbe [7]
1558 Thomas Hull Henry Morris [7]
1558 John Young Edward Heynes [8]
1562–3 Hugh Powell Edward Heynes [8]
1571 Edward Baynton William Clerke [8]
1572 George Reynolds, died
and replaced 1580 by
John Snell
Henry Grube [8]
1584 Edward Baynton I Henry Brouncker [8]
1586 Edward Baynton I Henry Brouncker [8]
1588 Henry Brouncker John Delabere [8]
1593 Henry Baynton I or Henry Baynton II Richard Mompesson [8]
1597 John Kent Robert Drew [8]
1601 Giles Fettiplace Robert Drew [8]
1604Sir Henry Baynton Robert Drew
1614 Sir Edward Baynton William Kent
1621 Sir Henry Ley John Kent
1624 Edward Bayntun John Kent
1625 Edward Bayntun Robert Drew
1626 Robert Long Sir Henry Ley
1628 Robert Long Thomas Kent
1629–1640No Parliaments summoned

1640–1832

ElectionFirst member [9] First partySecond member [9] Second party
March 1640 Edward Bayntun Henry Danvers
November 1640 Edward Bayntun Robert Nicholas
1653Devizes not represented in Barebones Parliament
September 1654 Edward Bayntun One seat only
September 1656 Edward Scotton One seat only
January 1659 Chaloner Chute jnr Edward Scotton
March 1660 William Lewis Robert Aldworth
April 1661 William Yorke John Kent
December 1666 John Norden
October 1669 Edward Lewis George Johnson
April 1675 Sir Edward Bayntun
February 1679 Sir Walter Ernle
September 1679 Sir Giles Hungerford John Eyles
February 1681 Sir Walter Ernle George Johnson
March 1685 John Talbot of Lacock Walter Grubbe
January 1689 Sir William Pynsent
March 1690 Sir Thomas Fowle
December 1690 John Methuen
November 1695 Sir Edward Ernle
July 1698 Sir Francis Child
January 1701 Francis Merewether
November 1701 John Methuen
November 1702 John Child
March 1703 Francis Merewether
May 1705 Sir Francis Child
December 1706 Josiah Diston
May 1708 Paul Methuen
October 1710 Sir Francis Child Thomas Richmond Webb
August 1713 Robert Child John Nicholas
January 1715 Josiah Diston Francis Eyles (expelled)
February 1721 Benjamin Haskins-Stiles
March 1722 Sir Joseph Eyles Whig
August 1727 Francis Eyles Whig
April 1734 Sir Joseph Eyles Whig
February 1740 John Garth Whig
July 1742 George Lee Whig
July 1747 William Willy
January 1765 Charles Garth
June 1765 James Sutton
September 1780Sir James Tylney-Long, 7th Bt.
November 1780 Henry Jones
April 1784 Tory [10] Henry Addington Tory [10]
December 1788 Joshua Smith Tory [10]
January 1805 Thomas Grimston Estcourt Tory [10]
June 1818 John Pearse Tory [10]
March 1826 George Watson-Taylor Tory [10]

1832–1868

ElectionFirst member [9] First partySecond member [9] Second party
1832 Wadham Locke Whig [11] [12] [13] [10] Montague Gore Whig [14] [15] [10]
February 1834 Admiral Sir Philip Charles Durham Tories [10]
December 1834 Conservative [10]
November 1835 T. H. S. Sotheron-Estcourt Conservative [10]
February 1836 James Whitley Deans Dundas Whig [16] [17] [18] [19] [10]
May 1838 George Heneage Walker Heneage Conservative [10]
February 1844 William Heald Ludlow Bruges Conservative
February 1848 James Bucknall Bucknall-Estcourt Conservative
1852 John Neilson Gladstone Conservative
1857 Simon Watson Taylor Peelite [20] [21] Christopher Darby Griffith Conservative
1859 John Neilson Gladstone Conservative
Feb 1863 William Addington Conservative
Apr 1864 Sir Thomas Bateson, Bt. Conservative
1868 Second Reform Act: representation reduced to one member

Since 1868

Devizes has been a safe Conservative seat since 1945. The last Member of Parliament was Danny Kruger who had been first elected at the 2019 general election, succeeding Claire Perry O'Neill, who stood down at that election after nine years of holding the seat. [22]

ElectionMember [9] Party
1868 Sir Thomas Bateson Conservative
1885 Walter Long Conservative
1892 Charles Hobhouse Liberal
1895 Edward Goulding Conservative
1906 Francis Rogers Liberal
1910 Basil Peto Unionist
1918 Cory Bell Unionist
1923 Eric Macfadyen Liberal
1924 Percy Hurd Conservative
1945 Christopher Hollis Conservative
1955 Percivall Pott Conservative
1964 by-election Charles Morrison Conservative
1992 Michael Ancram Conservative
2010 Claire Perry Conservative
2019 Danny Kruger Conservative

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Devizes [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Danny Kruger 32,150 63.1 +0.4
Liberal Democrats Jo Waltham8,15716.0+6.7
Labour Rachael Schneider7,83815.4−5.6
Green Emma Dawnay2,8095.5+2.3
Majority 23,99347.1+5.4
Turnout 50,95469.4−1.7
Conservative hold Swing −3.15
General election 2017: Devizes [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claire Perry 31,744 62.7 +5.0
Labour Imtiyaz Shaikh10,60821.0+8.0
Liberal Democrats Chris Coleman4,7069.3+1.2
UKIP Timothy Page1,7063.4−12.0
Green Emma Dawnay1,6063.2−2.6
Wessex Regionalist Jim Gunter2230.4New
Majority 21,13641.7−0.6
Turnout 50,59371.1+0.3
Conservative hold Swing −1.5
General election 2015: Devizes [25]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claire Perry 28,295 57.7 +2.6
UKIP David Pollitt7,54415.4+10.9
Labour Chris Watts6,36013.0+2.8
Liberal Democrats Manda Rigby3,9548.1−18.9
Green Emma Dawnay [26] 2,8535.8+4.0
Majority 20,75142.3+14.2
Turnout 49,00670.8+2.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Devizes [27] [28]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Claire Perry 25,519 55.1 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Fiona Hornby12,51427.0+4.7
Labour Junab Ali4,71110.2−12.2
UKIP Patricia Bryant2,0764.5+0.2
Green Mark Fletcher8131.8New
Independent Martin Houlden5661.2New
Libertarian Nic Coome1410.3New
Majority 13,00528.1+4.6
Turnout 46,34068.8+3.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Devizes [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 27,253 48.5 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Fiona Hornby14,05925.0+2.9
Labour Sharon Charity12,51922.3−2.6
UKIP Alan Wood2,3154.1+1.2
Majority 13,19423.5+1.2
Turnout 56,14665.2+1.0
Conservative hold Swing −0.8
General election 2001: Devizes [30]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 25,159 47.2 +4.4
Labour Jim Thorpe13,26324.9+0.7
Liberal Democrats Helen Frances11,75622.1−4.6
UKIP Alan Wood1,5212.9+1.9
Independent Ludovic Kennedy 1,0782.0New
Monster Raving Loony Long Tall Sally Potter4720.9New
Majority 11,89622.3+6.0
Turnout 53,24964.2−10.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Devizes [31]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 25,710 42.8 −11.5
Liberal Democrats Antony Vickers15,92826.5+0.1
Labour Frank Jeffrey14,55124.2+3.4
Referendum John Goldsmith3,0215.0New
UKIP S. Oram6221.0New
Natural Law Stephen Haysom2040.3New
Majority 9,78216.3−10.6
Turnout 60,03674.7−7.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Devizes [32] [33]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 39,090 53.3 −1.5
Liberal Democrats Jane Mactaggart19,37826.4−1.5
Labour Rosemary Berry13,06017.8+0.5
Liberal S. C. Coles9621.3New
Green David Ripley8081.1New
Majority 19,71226.90.0
Turnout 73,29881.7+4.5
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Devizes [34]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 36,372 54.8 +0.8
Liberal Linda Siegle18,54227.9−1.0
Labour Richard Buxton11,48717.3+0.5
Majority 17,83026.9+1.8
Turnout 66,40177.2+2.2
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 1983: Devizes [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 33,644 54.0 +3.1
SDP Elizabeth Palmer18,02028.9+6.8
Labour David Hulme10,46816.8−6.9
Wessex Regionalist G. Ewen2340.4+0.2
Majority 15,62425.1−0.1
Turnout 62,36675.0−4.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 32,439 50.92
Labour V. E. Finlayson16,35125.67
Liberal Jack Ainslie 14,05922.07
Ecology R. Burcham7131.12New
Wessex Regionalist A. B. Mockler1420.22New
Majority 16,08825.25
Turnout 63,70479.60
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 24,842 42.45
Labour V. E. Finlayson17,82130.46
Liberal Jack Ainslie 15,85127.09
Majority 7,02111.99
Turnout 58,51475.22
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 27,878 44.53
Labour Richard Faulkner 17,98028.72
Liberal J. Crawford16,75326.76
Majority 9,89815.81
Turnout 62,61181.29
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 28,475 51.65
Labour Richard Faulkner 20,44237.08
Liberal John Jones6,21011.26
Majority 8,03314.57
Turnout 55,12776.15
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 21,429 44.65
Labour Ian Hamilton18,83239.24
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 7,73016.11
Majority 2,5975.41
Turnout 47,99181.02
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 21,118 46.75
Labour Irving Rogers17,17038.01
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 6,88115.23
Majority 3,9488.74
Turnout 45,16981.37
Conservative hold Swing
1964 Devizes by-election [36]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 19,554 46.87 −4.54
Labour Irving Rogers17,88442.87+1.00
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 4,28110.26New
Majority 1,6704.00−5.54
Turnout 41,719
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Percivall Pott 20,682 51.41 −1.28
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave16,84441.87−5.45
Independent Liberal Jack Norton2,7076.73New
Majority 3,8389.54
Turnout 40,23379.23
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Percivall Pott 20,317 52.69 +0.77
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave18,24247.31−0.67
Majority 2,0755.38
Turnout 38,55978.62
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 20,319 52.02 +6.76
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave18,74247.98+5.80
Majority 1,5774.04
Turnout 39,06181.41
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 17,401 45.26 −1.74
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave16,21642.18+12.28
Liberal Richard William Thomas Aston4,83212.57−10.53
Majority 1,1853.08
Turnout 38,44982.11
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 12,796 47.0 −12.32
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave8,12029.9New
Liberal Frances Josephy 6,27823.1−17.58
Majority 4,67617.1−1.5
Turnout 27,19467.6−4.6
Conservative 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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Percy Hurd 14,438 59.32
Liberal Frances Josephy 9,90340.68
Majority 4,53518.64
Turnout 24,34172.20
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Percy Hurd 16,702 66.27
Liberal Joseph William Molden8,50133.73
Majority 8,20132.54
Turnout 25,20376.20
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Percy Hurd 11,979 47.8 −13.1
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 10,72842.7+3.6
Labour R. P. Sheppard2,3919.5New
Majority 1,2515.1−16.7
Turnout 25,09877.5+1.3
Registered electors 32,371
Unionist hold Swing −8.4
General election 1924: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Percy Hurd 12,157 60.9 +12.7
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 7,80739.1−12.7
Majority 4,35021.8N/A
Turnout 19,96476.2+6.7
Registered electors 26,195
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +12.7
General election 1923: Devizes [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 9,202 51.8 +11.1
Unionist Cory Bell 8,57448.2−11.1
Majority 6283.6N/A
Turnout 17,77669.5+4.6
Registered electors 25,588
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +11.1
Currie Lady Currie.jpg
Currie
General election 1922: Devizes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Unionist Cory Bell 9,598 59.3 −4.5
Liberal Hilda Beatrice Currie 6,57640.7+4.5
Majority 3,02018.6−9.0
Turnout 16,17464.9+11.8
Registered electors 24,937
Unionist hold Swing −4.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Devizes [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
C Unionist Cory Bell 8,51263.8+9.2
Liberal James Currie 4,82336.2−9.2
Majority 3,68927.6+18.4
Turnout 13,33553.1−34.0
Registered electors 25,091
Unionist hold Swing +9.2
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

Long Walter Hume Long, 1st Viscount Long portrait.jpg
Long
General election 1885: Devizes [39] [40] [41]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Walter Long 3,849 50.6 −2.9
Liberal William Barber3,75249.4+2.9
Majority 971.2−5.8
Turnout 7,60181.2−10.1
Registered electors 9,357
Conservative hold Swing −2.9
Philipps 1906 Wynford Philipps MP.jpg
Philipps
General election 1886: Devizes [39] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Walter Long 4,123 63.2 +12.6
Liberal John Philipps 2,39736.8−12.6
Majority 1,72626.4+25.2
Turnout 6,52069.7−11.5
Registered electors 9,357
Conservative hold Swing +12.6

Elections in the 1890s

Hobhouse Charles Hobhouse 2.jpg
Hobhouse
General election 1892: Devizes [39] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Charles Hobhouse 3,896 50.9 +14.1
Conservative Walter Long 3,75849.1−14.1
Majority 1381.8N/A
Turnout 7,65476.6+6.9
Registered electors 9,987
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +14.1
Goulding Edward Goulding.jpg
Goulding
General election 1895: Devizes [39] [40] [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Goulding 4,114 53.1 +4.0
Liberal Charles Hobhouse 3,63746.9−4.0
Majority 4776.2N/A
Turnout 7,75184.7+8.1
Registered electors 9,156
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.0

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Devizes [39] [40] [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Edward Goulding 3,738 54.6 +1.5
Liberal Francis Rogers 3,11145.4−1.5
Majority 6279.2+3.0
Turnout 6,84977.8−6.9
Registered electors 8,807
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
General election 1906: Devizes [39] [40]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Francis Rogers 4,247 53.9 +8.5
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 3,63346.1−8.5
Majority 6147.8N/A
Turnout 7,88087.7+9.9
Registered electors 8,988
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Devizes [39] [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Basil Peto 4,709 55.7 +9.6
Liberal Francis Rogers 3,74244.3−9.6
Majority 96711.4N/A
Turnout 8,45191.1+3.4
Registered electors 9,277
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.6
Pocock Sidney Pocock.jpg
Pocock
General election December 1910: Devizes [39] [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Basil Peto 4,408 54.6 −1.1
Liberal Sidney Job Pocock 3,67045.4+1.1
Majority 7389.2−2.2
Turnout 8,07887.1−4.0
Registered electors 9,277
Conservative hold Swing −1.1

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;

Election results 1868–1880

Elections in the 1860s

Seat reduced to one member

General election 1868: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 385 52.0 −2.4
Liberal John Webb Probyn [46] 32143.4+43.4
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 344.6−41.0
Majority 648.6−37.0
Turnout 74086.2+39.8
Registered electors 858
Conservative hold Swing −22.9

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 396 52.0 ±0.0
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 36447.8+43.2
Ind. Conservative Sidney Fitzroy Kelly Sloper [47] 20.3New
Majority 324.2−4.4
Turnout 76284.5−1.7
Registered electors 902
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 446 53.5 +1.5
Liberal Albert Meysey-Thompson [48] 38846.5New
Majority 587.0+2.8
Turnout 83491.3+6.8
Registered electors 913
Conservative hold Swing

Election results 1832–1868

General election 1832: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Wadham Locke 216 45.4 New
Whig Montague Gore 166 34.9 New
Tory Philip Charles Durham 9419.7N/A
Majority 7215.2N/A
Turnout 27687.6N/A
Registered electors 315
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A

Gore resigned after defecting to the Tories, causing a by-election.

By-election, 17 February 1834: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory Philip Charles Durham Unopposed
Tory gain from Whig
General election 1835: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig Wadham Locke 240 49.0 +3.6
Conservative Philip Charles Durham 154 31.4 +11.7
Whig Philip Pleydell-Bouverie 9619.6−15.3
Turnout 26083.6−4.0
Registered electors 311
Majority 8617.6+2.4
Whig hold Swing −1.1
Majority 5811.8N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +11.7

Locke's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 25 November 1835: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative T. H. S. Bucknall-Estcourt 157 52.0 +20.6
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas 145 48.0 −20.6
Majority 124.0−7.8
Turnout 30288.0+4.4
Registered electors 343
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +20.6

Durham resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 10 February 1836: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas Unopposed
Whig gain from Conservative
General election 1837: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas Unopposed
Conservative T. H. S. Bucknall-Estcourt Unopposed
Registered electors 341
Whig hold
Conservative hold

Dundas was appointed as Clerk of the Ordnance, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 26 March 1838: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas 109 51.7 N/A
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage 10248.3N/A
Majority 73.4N/A
Turnout 21179.3N/A
Registered electors 266
Whig hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Conservative Thomas Sotheron Unopposed
Registered electors 375
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig

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

By-election, 7 February 1844: Devizes [45] [10]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Heald Ludlow Bruges 202 75.1 N/A
Whig Christopher Temple6724.9New
Majority 13550.2N/A
Turnout 26969.9N/A
Registered electors 385
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1847: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Conservative William Heald Ludlow Bruges Unopposed
Registered electors 389
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Bruges resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 25 February 1848: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative James Bucknall Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Registered electors 373
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Peelite Simon Watson Taylor 230 45.4 N/A
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 159 31.4 N/A
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone 11823.3N/A
Majority 7122.1N/A
Turnout 254 (est)79.5 (est)N/A
Registered electors 319
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1859: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone 171 35.2 +11.9
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 167 34.4 +3.0
Liberal Simon Watson Taylor 14830.5−14.9
Majority 194.7N/A
Turnout 243 (est)77.4 (est)−2.1
Registered electors 314
Conservative hold Swing +9.7
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1860s

Gladstone's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 18 February 1863: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Addington 170 64.4 −5.2
Liberal John Webb Probyn [46] 8833.3N/A
Liberal Israel Abrahams [50] 62.3N/A
Majority 8231.1+26.4
Turnout 26479.8+2.4
Registered electors 331
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Addington succeeded to the peerage, causing a by-election.

By-election, 18 April 1864: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: Devizes [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 181 54.4 +19.2
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 152 45.6 +11.2
Liberal John Curling [51] 00.0−30.5
Majority 15245.6+40.9
Turnout 167 (est)46.4 (est)−31.0
Registered electors 359
Conservative hold Swing +17.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +13.2

Election results before 1832

General election 1831: Devizes [10] [53]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory John Pearse Unopposed
Tory George Watson-Taylor Unopposed
Registered electors c.36
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1830: Devizes [10] [53]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Tory John Pearse
Tory George Watson-Taylor
Tory William Salmon
Whig Wadham Locke
Turnout 30c.83.3N/A
Registered electors c.36
Tory hold
Tory hold

See also

Notes

  1. A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

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