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Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)

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Bridgwater is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Bridgwater
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Map of constituency
Boundary of Bridgwater in South West England
CountySomerset
Electorate71,418 (2023)[1]
Major settlementsBridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, North Petherton
Current constituency
Created2024
Member of ParliamentAshley Fox (Conservative)
Created fromBridgwater & West Somerset
1885–2010
SeatsOne
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromWest Somerset
Replaced byBridgwater & West Somerset
1295–1870
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyBorough constituency
Replaced byWest Somerset

In 2010 it was replaced by the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat has been re-established for the 2024 general election, primarily formed from the (to be abolished) constituency of Bridgwater and West Somerset - excluding the area comprising the former District of West Somerset.[2]

History

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Bridgwater was one of the original Parliamentary Constituencies in the House of Commons, having elected Members of Parliament since 1295, the Model Parliament.

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.

From Parliament's enactment of the major Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which took effect at the 1885 general election, a new county division of Bridgwater was created, which lasted with modifications until 2010. The constituency expanded considerably beyond Bridgwater town itself from 1885.

Bridgwater frequently compared to other seats had a radical or game-changing representative, though since 1950 this became less noticeable in its candidates elected.

The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents 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 a UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative until its abolition in 2010.

Boundaries

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Bridgwater within Somerset in 2005

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Sessional Division of Bridgwater, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Taunton and Ilminster.

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton.

1950–1983: The Municipal Borough of Bridgwater, the Urban Districts of Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead, and Watchet, and the Rural Districts of Bridgwater and Williton. Highbridge Urban District had been absorbed by Burnham-on-Sea UD in 1933, but the constituency boundaries remained unchanged.

1983–2010: The District of Sedgemoor wards of Cannington and Combwich, Central, Dowsborough, Eastern Quantocks, Eastover, East Poldens, Hamp, Huntspill, Newton Green, North Petherton, Parchey, Pawlett and Puriton, Quantock, Sandford, Sowey, Sydenham, Victoria, Westonzoyland, West Poldens, and Woolavington, and the District of West Somerset wards of Alcombe, Aville Vale, Carhampton and Withycombe, Crowcombe and Stogumber, Dunster, East Brendon, Holnicote, Minehead North, Minehead South, Old Cleeve, Porlock and Oare, Quantock Vale, Watchet, West Quantock, and Williton.

2024–present:

 
Map of boundaries from 2024

The re-established constituency is composed of the following electoral divisions of Somerset from the 2024 general election:

  • Brent (part); Bridgwater East and Bawdrip; Bridgwater North and Central; Bridgwater South; Bridgwater West; Burnham on Sea North; Cannington; Highbridge and Burnham South; Huntspill (majority); King Alfred (small part); North Petherton.[3][4]

It comprises:

Members of Parliament

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  • Constituency created (1295)

Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870

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MPs 1295–1640

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Parliament First member Second member
1377 William Tomer[6] John Sydenham[7]
1380 (Jan) William Tomer [6]
1383 (Oct) William Tomer[6]
1385 William Tomer[6]
1386 John Sydenham Richard Mayne[7]
1388 (Feb) John Sydenham Richard Mayne[7]
1388 (Sep) John Palmer John Wynd[7]
1390 (Jan) William Tomer John Palmer[7]
1390 (Nov)
1391 William Tomer John Sydenham[7]
1393 William Tomer Robert Boson[7]
1394 John Cole John Palmer[7]
1395 William Tomer John Kedwelly[7]
1397 (Jan) William Tomer John Kedwelly[7]
1397 (Sep) William Tomer John Sydenham [7]
1399 William Tomer John Kedwelly [7]
1401
1402 William Tomer John Kedwelly[7]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 William Tomer William Gascoigne[7]
1407 William Gascoigne Richard Ward[7]
1410 William Gascoigne John Kedwelly[7]
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) William Gascoigne William Gosse[7]
1414 (Apr) William Gascoigne Thomas Cave[7]
1414 (Nov) William Gascoigne John Kedwelly[7]
1415
1416 (Mar)
1416 (Oct)
1417 William Gascoigne John Kedwelly[7]
1419 William Gascoigne Richard Mayne[7]
1420 William Gascoigne Martin Jacob[7]
1421 (May) James FitzJames William Gascoigne[7]
1421 (Dec) William Gascoigne John Pitt[7]
1442 William Dodesham William Gascoigne
1449 Thomas Driffield John Maunsel
1453 John Maunsel
1467 James FitzJames
1467 John Kendall (4 terms)
1472 Sir Thomas Tremayle
1483 John Hymerford William Hody[8]
1510–1523 No names known [9]
1529 Henry Thornton Hugh Trotter[9]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 Thomas Dyer Alexander Popham[9]
1547 Sir Thomas Dyer Alexander Popham[9]
1553 (Mar) Sir Thomas Dyer Richard Gubby[9]
1553 (Oct) Sir Thomas Dyer Nicholas Halswell
1554 (Apr) John Newport Robert Molyns (or Mullens) [10]
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 Court
Parliament of 1588–1589 Alexander Popham
1593 Robert Bocking William Thomas
1597–1598 Alexander Jones Alexander Popham
1601 Sir Francis Hastings
1604–1611 Sir Nicholas Halswell John Povey
Addled Parliament (1614) Robert Halswell Thomas Warre
1621–1622 Roger Warre Edward Popham
Happy Parliament (1624–1625)
Useless Parliament (1625) Sir Arthur Lake
1625–1626
1628 Thomas Smith Sir Thomas Wroth
1629–1640 No Parliament summoned

1640–1868

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Year First member[11] First party Second member[11] Second party
April 1640 Robert Blake Edmund Wyndham[12] Royalist
November 1640 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[13] Sir Thomas Wroth
1653 Bridgwater was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Admiral Robert Blake Bridgwater had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656 Sir Thomas Wroth
January 1659 John Wroth
May 1659 One seat vacant
April 1660 Francis Rolle
1661 Edmund Wyndham John Tynte
November 1669 Sir Francis Rolle
December 1669 Peregrine Palmer
February 1679 Sir Halswell Tynte Sir Francis Rolle
September 1679 Ralph Stawell
1681 Sir John Malet
1685 Sir Francis Warre Tory
1689 Henry Bull 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 Whig
1710 Nathaniel Palmer Tory
1713 John Rolle
1715 George Dodington Whig Thomas Palmer Tory
1720 William Pitt
1722 George Dodington
1727 Sir Halswell Tynte Tory
1731 Thomas Palmer Tory
1735 Charles Wyndham Tory
1741 Vere Poulett Tory
1747 Peregrine Poulett Tory
1753 Robert Balch Tory
1754 The Earl of Egmont
1761 Edward Southwell
1762 Viscount Perceval[14]
1763 The Lord Coleraine
1768 Benjamin Allen[15] Whig[16]
1769 Anne Poulett Tory[16]
1781 John Acland Tory[16]
1784 Rear-Admiral Alexander Hood[17] Tory[16]
1785 Robert Thornton
1790 Major Vere Poulett[18] Tory[16] John Langston Tory[16]
1796 George Pocock Tory[16] Jeffreys Allen Tory[16]
1804 John Hudleston Tory[16]
1806 Major-General Vere Poulett Whig[16] John Langston Whig[16]
1807 William Thornton Tory[16] George Pocock Tory[16]
1820 Charles Kemeys-Tynte (1) Whig[16][19]
1832 William Tayleur Whig[16]
1835 John Temple Leader Radical[16][20][21]
May 1837 Henry Broadwood Conservative[16]
August 1837 Philip Courtenay Conservative[16]
1841 Thomas Seaton Forman Conservative[16]
1847 Charles Kemeys-Tynte (2) Whig[22][23]
1852 Brent Follett Conservative
1857 Alexander William Kinglake Whig[24]
1859 Liberal Liberal
1865 Henry Westropp[25] Conservative
1866 George Patton Conservative
1866 Philip Vanderbyl Liberal
1869 Writ suspended — both seats vacant [26]
1870 Constituency abolished for corruption and incorporated into the West Somerset county division from 4 July 1870

Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010; 2024–present

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  • County division created (1885)
Year Member[11] Party
1885 Edward Stanley Conservative
1906 Henry Montgomery Liberal
1910 Sir Robert Sanders Unionist
1923 William Morse Liberal
1924 Brooks Wood Unionist
1929 Reginald Croom-Johnson Conservative
1938 by-election Vernon Bartlett Independent Progressive
1942 Common Wealth
1945 Independent Progressive
1950 Sir Gerald Wills Conservative
1970 by-election Tom King Conservative
2001 Ian Liddell-Grainger Conservative
2010 constituency abolished, replaced by Bridgwater and West Somerset
  • County division re-created (2024)
Election Member Party
2024 Ashley Fox Conservative

Elections

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Elections in the 2020s

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General election 2024: Bridgwater[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ashley Fox 12,281 30.6 –27.3
Labour Leigh Redman 10,932 27.2 +6.5
Reform UK William Fagg 8,913 22.2 N/A
Liberal Democrats Claire Sully 5,781 14.4 –3.2
Green Charlie Graham 1,720 4.3 +2.2
Independent Pelé Barnes 334 0.8 N/A
Workers Party Gregory Tanner 168 0.4 N/A
Majority 1,349 3.4 –33.8
Turnout 40,129 56.1 –6.9
Registered electors 71,571
Conservative hold Swing –16.9

Elections in the 2010s

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2019 notional result[28]
Party Vote %
Conservative 26,058 57.9
Labour 9,334 20.7
Liberal Democrats 7,932 17.6
Green 925 2.1
Others 755 1.7
Turnout 45,004 63.0
Electorate 71,418

Elections in the 2000s

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General election 2005: Bridgwater[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger 21,240 44.10 +3.70
Labour Matthew Burchell 12,771 26.50 −0.30
Liberal Democrats James Main 10,940 22.70 −3.50
UKIP Raymond Weinstein 1,767 3.70 +0.90
Green Charlie Graham 1,391 2.90 New
Majority 8,469 17.60 +7.20
Turnout 48,109 63.50 −0.90
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2001: Bridgwater[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Liddell-Grainger 19,354 40.40 +3.47
Liberal Democrats Ian Thorn 14,367 30.00 −3.65
Labour Bill Monteith 12,803 26.80 +2.05
UKIP Vicky Gardner 1,323 2.80 New
Majority 4,987 10.40 +7.12
Turnout 47,847 64.40 −10.01
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

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General election 1997: Bridgwater[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 20,174 36.93 −9.83
Liberal Democrats Michael Hoban 18,378 33.65 +3.96
Labour Roger Lavers 13,519 24.75 +3.02
Referendum Fran Evens 2,551 4.67 New
Majority 1,796 3.28 −13.79
Turnout 54,622 74.41 −5.11
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Bridgwater[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 26,610 46.76 −4.76
Liberal Democrats WJ Revans 16,894 29.69 −0.61
Labour PE James 12,365 21.73 +3.54
Green G Dummett 746 1.31 New
Independent A Body 183 0.32 New
Natural Law G Sanson 112 0.20 New
Majority 9,716 17.07 −4.15
Turnout 56,910 79.52 +1.34
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

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General election 1987: Bridgwater[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 27,177 51.52 −0.74
SDP Christopher Clarke 15,982 30.30 +0.30
Labour John Turner 9,594 18.19 +0.45
Majority 11,195 21.22 −1.05
Turnout 52,753 78.18 +3.38
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1983: Bridgwater[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 25,107 52.26
SDP Rosemary Farley 14,410 30.00
Labour Andrew May 8,524 17.74
Majority 10,697 22.26
Turnout 48,041 74.80
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

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General election 1979: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 31,259 54.0 +9.7
Labour J Beasant 16,809 29.05 −3.8
Liberal Christina Baron 9,793 16.9 −5.5
Majority 14,450 25.0 +13.5
Turnout 57,861 79.2 +2.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 23,850 44.3 +0.7
Labour A Mitchell 17,663 32.78 +4.3
Liberal JHG Wyatt 12,077 22.4 −4.4
United Democratic SR Harrad 288 0.5 New
Majority 6,187 11.5 −2.6
Turnout 53,878 77.2 −5.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 24,830 43.65 −8.7
Labour R Undy 16,786 29.5 −6.3
Liberal JHG Wyatt 15,269 26.8 +14.9
Majority 8,044 14.1 −2.4
Turnout 56,885 82.25 +5.2
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 26,685 52.3 +7.9
Labour Raymond J Billington 18,224 35.8 −2.3
Liberal Patrick M O'Loughlin 6,066 11.9 −5.6
Majority 8,461 16.5 +10.2
Turnout 50,975 77.0 −3.2
Conservative hold Swing +5.3
1970 Bridgwater by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Tom King 25,687 55.5 +11.1
Labour Richard Mayer 14,772 31.9 −6.2
Liberal Patrick M O'Loughlin 5,832 12.6 −4.9
Majority 10,915 23.6 +17.3
Turnout 46,291 70.3 −9.9
Conservative hold Swing +8.6

Elections in the 1960s

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General election 1966: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 20,850 44.4 −0.4
Labour Richard Mayer 17,864 38.1 +6.6
Liberal Philip Watkins 8,205 17.5 −1.9
Majority 2,986 6.3 −7.0
Turnout 46,919 80.2 −0.1
Conservative hold Swing +3.5
General election 1964: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 20,822 44.8 −5.6
Labour Norman J Hart 14,645 31.5 −0.7
Liberal Philip Watkins 9,009 19.4 +2.1
Independent Michael L de V Hart 2,038 4.4 New
Majority 6,177 13.3 −4.9
Turnout 46,514 80.3 −1.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

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General election 1959: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 23,002 50.44
Labour James Finnigan 14,706 32.25
Liberal Philip Watkins 7,893 17.31 New
Majority 8,296 18.19
Turnout 45,601 81.77
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 24,887 59.17
Labour Albert E Sumbler 17,170 40.83
Majority 7,717 18.34
Turnout 42,057 78.00
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Bridgwater[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 25,365 56.34
Labour Co-op Norman E Carr 19,656 43.66
Majority 5,709 12.68
Turnout 45,021 84.63
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Bridgwater[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gerald Wills 21,732 48.84
Labour Co-op Norman E Carr 16,053 36.08
Independent Stephen King-Hall 6,708 15.08 New
Majority 5,679 12.76 N/A
Turnout 44,493 85.75
Conservative gain from Independent Progressive Swing

Elections in the 1940s

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General election 1945: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Progressive Vernon Bartlett 17,937 45.79 N/A
Conservative Gerald Wills 15,625 39.89
Labour Norman Corkhill 5,613 14.33
Majority 2,312 5.90
Turnout 39,175 72.69
Independent Progressive 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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

Elections in the 1930s

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1938 Bridgwater by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Progressive Vernon Bartlett 19,540 53.2 New
Conservative Patrick Gerald Heathcoat-Amory 17,208 46.8 −10.1
Majority 2,332 6.4 N/A
Turnout 36,748 82.3 +9.6
Independent Progressive gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1935: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Croom-Johnson 17,939 56.9 −18.6
Liberal Norman David Blake 7,370 23.4 New
Labour Arthur W Loveys 6,240 19.8 −2.7
Majority 10,569 33.5 −21.5
Turnout 31,549 72.7 −1.1
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Reginald Croom-Johnson 24,041 77.5 +30.7
Labour James Musgrave Boltz 6,974 22.5 +3.1
Majority 17,067 55.03 +42.0
Turnout 31,015 73.8 −6.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

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General election 1929: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Reginald Croom-Johnson 15,440 46.8 −5.9
Liberal Joseph William Molden 11,161 33.8 −6.2
Labour James Musgrave Boltz 6,423 19.4 +12.1
Majority 4,279 13.0 +0.3
Turnout 33,024 80.4 −4.0
Registered electors 41,068
Unionist hold Swing +0.1
General election 1924: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Brooks Wood 14,283 52.7 +5.4
Liberal William Morse 10,842 40.0 −12.7
Labour James Musgrave Boltz 1,966 7.3 New
Majority 3,441 12.7 N/A
Turnout 27,091 84.4 +1.0
Registered electors 32,111
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +9.1
General election 1923: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Morse 13,778 52.7 +6.3
Unionist Robert Sanders 12,347 47.3 +0.4
Majority 1,431 5.4 N/A
Turnout 26,125 83.4 +5.2
Registered electors 31,317
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +3.0
General election 1922: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Robert Sanders 11,240 46.9 −21.7
Liberal William Morse 11,121 46.4 New
Labour Thomas Williams 1,598 6.7 −24.7
Majority 119 0.5 −36.7
Turnout 23,959 78.2 +15.8
Registered electors 30,657
Unionist hold Swing −34.1

Elections in the 1910s

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General election 1918: Bridgwater
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Robert Sanders 12,587 68.6 +10.9
Labour Sid Plummer 5,771 31.4 New
Majority 6,816 37.2 +21.8
Turnout 18,358 62.4
Registered electors 29,411
Unionist hold Swing N/A
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
By-election, 1918: Bridgwater [38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Sanders Unopposed
Conservative hold

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 from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

Sanders is appointed Treasurer of the Household, requiring him to seek re-election.

General election December 1910: Bridgwater [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Sanders 5,160 57.7 −1.2
Liberal Harold C. Hicks 3,779 42.3 +1.2
Majority 1,381 15.4 −2.4
Turnout 8,939
Conservative hold Swing −1.2
General election January 1910: Bridgwater [39]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Sanders 5,575 58.9 +9.0
Liberal Harold C. Hicks 3,896 41.1 −9.0
Majority 1,679 17.8 18.0
Turnout 9,471
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.0

Elections in the 1900s

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Montgomery
General election 1906: Bridgwater[40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Montgomery 4,422 50.1 New
Conservative Robert Sanders 4,405 49.9 N/A
Majority 17 0.2 N/A
Turnout 8,827 86.7 N/A
Registered electors 10,180
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing N/A
 
Edward Stanley
General election 1900: Bridgwater [41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

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General election 1895: Bridgwater [41][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1892: Bridgwater [41][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley 4,555 57.5 N/A
Liberal James Douglas Walker 3,362 42.5 New
Majority 1,193 15.0 N/A
Turnout 7,917 77.5 N/A
Registered electors 10,220
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

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General election 1886: Bridgwater [41][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1885: Bridgwater [41][38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Stanley 3,935 50.6
Liberal Edwin Brook Cely Trevilian 3,835 49.4
Majority 100 1.2
Turnout 7,770 78.8
Registered electors 9,861
Conservative win (new seat)

Elections in the 1860s

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General election 1868: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 731 26.2 −5.1
Liberal Philip Vanderbyl 725 26.0 −2.8
Conservative Henry Westropp 681 24.4 +4.4
Conservative Charles William Gray[43] 650 23.3 +3.3
Majority 44 1.6 N/A
Turnout 1,394 (est) 93.0 (est) +3.7
Registered electors 1,499
Liberal hold Swing −4.2
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −3.6

A Royal Commission found extensive bribery in the seat and, from 4 July 1870, the writ was suspended, both MPs were unseated, and the electorate was absorbed into West Somerset.

By-election, 12 Jul 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Philip Vanderbyl 312 53.2 −6.9
Conservative George Patton 275 46.8 +6.9
Majority 37 6.4 N/A
Turnout 587 91.1 +1.8
Registered electors 644
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing −6.9
By-election, 7 Jun 1866: Bridgwater (1 seat)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Patton 301 50.7 +10.8
Liberal Walter Bagehot[44] 293 49.3 −10.8
Majority 8 1.4 −7.2
Turnout 594 92.2 +2.9
Registered electors 644
Conservative hold Swing +10.8

Patton was appointed Lord Advocate, requiring a by-election.

General election 1865: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Westropp 328 39.9 −3.6
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 257 31.3 +3.6
Liberal John Shelley 237 28.8 0.0
Majority 71 8.6 N/A
Turnout 575 (est) 89.3 (est) +7.3
Registered electors 644
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing −3.6
Liberal hold Swing +2.7

Westropp's election was declared void on petition on 25 April 1866, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s

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General election 1859: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Kemeys-Tynte 290 28.8 −10.8
Liberal Alexander William Kinglake 279 27.7 −8.4
Conservative Henry Padwick[45] 230 22.8 +10.6
Conservative Henry Westropp 208 20.7 +8.5
Majority 49 4.9 −6.9
Turnout 504 (est) 82.0 (est) −6.0
Registered electors 614
Liberal hold Swing −10.2
Liberal hold Swing −9.0
General election 1857: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 330 39.6 +10.8
Whig Alexander William Kinglake 301 36.1 +25.4
Conservative Brent Follett 203 24.3 −20.4
Majority 98 11.8 +8.9
Turnout 519 (est) 88.0 (est) +11.5
Registered electors 589
Whig hold Swing +10.5
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +17.8
General election 1852: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42][46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 271 28.8 −17.3
Conservative Brent Follett 244 25.9 +10.4
Conservative John Clavell Mansel[47][48] 177 18.8 +3.3
Whig Anthony Henley 149 15.8 N/A
Whig Alexander William Kinglake 101 10.7 N/A
Turnout 471 (est) 68.5 (est) −12.4
Registered electors 688
Majority 27 2.9 −12.2
Whig hold Swing −15.5
Majority 95 10.0 +1.9
Conservative hold Swing +9.5

Elections in the 1840s

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General election 1847: Bridgwater (2 seats)[42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 395 46.1 −0.7
Conservative Henry Broadwood 265 31.0 −22.2
Radical Stephen Gaselee[49] 196 22.9 N/A
Turnout 428 (est) 80.9 (est) −7.3
Registered electors 529
Majority 130 15.1 N/A
Whig gain from Conservative Swing +5.2
Majority 69 8.1 +5.3
Conservative hold Swing −10.9
General election 1841: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16][42][50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 280 26.8 −22.8
Conservative Thomas Seaton Forman 276 26.4 −22.8
Whig Edward Simcoe Drewe[51] 247 23.6 +22.7
Whig Augustin Robinson[52] 242 23.2 +22.8
Majority 29 2.8 −45.5
Turnout 525 88.2 +37.3
Registered electors 595
Conservative hold Swing −22.8
Conservative hold Swing −22.8

Elections in the 1830s

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General election 1837: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 279 49.6 +25.7
Conservative Philip Courtenay 277 49.2 +28.8
Whig Thomas Lethbridge 5 0.9 −13.9
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan[53] 2 0.4 −14.4
Majority 272 48.3 N/A
Turnout 284 50.9 −21.0
Registered electors 558
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +19.9
Conservative gain from Radical Swing +21.5
By-election, 16 May 1837: Bridgwater[16][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Broadwood 279 55.8 +11.5
Whig Richard Brinsley Sheridan[54] 221 44.2 +14.7
Majority 58 11.6 N/A
Turnout 500 89.6 +17.7
Registered electors 558
Conservative gain from Radical Swing −1.6
General election 1835: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 234 29.5 N/A
Radical John Temple Leader 208 26.2 N/A
Conservative Henry Broadwood 190 23.9 New
Conservative Francis Mountjoy Martyn[55] 162 20.4 New
Turnout 309 71.9 N/A
Registered electors 430
Majority 26 3.3 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority 18 2.3 N/A
Radical gain from Whig Swing N/A

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

General election 1832: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte Unopposed
Whig William Tayleur Unopposed
Registered electors 484
Whig hold
Whig gain from Tory
General election 1831: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte 337 44.8 N/A
Tory William Astell 213 28.3 N/A
Radical Henry Shirley 202 26.9 N/A
Turnout 430 N/A
Majority 124 16.5 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority 11 1.4 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1830: Bridgwater (2 seats)[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory William Astell Unopposed
Whig Charles Kemeys-Tynte Unopposed
Tory hold
Whig hold

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  2. ^ 2023 review South West Boundary Commission for England
  3. ^ a b "New Seat Details - Bridgwater". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
  5. ^ "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
  6. ^ a b c d "THOMER (TOMERE), William, of Bridgwater, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  8. ^ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  9. ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  10. ^ Browne Willis gives Molyns' name only tentatively for 1555
  11. ^ a b c "Bridgwater". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  12. ^ Expelled as a monopolist, January 1641
  13. ^ Cobbett lists the second MP elected in 1645 as John Palmer, MD, and gives Blake as MP for Taunton. Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography in naming Blake as MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.
  14. ^ Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Poulett, was seated in his place.
  15. ^ Allen was initially declared re-elected in 1780, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Acland, was seated in his place.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 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. 28–31. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ Vice-Admiral from 1787
  18. ^ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1793, Colonel from 1796
  19. ^ Jenkins, Terry (2009). "KEMEYS TYNTE, Charles Kemeys (1778–1860), of Halswell House, Goathurst, Som.; Cefn Mably, Glam.; Burhill, nr. Cobham, Surr. and 16 Hill Street, Hanover Square, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  20. ^ "John Bull". 30 July 1837. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent". 1 August 1837. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "The Elections". Morning Post. 30 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ Porter, Mary (1898). "The Lions of London". Annals of a Publishing House: John Blackwood (PDF). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. p. 127.
  25. ^ The election of Westropp was declared void and a by-election was held
  26. ^ The election of Kinglake and Vanderbyl in 1868 declared void. The writ (of election) was suspended and a Royal Commission was appointed, which reported that it had found proof of extensive bribery.
  27. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament to the Bridgwater Constituency - Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  31. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
  36. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
  37. ^ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939
  38. ^ a b c d e Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
  39. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
  40. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  41. ^ a b c d e The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  43. ^ "Bridgwater Election". Western Daily Press. 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ^ "Election Intelligence". London Daily News. 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ^ "Bridgwater Mercury". 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  47. ^ "The General Election". Bristol Times and Mirror. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ^ "Election Intelligence". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "General Election". Western Times. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "Local Elections". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "The Elections". Dorset County Chronicle. 1 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ "The Close of the Elections". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 14 August 1837. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "Close of the Election". Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 20 May 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ Gapper, Anthony. "List of the Electors at the Bridgwater Election" (PDF). Bridgwater Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

Sources

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  • 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) [1]
  • 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) [2]
  • Esther S Cope and Willson H Coates (eds), Camden Fourth Series, Volume 19: Proceedings of the Short Parliament of 1640 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1977)
  • Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) [3]
  • J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
  • 'Bridgwater: Parliamentary representation' in Victoria County History of Somerset: Volume 6 (1992)
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