Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Bridgwater was a parliamentary constituency
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, until 2010 when it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. It elected one Member of Parliament
(MP) by the first past the post system of election.
in Somerset
and currently incorporates significant portions of the surrounding north Somerset coast.
since 1295.
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
.
When there was a redistribution of Parliamentary seats to take effect at the 1885 general election
, a new county division of Bridgwater was created.
Bridgwater has traditionally had a radical tradition, though in recent years this has become less noticeable in election results as the constituency has expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself.
The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election
took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement
. Opponnents 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 the UK Parliamentary election. The first under-21 year old to cast a vote was Susan Wallace. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King
who held the seat for the next thirty-one years. The Conservatives have continued to hold the seat to this day.
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, until 2010 when it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. It elected one Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) by the first past the post system of election.
Boundaries
The seat is based on the market town of BridgwaterBridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
and currently incorporates significant portions of the surrounding north Somerset coast.
History
Bridgwater is one of the oldest Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
since 1295.
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
West Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)
West Somerset or Somerset Western was the name of a parliamentary constituency in the county of Somerset between 1832 and 1885...
.
When there was a redistribution of Parliamentary seats to take effect at the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, a new county division of Bridgwater was created.
Bridgwater has traditionally had a radical tradition, though in recent years this has become less noticeable in election results as the constituency has expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself.
The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election
Bridgwater by-election, 1938
The Bridgwater by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Bridgwater, Somerset held on 17 November 1938...
took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement
The Munich Pact was an agreement permitting the Nazi German annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland. The Sudetenland were areas along Czech borders, mainly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The agreement was negotiated at a conference held in Munich, Germany, among the major powers of Europe without...
. Opponnents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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
Popular front
A popular front is a broad coalition of different political groupings, often made up of leftists and centrists. Being very broad, they can sometimes include centrist and liberal forces as well as socialist and communist groups...
of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
in anticipation of the General Election
United Kingdom general elections
This is a list of United Kingdom general elections since the first in 1802. The members of the 1801–1802 Parliament had been elected to the former Parliament of Great Britain and Parliament of Ireland, before being co-opted to serve in the first Parliament of the United Kingdom, so that Parliament...
due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett
Vernon Bartlett
Charles Vernon Oldfield Bartlett CBE was an English journalist, politician and author who served as a Member of Parliament from 1938 to 1950.-Life:...
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
Bridgwater by-election, 1970
The Bridgwater by-election of March 12, 1970 was the first election in the United Kingdom to be held after the voting age had been reduced from 21 to 18. The seat was held by the Conservatives on a turnout of 70.3%.-Results:...
in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18, 19 and 20 year olds were able to vote in the UK Parliamentary election. The first under-21 year old to cast a vote was Susan Wallace. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King
Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
Thomas Jeremy King, Baron King of Bridgwater, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1983–92, and was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bridgwater in Somerset from 1970-2001...
who held the seat for the next thirty-one years. The Conservatives have continued to hold the seat to this day.
MPs 1295-1640
- In at least 14 Parliaments 1377-1406: William Thomere
- In at least 15 Parliaments 1406-1429: William Gascoigne, William Gascoigne junior
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1386 | John Sydenham | Richard Mayne |
| 1388 (Feb) | John Sydenham | Richard Mayne |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Palmer | John Wynd |
| 1390 (Jan) | William Tomer | John Palmer |
| 1390 (Nov) | ||
| 1391 | William Tomer | John Sydenham |
| 1393 | William Tomer | Robert Boson |
| 1394 | John Cole | John Palmer |
| 1395 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1397 (Jan) | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1397 (Sep) | William Tomer | John Sydenham |
| 1399 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1401 | ||
| 1402 | William Tomer | John Kedwelly |
| 1404 (Jan) | ||
| 1404 (Oct) | ||
| 1406 | William Tomer | William Gascoigne |
| 1407 | William Gascoigne | Richard Ward |
| 1410 | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1411 | ||
| 1413 (Feb) | ||
| 1413 (May) | William Gascoigne | William Gosse |
| 1414 (Apr) | William Gascoigne | Thomas Cave |
| 1414 (Nov) | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1415 | ||
| 1416 (Mar) | ||
| 1416 (Oct) | ||
| 1417 | William Gascoigne | John Kedwelly |
| 1419 | William Gascoigne | Richard Mayne |
| 1420 | William Gascoigne | Martin Jacob |
| 1421 (May) | James FitzJames | William Gascoigne |
| 1421 (Dec) | William Gascoigne | John Pitt |
| 1442 | William Dodesham | William Gascoigne |
| 1472 | Sir Thomas Tremayle | |
| 1483 | William Hody | |
| 1449 | Thomas Driffield | John Maunsel |
| 1453 | John Maunsel | |
| 1467 | James FitzJames | |
| 1467 | John Kendall (4 terms) | |
| 1483 | John Hymerford | |
| 1510-1523 | No names known | |
| 1529 | Henry Thornton | Hugh Trotter |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | ? | |
| 1545 | Thomas Dyer | Alexander Popham |
| 1547 | Sir Thomas Dyer | Alexander Popham |
| 1553 (Mar) | Sir Thomas Dyer | Richard Gubby |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir Thomas Dyer | Nicholas Halswell |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Newport | Robert Molyns (or Mullens) |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Newport | John Chapell |
| 1555 | Thomas Dyer | Edmund Lyte |
| 1558 | John 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 Courte | |
| Parliament of 1588-1589 | Alexander Popham | |
| 1593 | Robert Bocking | William Thomas |
| 1597-1598 | Alexander Jones | Alexander Popham |
| 1601 | Sir Francis Hastings Francis Hastings (died 1610) Sir Francis Hastings was an English Puritan politician.He was the fifth and youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Huntingdon. His older brothers were Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon and George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon.... |
|
| 1604-1611 | Sir Nicholas Halswell | John Povey |
| Addled Parliament (1614) Addled Parliament The Addled Parliament was the second Parliament of England of the reign of James I of England , which sat between 5 April and 7 June 1614... |
Robert Halswell | Thomas Warre |
| 1621-1622 | Roger Warre | Edward Popham |
| Happy Parliament (1624-1625) Happy Parliament The Happy Parliament was the fourth and last Parliament of England of the reign of King James I, sitting from 19 February 1624 to 24 May 1624 and then from 2 November 1624 to 16 February 1625... |
||
| Useless Parliament (1625) Useless Parliament The Useless Parliament was the first Parliament of England of the reign of King Charles I, sitting only from June until August 1625. It gained its name because it transacted no significant business, making it 'useless' from the king's point of view... |
Sir Arthur Lake | |
| 1625-1626 | ||
| 1628 | Thomas Smith | Sir Thomas Wroth Thomas Wroth (politician, 17th century) Sir Thomas Wroth was an English parliamentarian and author.-Life:The eldest son of Thomas Wroth and grandson of Sir Thomas Wroth , he was born in London, and baptised at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, on 5 May 1584. He matriculated as a commoner at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, on 1 July 1600, but was... |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliament summoned | |
1640-1868
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1640 Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... |
Robert Blake Robert Blake (admiral) Robert Blake was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century. Blake is recognised as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy, a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy into... |
Edmund Wyndham Edmund Wyndham Edmund Wyndham was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1679. He fought for the Royalist army in the English Civil War.... |
Royalist | |||
| November 1640 Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... |
Sir Peter Wroth | Parliamentarian | ||||
| February 1641 | Thomas Smith | Royalist | ||||
| August 1642 | Smith disabled from sitting - seat vacant | |||||
| May 1644 | Wroth died - seat vacant | |||||
| 1645 | Admiral Robert Blake Robert Blake (admiral) Robert Blake was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century. Blake is recognised as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy, a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy into... |
Sir Thomas Wroth Thomas Wroth (politician, 17th century) Sir Thomas Wroth was an English parliamentarian and author.-Life:The eldest son of Thomas Wroth and grandson of Sir Thomas Wroth , he was born in London, and baptised at St. Stephen's, Coleman Street, on 5 May 1584. He matriculated as a commoner at Gloucester Hall, Oxford, on 1 July 1600, but was... |
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| 1653 | Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Barebones Parliament Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector... |
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| 1654 First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... |
Admiral Robert Blake Robert Blake (admiral) Robert Blake was one of the most important military commanders of the Commonwealth of England and one of the most famous English admirals of the 17th century. Blake is recognised as the chief founder of England's naval supremacy, a dominance subsequently inherited by the British Royal Navy into... |
Bridgwater had only one seat in the First First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... and Second Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... Parliaments of the Protectorate |
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| 1656 Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... |
Sir Thomas Wroth Thomas Wroth Thomas Wroth may refer to:* Thomas Wroth , , English courtier and politician* Thomas Wroth , , English parliamentarian and author... |
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| January 1659 Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons... |
John Wroth | |||||
| May 1659 Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... |
One seat vacant | |||||
| April 1660 | Francis Rolle Francis Rolle Francis Rolle was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1656 and 1685.Rolle was the only son of Henry Rolle of Shapwick who was Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and his wife Margaret Foote, daughter of Sir Henry Foote, merchant of London... |
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| 1661 | Edmund Wyndham Edmund Wyndham Edmund Wyndham was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1679. He fought for the Royalist army in the English Civil War.... |
John Tynte | ||||
| November 1669 | Sir Francis Rolle Francis Rolle Francis Rolle was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1656 and 1685.Rolle was the only son of Henry Rolle of Shapwick who was Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and his wife Margaret Foote, daughter of Sir Henry Foote, merchant of London... |
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| December 1669 | Peregrine Palmer | |||||
| February 1679 | Sir Halswell Tynte | Sir Francis Rolle Francis Rolle Francis Rolle was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1656 and 1685.Rolle was the only son of Henry Rolle of Shapwick who was Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and his wife Margaret Foote, daughter of Sir Henry Foote, merchant of London... |
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| September 1679 | Ralph Stawell | |||||
| 1681 | Sir John Malet | |||||
| 1685 | Sir Francis Warre | Tory | ||||
| 1689 | Henry Bull Henry Bull (MP) Henry Bull was an English Member of Parliament who represented three Somerset boroughs in the second half of the 17th century.-References:... |
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 George Dodington George Dodington was a Whig politician under the patronage of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford.Dodington represented Charlemont in the Irish House of Commons from 1707 to 1713. He served as Secretary to the Treasurer of the Navy during the reign of William III, and in 1707-1708 was Secretary to... |
Whig | ||||
| 1710 | Nathaniel Palmer | Tory | ||||
| 1713 | John Rolle | |||||
| 1715 | George Dodington George Dodington George Dodington was a Whig politician under the patronage of Edward Russell, 1st Earl of Orford.Dodington represented Charlemont in the Irish House of Commons from 1707 to 1713. He served as Secretary to the Treasurer of the Navy during the reign of William III, and in 1707-1708 was Secretary to... |
Whig | Thomas Palmer Thomas Palmer (died 1735) Thomas Palmer, MP FRS , was a British politician. He was twice the Member of Parliament for Bridgewater.He was the son of Nathaniel Palmer, MP, of Fairfield and Stogursey, Somerset, and his wife, Frances, daughter of Sir William Wyndham... |
Tory | ||
| 1720 | William Pitt | |||||
| 1722 | George Bubb Dodington George Dodington, 1st Baron Melcombe George Bubb Dodington, 1st Baron Melcombe PC was an English politician and nobleman.Christened simply George Bubb, he acquired the surname Dodington around the time his uncle George Dodington died in 1720 and left him his estate... |
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| 1727 | Sir Halswell Tynte | Tory | ||||
| 1731 | Thomas Palmer Thomas Palmer (died 1735) Thomas Palmer, MP FRS , was a British politician. He was twice the Member of Parliament for Bridgewater.He was the son of Nathaniel Palmer, MP, of Fairfield and Stogursey, Somerset, and his wife, Frances, daughter of Sir William Wyndham... |
Tory | ||||
| 1735 | Charles Wyndham Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont, PC and Catherine née Seymour, succeeded his uncle, Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, as 2nd Earl of Egremont in 1750... |
Tory | ||||
| 1741 | Vere Poulett | Tory | ||||
| 1747 | Peregrine Poulett | Tory | ||||
| 1753 | Robert Balch | Tory | ||||
| 1754 | The Earl of Egmont John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont PC, FRS was a British politician, political pamphleteer, and genealogist... |
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| 1761 | Edward Southwell Edward Southwell, 20th Baron de Clifford Edward Southwell, 20th Baron de Clifford was a British politician.He was the son of Edward Southwell by his wife Katherine, daughter of Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes.... |
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| 1762 | Viscount Perceval John Perceval, 3rd Earl of Egmont John Perceval, 3rd Earl of Egmont was a British politician.Perceval served as Member of Parliament for Bridgwater from 1762-1768. Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Anne Poulett, was seated in his place... |
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| 1763 | The Lord Coleraine Gabriel Hanger, 1st Baron Coleraine Gabriel Hanger, 1st Baron Coleraine was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1753 and 1768. He was honoured with a Peerage of Ireland.... |
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| 1768 | Benjamin Allen Benjamin Allen (MP) Benjamin Allen was an English politician.Benjamin Allen was the son of John Allen, M.D., of Bridgwater. He attended school in Bridgwater before being admitted, age 19, to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge in 1751... |
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| 1769 | Hon. Anne Poulett Anne Poulett The Honourable Anne Poulett , fourth son of John Poulett, 1st Earl Poulett, was a British Member of Parliament who represented the borough of Bridgwater in the House of Commons for sixteen years until his death in 1785... |
Tory | ||||
| 1781 | John Acland | |||||
| 1784 | Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood Alexander Hood, 1st Viscount Bridport |-... |
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| 1785 | Robert Thornton | |||||
| 1790 | Major the Hon. Vere Poulett Vere Poulett Lieutenant-General The Honourable Vere Poulett , was a British soldier and politician.Poulett was a younger son of Vere Poulett, 3rd Earl Poulett, and Mary, daughter of Richard Butt. He was returned to parliament for Bridgewater in 1790, a seat he held until 1796 and again between 1806 and... |
John Langston | ||||
| 1796 | George Pocock | Jeffreys Allen | ||||
| 1804 | John Hudleston | |||||
| 1806 | Major-General the Hon. Vere Poulett Vere Poulett Lieutenant-General The Honourable Vere Poulett , was a British soldier and politician.Poulett was a younger son of Vere Poulett, 3rd Earl Poulett, and Mary, daughter of Richard Butt. He was returned to parliament for Bridgewater in 1790, a seat he held until 1796 and again between 1806 and... |
John Langston | ||||
| 1807 | William Thornton Astell | George Pocock | ||||
| 1820 | Charles Kemeys Kemeys Tynte Charles Kemeys Kemeys Tynte Charles Kemeys Kemeys Tynte or Charles Kemeys Kemeys-Tynte was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1820 to 1837.... |
Whig | ||||
| 1832 | William Tayleur William Tayleur William Tayleur was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1832 to 1835.Tayleur was the son of John Tayleur of Buntingsdale and his wife Penelope Pearson, daughter of Thomas Pearson of Tottenhall, Staffordshire... |
Whig | ||||
| 1835 | John Temple Leader | Whig | ||||
| May 1837 | Henry Broadwood | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| August 1837 | Philip Courtenay | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1841 | Thomas Seaton Forman | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1847 | Charles John Kemys Tynte Charles John Kemys Tynte Charles John Kemeys Tynte or Charles Kemeys-Tynte was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1832 and 1865.... |
Whig | ||||
| 1852 | Brent Spencer Follett | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1857 | Alexander William Kinglake Alexander William Kinglake Alexander William Kinglake was an English travel writer and historian.He was born near Taunton, Somerset and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge... |
Whig | ||||
| 1859 | Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1865 | Henry Westropp | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1866 | George Patton George Patton, Lord Glenalmond George Patton, Lord Glenalmond was a Scottish politician and judge.He studied law at Edinburgh University. He studied at Glasgow University and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Bridgwater, Somerset from 1865 to 1866... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1866 | Philip Vanderbyl Philip Vanderbyl Philip Vanderbyl was a qualified doctor, merchant and a Liberal politician.Vanderbyl was the son of P. V. Vanderbyl of the Cape of Good Hope. He trained as a doctor at the University of Edinburgh obtaining M.D. in honours and a gold medal. He became M.R.C.S. Eng. in 1849 and M.R.C.P. Lond. in 1855... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1869 | Writ suspended - both seats vacant | |||||
| 1870 | Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset West Somerset (UK Parliament constituency) West Somerset or Somerset Western was the name of a parliamentary constituency in the county of Somerset between 1832 and 1885... county division from 4 July 1870 |
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Bridgwater county division, 1885-present
- County division created (1885)
| Year | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... |
Edward Stanley | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
|
| 1906 United Kingdom general election, 1906 -Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**... |
Henry Greville Montgomery Henry Greville Montgomery Henry Greville Montgomery was the Member of Parliament for Bridgwater from 1906 to 1910.- External links :... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1910 | Rt Hon. Sir Robert Arthur Sanders, Bt Robert Sanders, 1st Baron Bayford Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Arthur Sanders, 1st Baron Bayford PC, JP was an English politician.-Background and education:... , later Baron Bayford |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1918 United Kingdom general election, 1918 The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did... |
Coalition Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1922 United Kingdom general election, 1922 The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1923 United Kingdom general election, 1923 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***... |
William Ewart Morse William Ewart Morse William Ewart Morse was an English businessman and Liberal Party politician, briefly member of parliament for Bridgwater and later a member of Wiltshire County Council.-Family and education:... |
Liberal Liberal Party (UK) The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day... |
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| 1924 United Kingdom general election, 1924 - Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *... |
Brooks Crompton Wood | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1929 United Kingdom general election, 1929 -Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***... — 1938 Bridgwater by-election, 1938 The Bridgwater by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Bridgwater, Somerset held on 17 November 1938... |
Reginald Powell Croom-Johnson | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1938 Bridgwater by-election, 1938 The Bridgwater by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Bridgwater, Somerset held on 17 November 1938... |
Charles Vernon Oldfield Bartlett | Independent Progressive | |
| 1942 | Common Wealth Common Wealth Party The Common Wealth Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom in the Second World War. Thereafter, it continued in being, essentially as a pressure group, until 1993.-The war years:... |
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| 1945 United Kingdom general election, 1945 The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to... |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
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| 1950 United Kingdom general election, 1950 The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five... |
Sir Gerald Wills Gerald Wills Sir Gerald Wills, MBE was a British Barrister and politician who was Member of Parliament for Bridgwater from 1950 until his death.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1970 Bridgwater by-election, 1970 The Bridgwater by-election of March 12, 1970 was the first election in the United Kingdom to be held after the voting age had been reduced from 21 to 18. The seat was held by the Conservatives on a turnout of 70.3%.-Results:... |
Rt Hon Tom King Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater Thomas Jeremy King, Baron King of Bridgwater, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1983–92, and was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bridgwater in Somerset from 1970-2001... , later Baron King of Bridgwater |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 2001 United Kingdom general election, 2001 The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats... |
Ian Liddell-Grainger | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 2010 | constituency abolished: see Bridgwater and West Somerset | ||
Elections in the 2000s
Elections in the 1990s
Sources
- Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
- British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
- Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945-1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
- Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) http://books.google.com/books?vid=024wW9LmFc5kXY0FI2&id=Gh2wKY2rkDUC&printsec=toc&dq=Return+of+Members+of+Parliament&as_brr=1&sig=SK5GVtGLfWQ9ovZDbyZObAyIO5I#PPP9,M1
- D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) http://www2.odl.ox.ac.uk/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=p-000-00---0modhis06--00-0-0-0prompt-10---4------0-1l--1-en-50---20-about---00001-001-1-1isoZz-8859Zz-1-0&a=d&cl=CL1
- Esther S Cope and Willson H Coates (eds), Camden Fourth Series, Volume 19: Proceedings of the Short Parliament of 1640 (London: Royal Historical SocietyRoyal Historical SocietyThe Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
, 1977) - Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) http://books.google.com/books?id=L9GqTX0uoT8C&pg=PR9&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0&sig=UkEf4ZrrR7tKn1fYUF0yU1YkPwc#PPR5,M1
- J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
- 'Bridgwater: Parliamentary representation' in Victoria County History of Somerset: Volume 6 (1992)