Frome | |
---|---|
Former county constituency for the House of Commons | |
County | Somerset |
Major settlements | Frome |
1885–1950 | |
Seats | One |
Replaced by | North Somerset and Wells |
1832–1885 | |
Seats | One |
Type of constituency | Borough constituency |
Frome was a constituency centred on the town of Frome in Somerset. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832, until it was abolished for the 1950 general election. Between 1832 and 1885, it was a parliamentary borough; after 1885 it was a county constituency, a division of Somerset.
Frome was one of the boroughs created by the Great Reform Act of 1832, [1] as the town was at that point one of the bigger towns in England which was not already represented, and its then-flourishing woollen manufacturing industry made it seem likely to grow further. The new borough consisted only of the town of Frome, and had a population (according to the 1831 census) of approximately 11,240. The registered electorate at the 1832 election was 322. Frome was near to Longleat, and the Marquess of Bath was influential in election outcomes throughout its life as a borough.
However, the town did not increase dramatically in size in the next few years, and the electorate was still only just over 400 by 1865, although the extension of the franchise at the 1868 election trebled this. By the time of the Third Reform Act, Frome was too small to continue as a constituency in itself and the borough was abolished with effect from the 1885 election.
The new county division into which the town was placed consisted of the whole north-eastern corner of Somerset, except for Bath, and was named after the town, as The Frome Division of Somerset. Nevertheless, Frome contributed only a minority of the voters in the constituency, which also included Weston (Bath), Radstock, Bathampton and Batheaston, to say nothing of the freeholders of Bath, who voted in this division under the arrangements that gave property owners in boroughs a vote in the adjoining county constituency; by the time of the First World War, the population was around 60,000. This constituency was a mixed one, with suburban voters at Weston and in the Bath suburbs, agricultural villages between Bath and Frome, growing mining interests round Radstock and some industry at Twerton. This made the constituency marginal between the Conservatives and Liberals, and the victor's majority was rarely more than a few hundred votes.
There were further boundary changes in 1918, when the number of constituencies in Somerset was reduced from nine to seven. Frome's boundaries were extended westwards to the fringes of Bristol, bringing in Midsomer Norton and the areas round Clutton, Chew Magna and Keynsham (previously in the Northern division): the revised constituency consisted of the urban districts of Frome, Midsomer Norton and Radstock, the Bath, Clutton and Keynsham rural districts and all but six parishes of Frome Rural District. This, too, was a marginal constituency, and except in 1923 was always won at general elections by the party which was successful nationally.
The Frome constituency was abolished in the boundary changes which came into effect at the 1950 election, Frome itself being transferred to the Wells division but most of the remainder of the constituency forming the bulk of the new Somerset North.
Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1832 | Thomas Sheppard [2] | Whig [3] | ||
1835 | Conservative [3] | |||
1847 | Hon. Robert Boyle [2] | Whig [4] [5] | 4th son of Edmund Boyle, 8th Earl of Cork | |
1854 by-election | Richard Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan [2] | Whig [6] [7] | later 9th Earl of Cork | |
1856 by-election | Hon. William Boyle [2] | Whig [8] [9] | younger brother of Richard Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan | |
1857 | Donald Nicoll [2] | Radical [8] [9] [10] [11] | ||
1859 | Lord Edward Thynne [2] | Conservative | previously MP for Weobley 1826–32 | |
1865 | Sir Henry Rawlinson, Bt. [2] | Liberal | noted orientalist, previously MP for Reigate | |
1868 | Thomas Hughes [2] | Liberal | author of Tom Brown's Schooldays | |
1874 | Henry Lopes [2] | Conservative | previously MP for Launceston, later a Lord Justice of Appeal | |
1876 by-election | Henry Samuelson [2] | Liberal | previously MP for Cheltenham | |
1885 | parliamentary borough constituency abolished, name transferred to a new county division |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Thomas Sheppard | 163 | 62.0 | ||
Whig | Sir Thomas Swymmer Mostyn-Champneys, 2nd Baronet | 100 | 38.0 | ||
Majority | 63 | 24.0 | |||
Turnout | 263 | 81.7 | |||
Registered electors | 322 | ||||
Whig win (new seat) |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Sheppard | 100 | 43.7 | New | |
Radical | Matthew Bridges [13] | 78 | 34.1 | N/A | |
Whig | Courtenay Boyle | 51 | 22.3 | −15.7 | |
Majority | 22 | 9.6 | −14.4 | ||
Turnout | 229 | 80.4 | −1.3 | ||
Registered electors | 285 | ||||
Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | −1.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Sheppard | 124 | 50.8 | +7.1 | |
Whig | Courtenay Boyle | 120 | 49.2 | +26.9 | |
Majority | 4 | 1.6 | −8.0 | ||
Turnout | 244 | 83.8 | +3.4 | ||
Registered electors | 291 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −9.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Sheppard | 154 | 54.4 | +3.6 | |
Whig | William Jesser Sturch | 129 | 45.6 | −3.6 | |
Majority | 25 | 8.8 | +7.2 | ||
Turnout | 283 | 83.2 | −0.6 | ||
Registered electors | 340 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Edward Boyle | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 412 | ||||
Whig gain from Conservative |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Edward Boyle | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 383 | ||||
Whig hold |
The election was declared void on petition after Boyle was declared ineligible due to his holding of the office of Secretary to the Order of St Patrick. Ahead of the ensuing by-election, Boyle resigned this position. [14]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Robert Edward Boyle | Unopposed | |||
Whig hold |
Boyle's death caused a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | Richard Boyle | 181 | 58.4 | N/A | |
Radical | Donald Nicoll | 129 | 41.6 | N/A | |
Majority | 52 | 16.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 310 | 84.9 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 365 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Boyle succeeded to the peerage, becoming 9th Earl of Cork and Orrery, causing a by-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whig | William George Boyle | 158 | 50.2 | N/A | |
Radical | Donald Nicoll | 157 | 49.8 | N/A | |
Majority | 1 | 0.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 315 | 86.1 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 366 | ||||
Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radical | Donald Nicoll | 162 | 49.7 | N/A | |
Whig | William George Boyle | 92 | 28.2 | N/A | |
Conservative | Edward Thynne | 72 | 22.1 | New | |
Majority | 70 | 21.5 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 326 | 89.8 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 363 | ||||
Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Edward Thynne | 194 | 56.9 | +34.8 | |
Liberal | Donald Nicoll | 147 | 43.1 | −34.8 | |
Majority | 47 | 13.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 341 | 88.6 | −1.2 | ||
Registered electors | 385 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +34.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Rawlinson | 206 | 53.0 | +9.9 | |
Conservative | James Whalley Dawe Thomas Wickham [15] | 183 | 47.0 | −9.9 | |
Majority | 23 | 6.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 389 | 94.0 | +5.4 | ||
Registered electors | 414 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Thomas Hughes | 571 | 54.5 | +1.5 | |
Conservative | William Campbell Sleigh | 476 | 45.5 | −1.5 | |
Majority | 95 | 9.0 | +3.0 | ||
Turnout | 1,047 | 82.6 | −11.4 | ||
Registered electors | 1,267 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +1.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Lopes | 642 | 53.5 | +8.0 | |
Liberal | William Henry Willans [16] | 557 | 46.5 | −8.0 | |
Majority | 85 | 7.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,199 | 90.4 | +7.8 | ||
Registered electors | 1,327 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.0 |
Lopes resigned after being appointed a judge of the Common Pleas Division of the High Court of Justice.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Samuelson | 661 | 53.8 | +7.3 | |
Conservative | James Fergusson | 568 | 46.2 | −7.3 | |
Majority | 93 | 7.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 1,229 | 91.0 | +0.6 | ||
Registered electors | 1,351 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.3 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Henry Samuelson | Unopposed | |||
Registered electors | 1,383 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Lawrence James Baker | 4,735 | 54.4 | N/A | |
Conservative | Thomas Thynne | 3,972 | 45.6 | New | |
Majority | 763 | 8.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 8,707 | 82.9 | N/A | ||
Registered electors | 10,498 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Thynne | 4,348 | 54.4 | +8.8 | |
Liberal | Godfrey Samuelson | 3,645 | 45.6 | −8.8 | |
Majority | 703 | 8.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 7,993 | 76.1 | −6.8 | ||
Registered electors | 10,498 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +8.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 4,747 | 52.7 | +7.1 | |
Conservative | Thomas Thynne | 4,260 | 47.3 | −7.1 | |
Majority | 487 | 5.4 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,007 | 81.7 | +5.6 | ||
Registered electors | 11,031 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Thynne | 5,043 | 52.0 | +4.7 | |
Liberal | John Barlow | 4,660 | 48.0 | −4.7 | |
Majority | 383 | 4.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,703 | 83.4 | +1.7 | ||
Registered electors | 11,633 | ||||
Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +4.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 5,062 | 51.5 | +3.5 | |
Conservative | Alexander Thynne | 4,763 | 48.5 | −3.5 | |
Majority | 299 | 3.0 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,825 | 83.7 | +0.3 | ||
Registered electors | 11,736 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 5,066 | 51.8 | +3.8 | |
Conservative | Ellis Hume-Williams | 4,708 | 48.2 | −3.8 | |
Majority | 358 | 3.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 9,774 | 79.4 | −4.0 | ||
Registered electors | 12,317 | ||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.8 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 6,297 | 58.0 | +6.2 | |
Conservative | Charles Foxcroft | 4,552 | 42.0 | −6.2 | |
Majority | 1,745 | 16.0 | +12.4 | ||
Turnout | 10,849 | 86.0 | +6.6 | ||
Registered electors | 12,612 | ||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +6.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 6,248 | 53.3 | −4.7 | |
Conservative | Charles Foxcroft | 5,469 | 46.7 | +4.7 | |
Majority | 779 | 6.6 | −9.4 | ||
Turnout | 11,717 | 89.0 | +3.0 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | -4.7 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | John Barlow | 5,944 | 52.6 | −0.7 | |
Conservative | Charles Foxcroft | 5,366 | 47.4 | +0.7 | |
Majority | 578 | 5.2 | −1.4 | ||
Turnout | 11,310 | 85.9 | −3.1 | ||
Liberal hold | Swing | -0.7 |
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;
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C | Unionist | Percy Hurd | 11,118 | 46.6 | −0.8 |
Labour | Edward Gill | 10,454 | 43.9 | New | |
Liberal | John Barlow | 2,004 | 8.4 | −44.2 | |
National | Thomas Kincaid-Smith | 258 | 1.1 | New | |
Majority | 664 | 2.7 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 23,834 | 67.7 | −18.2 | ||
Registered electors | 35,222 | ||||
Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +21.7 | |||
Cindicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Percy Hurd | 15,017 | 51.2 | +4.6 | |
Labour | Edward Gill | 14,311 | 48.8 | +4.9 | |
Majority | 706 | 2.4 | −0.3 | ||
Turnout | 29,328 | 82.2 | +14.5 | ||
Registered electors | 35,698 | ||||
Unionist hold | Swing | −0.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Gould | 15,902 | 54.4 | +5.6 | |
Unionist | Percy Hurd | 13,306 | 45.6 | −5.6 | |
Majority | 2,596 | 8.8 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 29,208 | 79.7 | −2.5 | ||
Registered electors | 36,628 | ||||
Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +5.6 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unionist | Geoffrey Peto | 16,397 | 52.8 | +7.2 | |
Labour | Frederick Gould | 14,652 | 47.2 | −7.2 | |
Majority | 1,745 | 5.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 31,049 | 82.9 | +3.2 | ||
Registered electors | 37,438 | ||||
Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | +7.2 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Frederick Gould | 18,524 | 45.5 | −1.7 | |
Unionist | Geoffrey Peto | 16,378 | 40.3 | −12.5 | |
Liberal | Colin Stratton-Hallett | 5,774 | 14.2 | New | |
Majority | 2,146 | 5.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 40,676 | 86.5 | +3.6 | ||
Registered electors | 47,039 | ||||
Labour gain from Unionist | Swing | +5.4 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Henry Thynne | 24,858 | 58.3 | +18.0 | |
Labour | Frederick Gould | 17,748 | 41.7 | −3.8 | |
Majority | 7,110 | 16.6 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 42,606 | 87.3 | +0.8 | ||
Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +10.9 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Mavis Tate | 19,684 | 46.3 | −12.0 | |
Labour | Kim Mackay | 18,690 | 43.9 | +2.2 | |
Liberal | Philip William Hopkins | 4,177 | 9.8 | New | |
Majority | 994 | 2.4 | −14.2 | ||
Turnout | 42,551 | 82.5 | −4.8 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | -7.1 |
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;
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Walter Farthing | 29,735 | 55.1 | +11.2 | |
Conservative | Mavis Tate | 24,228 | 44.9 | −1.4 | |
Majority | 5,507 | 10.2 | N/A | ||
Turnout | 53,963 | 78.4 | −4.1 | ||
Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +6.8 |
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