Woodstock (UK Parliament constituency)

Last updated

Oxfordshire, Mid or Woodstock Division
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
1885–1918
Seatsone
Woodstock
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
1553–1885
Seatstwo to 1832, then one
Replaced by Banbury and Henley

Woodstock, sometimes called New Woodstock, was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom named after the town of Woodstock in the county of Oxfordshire.

Contents

History

The Parliamentary Borough comprised the town of Woodstock and (from 1832) the surrounding countryside and villages. [1] It elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from its re-enfranchisement in 1553 until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. Under the Great Reform Act 1832, the representation of the borough was reduced to one member.

Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, the borough was abolished and was reconstituted as the Mid or Woodstock Division of Oxfordshire when the three-member Parliamentary County of Oxfordshire was divided into the three single-member constituencies of Banbury, Woodstock and Henley. It comprised the middle part of Oxfordshire, including Witney and Bicester as well as the abolished borough.

The constituency was abolished under the Representation of the People Act 1918.  The western half, including Witney and Woodstock, was added to the Banbury Division and the eastern half, including Bicester, to the Henley Division.

Boundaries

1885–1918

Only non-resident freeholders of the Parliamentary Borough of Oxford (which included the Municipal Borough thereof) were entitled to vote.

Members of Parliament

1553–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1553 (Oct) William Cooke Sir Ralph Chamberlain [3]
1554 (Apr) Sir Ralph Chamberlain William Johnson [3]
1554 (Nov) Anthony Restwold George Chamberlain [3]
1571 Thomas Peniston Martin Johnson [4]
1572 George Whiton Martin Johnson [4]
1584 Lawrence Tanfield Henry Unton [4]
1586 Lawrence Tanfield Francis Stonor [4]
1588 Lawrence Tanfield John Lee [4]
1593 Lawrence Tanfield John Lee [4]
1597 Lawrence Tanfield John Lee [4]
1601 Lawrence Tanfield William Scott [4]
1604 Sir Richard Lee Thomas Spencer
1609 Sir James Whitelocke
1614 Sir James Whitelocke Sir Philip Cary
1621 Sir James Whitelocke Sir Philip Cary
1624 Sir Philip Cary William Lenthall
1625 Sir Philip Cary Sir Gerard Fleetwood
1626 Edward Tavernor Sir Gerard Fleetwood
1628 Edward Tavernor Sir Miles Fleetwood
1629–1640No Parliaments summoned

1640–1832

YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
April 1640 William Lenthall Parliamentarian William Fleetwood
November 1640 Hon. William Herbert [5] Royalist
December 1640 Sir Robert Pye Parliamentarian
December 1648Pye excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant
1653Woodstock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Lieutenant General Charles Fleetwood Woodstock had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 Major General William Packer
January 1659 Sir Jerome Sankey Miles Fleetwood
May 1659 William Lenthall One seat vacant
April 1660 Sir Thomas Spencer Edward Atkyns
1661 Sir William Fleetwood
1674 Thomas Howard
1679 Sir Littleton Osbaldeston Nicholas Bayntun
1681 Henry Bertie
1685 Richard Bertie Sir Littleton Osbaldeston
1689 Sir Thomas Littleton Sir John D'Oyly
1690 Thomas Wheate
1695 James Bertie
1702 Sir William Glynne
1705 Lieutenant General William Cadogan Whig Hon. Charles Bertie
1708 Sir Thomas Wheate
1716 William Clayton
1721 Charles Crisp
1722 Samuel Trotman Sir Thomas Wheate
1727 Marquess of Blandford Whig
1732 Hon. John Spencer
1734 James Dawkins
1746 Hon. John Trevor, KC
1747 John Bateman
1753 Anthony Keck
1767 Hon. William Gordon
1768 Lord Robert Spencer
1771 John Skynner
1774 William Eden
1777 Viscount Parker Tory
1784 Sir Henry Dashwood Tory Francis Burton
1790 Lord Henry Spencer
1795 The Lord Lavington
1799 Charles Moore
1802 Charles Abbot Speaker
1806 Hon. William Eden
1810 Hon. George Eden Whig
1812 William Thornton
1813 Hon. George Eden Whig
1814 William Thornton
1818 Lord Robert Spencer
1820 John Gladstone Tory [6] James Langston Whig [6]
1826 Marquess of Blandford Tory [6] Lord Ashley Tory [6]
1830 Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill Tory [6]
1831 Viscount Stormont Tory [6]
1832 Constituency abolished

1832–1918

YearMemberParty
1832 George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford Conservative [6]
1835 Lord Charles Spencer-Churchill Conservative
1837 Henry Peyton Conservative [6]
1838 George Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford Conservative [6]
1840 Frederic Thesiger Conservative [6]
1844 John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford Conservative [6]
May 1845 John Loftus, Viscount Loftus Conservative
December 1845 Lord Alfred Spencer-Churchill Conservative
1847 John Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford Conservative
1857 Lord Alfred Spencer-Churchill Conservative
1865 Henry Barnett Conservative
1874 Lord Randolph Churchill Conservative
1885 Francis William Maclean Liberal
1886 Liberal Unionist
1891 George Herbert Morrell Conservative
1892 Godfrey Benson Liberal
1895 George Herbert Morrell Conservative
1906 Ernest Bennett Liberal
January 1910 Alfred Hamersley Conservative
1918Constituency abolished

Elections

Decades:

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Woodstock [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Tory Charles Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Tory George Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors c. 200
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1831: Woodstock [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Tory Charles Spencer-Churchill 81 46.8
Tory William Murray 74 42.8
Whig James Silk Buckingham 126.9
Whig Charles Richardson63.5
Majority6235.9
Turnout c. 87c. 43.5
Registered electors c. 200
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1832: Woodstock [8] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Tory George Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 317
Tory hold
General election 1835: Woodstock [8] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Charles Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 306
Conservative hold
General election 1837: Woodstock [8] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Conservative Henry Peyton 126 51.9
Whig Charles Spencer-Churchill 11748.1
Majority93.8
Turnout 24373.6
Registered electors 330
Conservative hold

Peyton resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 11 May 1838: Woodstock [8] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Spencer-Churchill 160 50.8 −1.1
Whig Henry John Spencer-Churchill15549.2+1.1
Majority51.6−2.2
Turnout 31581.8+8.2
Registered electors 385
Conservative hold Swing −1.1

Elections in the 1840s

Spencer-Churchill succeeded to the peerage, becoming 6th Duke of Marlborough and causing a by-election.

By-election, 20 March 1840: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1841: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Frederic Thesiger Unopposed
Registered electors 356
Conservative hold

Thesiger was appointed Solicitor-General for England and Wales and decided to contest Abingdon, causing a by-election.

By-election, 22 April 1844: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Conservative hold

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

By-election, 1 May 1845: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Loftus Unopposed
Conservative hold

Loftus succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Marquess of Ely and causing a by-election.

By-election, 18 December 1845: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alfred Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1847: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 404
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 347
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative John Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 336
Conservative hold

Spencer-Churchill succeeded to the peerage, becoming 7th Duke of Marlborough and causing a by-election.

By-election, 24 July 1857: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alfred Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1859: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alfred Spencer-Churchill Unopposed
Registered electors 310
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Barnett 143 54.6 N/A
Liberal Mitchell Henry 11945.4New
Majority249.2N/A
Turnout 26291.6N/A
Registered electors 286
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1868: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Henry Barnett 502 51.1 −3.5
Liberal George Charles Brodrick 48148.9+3.5
Majority212.2−7.0
Turnout 98387.2−4.4
Registered electors 1,127
Conservative hold Swing −3.5

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Randolph Churchill 569 58.5 +7.4
Liberal George Charles Brodrick [9] 40441.5−7.4
Majority16517.0+14.8
Turnout 97390.8+3.6
Registered electors 1,071
Conservative hold Swing +7.4

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Randolph Churchill 512 53.1 −5.4
Liberal William Hall [10] 45246.9+5.4
Majority606.2−10.8
Turnout 96490.9+0.1
Registered electors 1,060
Conservative hold Swing −5.4

Churchill was appointed Secretary of State for India, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 6 July 1885: Woodstock [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Randolph Churchill 532 56.8 +3.7
Liberal Corrie Grant 40543.2−3.7
Majority12713.6+7.4
Turnout 93786.4−4.5
Registered electors 1,084
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
General election 1885: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Francis William Maclean 4,327 51.1 +4.2
Conservative Arthur Annesley 4,13848.9−4.2
Majority1892.2N/A
Turnout 8,46584.5−6.4
Registered electors 10,012
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +4.2
General election 1886: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Unionist Francis William Maclean Unopposed
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal

Elections in the 1890s

Maclean resigned after being appointed a Master in Lunacy.

Morrell George Herbert Morrell.jpg
Morrell
By-election, 21 Apr 1891: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Herbert Morrell 4,448 54.2 N/A
Liberal Godfrey Benson 3,76045.8New
Majority6888.4N/A
Turnout 8,20884.4N/A
Registered electors 9,725
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Godfrey Benson 4,278 50.7 N/A
Conservative George Herbert Morrell 4,16749.3N/A
Majority1111.4N/A
Turnout 8,44586.6N/A
Registered electors 9,756
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing N/A
General election 1895: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Herbert Morrell 4,669 55.5 +6.2
Liberal Godfrey Benson 3,74044.5-6.2
Majority92911.0N/A
Turnout 8,40986.1-0.5
Registered electors 9,767
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.2

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative George Herbert Morrell Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1906: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Liberal Ernest Bennett 4,585 52.5 New
Conservative George Herbert Morrell 4,14447.5N/A
Majority4415.0N/A
Turnout 8,72987.4N/A
Registered electors 9,985
Liberal gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alfred Hamersley 5,098 53.8 +6.3
Liberal Ernest Bennett 4,37846.2-6.3
Majority7207.612.6
Turnout 9,47690.0+2.6
Registered electors 10,525
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.3
General election December 1910: Woodstock [11]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Alfred Hamersley 4,773 52.1 -1.7
Liberal Ernest Bennett 4,38147.9+1.7
Majority3924.2-3.4
Turnout 9,15487.0-3.0
Registered electors 10,525
Conservative hold Swing -1.7

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;

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References

  1. ↑ "H.M.S.O. Boundary Commission Report 1832, New Woodstock". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  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. 1 2 3 "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Herbert was also elected for Monmouthshire, which he chose to represent, and did not sit for Woodstock
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 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. 9–12. Retrieved 10 February 2019– via Google Books.
  7. 1 2 Fisher, David R. "New Woodstock". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 340–341. ISBN   978-1-349-02349-3.
  9. ↑ "Advertisements & Notices" . Oxford Journal . 7 February 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 23 January 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Liberal Meeting at Kidlington" . Oxford Journal . 20 March 1880. p. 7. Retrieved 15 December 2017– via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 371. ISBN   9781349022984.

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