Ramsey (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Ramsey
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
18851918
Seatsone
Created from Huntingdonshire
Replaced by Huntingdonshire

Ramsey was a parliamentary constituency in Huntingdonshire, which elected one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was also known as North Huntingdonshire. [1]

Contents

History

The constituency was created as the Northern or Ramsey Division upon the abolition of the two member Huntingdonshire constituency under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. It was one of two county divisions of Huntingdonshire (the other being the Southern or Huntingdon Division). It was abolished under the Representation of the People Act 1918 when it was re-combined with Huntingdon and Huntingdonshire was re-established as a single member constituency.

The division was a predominantly rural area. In addition it included some suburbs of Peterborough and the small towns of Ramsey and St. Ives, as well as part of the Fens.

The Liberal strength in the constituency came from the freeholders of Peterborough (who could vote in Ramsey), the working class Peterborough suburban vote and the smallholders of the Fens. However the area was mostly Conservative, with the rural population under the influence of the largest local landowner Lord de Ramsey. Except for the 1906 general election the Conservative Party won every election in the constituency.

In the 1885 general election one of the former Conservative MPs for the undivided county of Huntingdonshire, William Fellowes was elected the first member from the division. In July 1887 his father, Edward Fellowes, was created the 1st Lord de Ramsey - shortly before his death on 9 August 1887. William Fellowes was thereby elevated to the peerage and vacated his seat in the House of Commons.

The Fellowes family continued to dominate the representation of the division. A younger son of the 1st Baron, the Honourable Ailwyn Fellowes was elected to replace his brother. Fellowes retained the seat until he was defeated in the Liberal landslide in the 1906 general election.

The Liberal MP elected in 1906, Alexander Boulton, was a Canadian lawyer (who later in his career helped found the English-Speaking Union). He was not able to secure re-election in either of the 1910 elections. He was defeated by the fourth and last MP for the constituency, the Conservative Oliver Locker-Lampson.

During the First World War Locker-Lampson served with the R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Unit and also represented the Ministry of Information in various countries. He was involved in France, Belgium, Russia, Romania, Turkey and Persia between 1914 and 1919. He received the Orders of Leopold of Belgium and St Vladimir of Russia amongst other decorations.

Boundaries

The Sessional Divisions of Hurstingstone, Norman Cross, and Ramsey. [2]

Members of Parliament

ElectionMember [3] Party
Huntingdonshire prior to 1885
1885 Hon. William Fellowes Conservative
1887 by-election Rt Hon. Ailwyn Fellowes Conservative
1906 Alexander Boulton Liberal
1910 (January) Oliver Locker-Lampson Conservative
1918 constituency abolished, Huntingdonshire from 1918

Election results

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Fellowes 2,775 53.5
Liberal Esme Gordon2,41046.5
Majority3657.0
Turnout 5,18586.6
Registered electors 5,989
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative William Fellowes Unopposed
Conservative hold

Fellowes was elevated to the peerage, becoming Lord De Ramsey, causing a by-election.

By-election, 30 Aug 1887: Ramsey [4] [5] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 2,700 52.8 N/A
Liberal James Harris Sanders2,41447.2New
Majority2865.6N/A
Turnout 5,11484.4N/A
Registered electors 6,057
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 2,842 53.8 N/A
Liberal John Prince Sheldon2,44546.2N/A
Majority3977.6N/A
Turnout 5,28780.8N/A
Registered electors 6,545
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1895: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 3,012 59.3 +5.5
Liberal Harry Heldmann2,06340.75.5
Majority94918.6+11.0
Turnout 5,07576.54.3
Registered electors 6,630
Conservative hold Swing +5.5

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 2,893 62.4 +3.1
Liberal G J Phillips1,74237.63.1
Majority1,15124.8+6.2
Turnout 4,63569.47.1
Registered electors 6,683
Conservative hold Swing +3.1
General election 1906: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Alexander Boulton 3,184 53.2 +15.6
Conservative Ailwyn Fellowes 2,80346.815.6
Majority3816.4N/A
Turnout 5,98788.7+19.3
Registered electors 6,751
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +15.6

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Locker-Lampson 3,350 53.5 +6.7
Liberal Alexander Boulton 2,91546.56.7
Majority4357.0N/A
Turnout 6,26589.1+0.4
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.7
General election December 1910: Ramsey [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Oliver Locker-Lampson 3,072 51.0 2.5
Liberal Alexander Boulton 2,95449.0+2.5
Majority1182.0−5.0
Turnout 6,02685.73.4
Conservative hold Swing 3.5

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1801-1918 & 1983 onwards

Huntingdon is a constituency west of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire and including its namesake town of Huntingdon. It has been represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Ben Obese-Jecty of the Conservative Party.

Inverness-shire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2010 onwards

Chippenham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2024 by Sarah Gibson, a Liberal Democrat. The 2024 constituency includes the Wiltshire towns of Calne, Chippenham, Corsham and Royal Wootton Bassett.

Cambridge University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.

Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950. The last two members to represent Oxford University when it was abolished were A. P. Herbert and Arthur Salter.

London University was a university constituency electing one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, from 1868 to 1950.

Huntingdonshire was a Parliamentary constituency covering the county of Huntingdonshire in England. It was represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accrington (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1983

Accrington was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post system of election.

Isle of Ely was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, centred on the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire. Until its abolition in 1983, it elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitechapel (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918

Whitechapel was a parliamentary constituency in the Whitechapel district of East London. In 1885 the seat was established as a division of the parliamentary borough of Tower Hamlets. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Oldham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Oldham, England. It returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The constituency was created by the Great Reform Act of 1832 and was abolished for the 1950 general election when it was split into the Oldham East and Oldham West constituencies.

Heywood was a county constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of the United Kingdom which existed between 1885 and 1918. Created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, it was represented by one Member of Parliament. The constituency was abolished in 1918.

Bromley is a former constituency for the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The most famous MP was Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister, 1957 to 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1832–1885

East Cumberland is a former county constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1832–1885

West Cumberland was a county constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system of election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918

Croydon was a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1885 to 1918. As with most in its lifetime following the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, it was a seat, that elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Stamford was a constituency in the county of Lincolnshire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1868 when this was reduced to one.

Wandsworth was the name of a borough constituency created in 1885, abolished in 1918, covering the vast bulk of today's London Borough of Wandsworth in South London but excluding Battersea. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

The 1888 Mid Lanarkshire by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 27 April 1888 for the House of Commons constituency of Mid Lanarkshire in Scotland.

The 1890 Caernarvon Boroughs by-election was a parliamentary by-election held on 10 April 1890 for the British House of Commons constituency of Caernarvon Boroughs.

References

  1. "Dissolution of Parliament: Issue of Writs and Nominations". Bedfordshire Times and Independent. 13 July 1895.
  2. Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales. The public general acts. unknown library. Proprietors of the Law Journal Reports, 1884.
  3. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F. W. S. Craig (1989), British Parliamentary Election Results, 1885-1918. Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services.
  5. By-election triggered upon succession of William Fellowes to the peerage as Baron de Ramsey.
  6. The Constitutional Year Book, 1904, published by Conservative Central Office, page 145 (169 in web page), Huntingdonshire

Sources