Bewdley (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Bewdley was the name of a constituency
of the House of Commons
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1605 until 1950. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough
in Worcestershire
, represented by one Member of Parliament
; the name was then transferred to a county constituency from 1885 until 1950. Its MPs included the former Prime Minister
Stanley Baldwin
, who represented the seat from 1908 to 1937, and afterwards took the name of the constituency as part of his title when he was raised to the peerage.
parish in Worcestershire
, of which the market town of Bewdley
was the main settlement. In 1831, the population of the borough was 3,908, and contained 891 houses.
The right to vote was exercised by the bailiff and burgesses (members of the town corporation, who need not necessarily be resident in the borough); this normally amounted to only 13 voters, though the report to Parliament before the Reform Act recorded the electorate as 42. (The discrepancy is perhaps academic, since it was many years since there had been a contested election.)
In the second half of the 17th century, the inhabitants at large made several attempts to secure the right to vote by petitioning against the election results, but in each case the Commons upheld the restrictive provisions of the original grant. The corporation were entitled to nominate their own successors, meaning in theory that their power was self-sustaining. However, in the early 18th century this was circumvented by issuing a new Royal charter for the borough that extinguished the existing corporation and appointed a new one. In 1708 the Whig government had a new charter issued to eject the existing Tory-dominated corporation, and at that year's election both the old and new corporations attempted to exercise their right to vote; the Whig majority in the Commons upheld the new charter and seated the Whig candidate. After the 1710 election, however, the Whig government had lost its Commons majority and the new House declared the charter of 1708 void and the Tory candidate victorious. However, the repeal of the charter could only be secured through recourse to the courts, and although an action was begun it appears that the various parties made up their political differences before it reached a conclusion, and all sides eventually acquiesced in the new corporation's legitimacy.
For most of Bewdley's existence as a borough until the Reform Act, the corporation (and therefore the choice of its MP) was under the influence of one or other prominent local families. In the mid-17th century this control was exercised by the Foley family
, but after they acquired a hold on nearby Droitwich
(which elected two MPs) their interest in Bewdley seems to have waned – possibly because in Droitwich they were able to secure legal ownership of the voting rights, whereas in Bewdley they had to proceed by bribery. (In 1677, the Commons upheld a petition against Thomas Foley's election on grounds of bribery, and declared his opponent duly elected in his place.) At later periods the "patronage" was held alternately by the Lytteltons and the Winningtons; but from 1806 the influence passed to a local attorney, Wilson Roberts.
, which liberalised the franchise, Bewdley's boundaries were also extended to take in the whole of Ribbesford parish; this brought six hamlets into the borough, and almost doubled the population to 7,500. This new constituency had 337 electors qualified to vote in 1832, and the second extension of the franchise with a further expansion of the borough boundaries in 1867 increased this to just over 1,000. At this period, elections were sometimes uncontested when the candidate was the head of the locally influential Winnington family, but otherwise were generally close-run affairs with the winning majority frequently under 20.
, and was abolished with effect from the general election of 1885
; however, the Bewdley name was transferred to the new county division in which the town was placed, formally called The Western or Bewdley Division of Worcestershire. This new constituency comprised the whole of the western half of the county, largely rural but including the town of Great Malvern
, which contributed about a third of the population; the Worcester
freeholders (who were entitled to a county vote even though their property was within the borough boundaries) also voted here. It was a very safe Conservative
seat. Alfred Baldwin was elected as MP in 1892, holding the seat until his death in 1908. He was succeeded by his son, Stanley
, who later became Prime Minister
while still Bewdley's MP.
The constituency (now simply the Worcestershire, Bewdley Division) was redrawn in 1918, its southern end being transferred to the Evesham
seat and acquiring instead part of the north-western corner of the county including Stourport
, previously in the abolished Droitwich
division. These changes had little effect on the political complexion of Bewdley, and Baldwin generally secured twice as many votes as his nearest opponent, when the constituency was contested at all – indeed, in three of the five elections he fought as Prime Minister Bewdley returned him unopposed.
The Bewdley division was abolished with effect from the general election of 1950
, being divided between the Kidderminster
constituency (in which Bewdley itself was placed) and Worcestershire South (which included Malvern).
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:...
of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
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...
from 1605 until 1950. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, represented by 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,...
; the name was then transferred to a county constituency from 1885 until 1950. Its MPs included the former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, who represented the seat from 1908 to 1937, and afterwards took the name of the constituency as part of his title when he was raised to the peerage.
The unreformed borough (1614–1832)
Bewdley was enfranchised in 1614, being one of only a handful of English boroughs electing one rather than two MPs. The borough consisted of part of RibbesfordRibbesford
Ribbesford is a village and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 237....
parish in Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, of which the market town of Bewdley
Bewdley
Bewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster...
was the main settlement. In 1831, the population of the borough was 3,908, and contained 891 houses.
The right to vote was exercised by the bailiff and burgesses (members of the town corporation, who need not necessarily be resident in the borough); this normally amounted to only 13 voters, though the report to Parliament before the Reform Act recorded the electorate as 42. (The discrepancy is perhaps academic, since it was many years since there had been a contested election.)
In the second half of the 17th century, the inhabitants at large made several attempts to secure the right to vote by petitioning against the election results, but in each case the Commons upheld the restrictive provisions of the original grant. The corporation were entitled to nominate their own successors, meaning in theory that their power was self-sustaining. However, in the early 18th century this was circumvented by issuing a new Royal charter for the borough that extinguished the existing corporation and appointed a new one. In 1708 the Whig government had a new charter issued to eject the existing Tory-dominated corporation, and at that year's election both the old and new corporations attempted to exercise their right to vote; the Whig majority in the Commons upheld the new charter and seated the Whig candidate. After the 1710 election, however, the Whig government had lost its Commons majority and the new House declared the charter of 1708 void and the Tory candidate victorious. However, the repeal of the charter could only be secured through recourse to the courts, and although an action was begun it appears that the various parties made up their political differences before it reached a conclusion, and all sides eventually acquiesced in the new corporation's legitimacy.
For most of Bewdley's existence as a borough until the Reform Act, the corporation (and therefore the choice of its MP) was under the influence of one or other prominent local families. In the mid-17th century this control was exercised by the Foley family
Baron Foley
Baron Foley is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Great Britain, both times for members of the same family. The first creation came in 1712 in favour of Thomas Foley, who had earlier represented Stafford in the House of Commons. He was the grandson of the prominent ironmaster...
, but after they acquired a hold on nearby Droitwich
Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Droitwich was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of England in 1295, and again from 1554, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
(which elected two MPs) their interest in Bewdley seems to have waned – possibly because in Droitwich they were able to secure legal ownership of the voting rights, whereas in Bewdley they had to proceed by bribery. (In 1677, the Commons upheld a petition against Thomas Foley's election on grounds of bribery, and declared his opponent duly elected in his place.) At later periods the "patronage" was held alternately by the Lytteltons and the Winningtons; but from 1806 the influence passed to a local attorney, Wilson Roberts.
The reformed borough (1832–1885)
Under the Reform Act 1832Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
, which liberalised the franchise, Bewdley's boundaries were also extended to take in the whole of Ribbesford parish; this brought six hamlets into the borough, and almost doubled the population to 7,500. This new constituency had 337 electors qualified to vote in 1832, and the second extension of the franchise with a further expansion of the borough boundaries in 1867 increased this to just over 1,000. At this period, elections were sometimes uncontested when the candidate was the head of the locally influential Winnington family, but otherwise were generally close-run affairs with the winning majority frequently under 20.
The county division (1885–1950)
The borough was too small to retain separate representation after the Third Reform ActRepresentation of the People Act 1884
In the United Kingdom, the Representation of the People Act 1884 and the Redistribution Act of the following year were laws which further extended the suffrage in Britain after the Disraeli Government's Reform Act 1867...
, and was abolished with effect from the general election of 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:...
; however, the Bewdley name was transferred to the new county division in which the town was placed, formally called The Western or Bewdley Division of Worcestershire. This new constituency comprised the whole of the western half of the county, largely rural but including the town of Great Malvern
Great Malvern
Great Malvern is an area of Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is the historical centre of the town, and the location of the headquarters buildings of the of Malvern Town Council, the governing body of the Malvern civil parish, and Malvern Hills District council of the county of...
, which contributed about a third of the population; the Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
freeholders (who were entitled to a county vote even though their property was within the borough boundaries) also voted here. It was a very safe 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...
seat. Alfred Baldwin was elected as MP in 1892, holding the seat until his death in 1908. He was succeeded by his son, Stanley
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, who later became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
while still Bewdley's MP.
The constituency (now simply the Worcestershire, Bewdley Division) was redrawn in 1918, its southern end being transferred to the Evesham
Evesham (UK Parliament constituency)
Evesham was a parliamentary constituency in Worcestershire which was represented in the British House of Commons. Originally a parliamentary borough consisting of the town of Evesham, it was first represented in 1295...
seat and acquiring instead part of the north-western corner of the county including Stourport
Stourport-on-Severn
Stourport-on-Severn, often shortened to Stourport, is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of North Worcestershire, England, a few miles to the south of Kidderminster and down stream on the River Severn from Bewdley...
, previously in the abolished Droitwich
Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Droitwich was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of England in 1295, and again from 1554, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
division. These changes had little effect on the political complexion of Bewdley, and Baldwin generally secured twice as many votes as his nearest opponent, when the constituency was contested at all – indeed, in three of the five elections he fought as Prime Minister Bewdley returned him unopposed.
The Bewdley division was abolished with effect from the general election of 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...
, being divided between the Kidderminster
Kidderminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Kidderminster was a parliamentary constituency in Worcestershire, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.-History:...
constituency (in which Bewdley itself was placed) and Worcestershire South (which included Malvern).
Bewdley borough 1614–1885
| Year | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1605 | Richard Young Richard Young (MP for Bewdley) Richard Young was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1605 to 1611.Young was possibly a younger son of Humphrey Young of Croome Dabitot. In 1605, he was elected as the first Member of Parliament for the newly enfranchised borough of Bewdley.... |
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| 1614 | James Button | ||
| 1621 | Sir Thomas Edmonds | ||
| 1624 | Ralph Clare Ralph Clare Sir Ralph Clare was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1628.Clare was the eldest son of Sir Francis Clare of Caldwell, Worcestershire who died in 1608. He matriculated at Hart Hall, Oxford on 12 May 1597 aged 10 and was awarded BA... |
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| 1640 (Apr) | Sir Henry Herbert | Royalist | |
| 1640 (Nov) | Sir Henry Herbert | Royalist | |
| August 1642 | Herbert disabled from sitting – seat vacant | ||
| 1647 | William Hopkins William Hopkins (Bewdley MP) William Hopkins was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1647.Hopkins was described as "the most eminent and truly religious magistrate of Bewdley" and a "gracious and able Christian". In 1647, he was elected Member of Parliament for Bewdley in a double return... |
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| 1648 | Nicholas Lechmere Nicholas Lechmere Sir Nicholas Lechmere , of Hanley Castle in Worcestershire, was an English Judge and Member of Parliament.A nephew of Sir Thomas Overbury, Lechmere was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, and called to the bar as a member of Middle Temple in 1641. On the outbreak of the Civil War, he sided with... |
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| 1653 | Bewdley 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... and 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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| 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... |
Edward Pytts Edward Pytts Edward Pytts was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1654 and 1660.Pytts was the son of Sir James Pytts of Kyre who had been High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1633.... |
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| 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.... |
Nicholas Lechmere Nicholas Lechmere Sir Nicholas Lechmere , of Hanley Castle in Worcestershire, was an English Judge and Member of Parliament.A nephew of Sir Thomas Overbury, Lechmere was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, and called to the bar as a member of Middle Temple in 1641. On the outbreak of the Civil War, he sided with... |
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| April 1660 | Thomas Foley Thomas Foley (1616-1677) Thomas Foley was the eldest son of the second marriage of Richard Foley , a prominent Midlands ironmaster. He took over his father's business and made great profits from it in the 1650s and 1660s, which he used to buy estates. He then handed his business over to his sons, another Thomas Foley,... |
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| 1661 | Sir Henry Herbert | ||
| 1673 | Thomas Foley Thomas Foley (1616-1677) Thomas Foley was the eldest son of the second marriage of Richard Foley , a prominent Midlands ironmaster. He took over his father's business and made great profits from it in the 1650s and 1660s, which he used to buy estates. He then handed his business over to his sons, another Thomas Foley,... |
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| 1677 | Henry Herbert Henry Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury Henry Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury inherited the manor of Ribbesford on the death of his father Sir Henry Herbert, Master of Revels to Charles I and Charles II. Like his father he served as Member of Parliament for Bewdley, from 1677 to 1679, for Worcester in Charles II's last... |
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| 1679 | Philip Foley Philip Foley Philip Foley was the youngest of the three surviving sons of the British ironmaster Thomas Foley . His father transferred to him in 1668 and 1669 all his ironworks in the Midlands for £60,000... |
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| 1685 | Sir Charles Lyttelton, Bt Sir Charles Lyttelton, 3rd Baronet Sir Charles Lyttelton, 3rd Baronet was the second son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 1st Baronet. He inherited the baronetcy and the family estates in Frankley, Halesowen, Hagley, and Upper Arley on the death of his brother Sir Henry Lyttelton, 2nd Baronet in 1693... |
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| 1689 | Henry Herbert Henry Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury Henry Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury inherited the manor of Ribbesford on the death of his father Sir Henry Herbert, Master of Revels to Charles I and Charles II. Like his father he served as Member of Parliament for Bewdley, from 1677 to 1679, for Worcester in Charles II's last... |
Whig | |
| 1694 | Salwey Winnington Salwey Winnington Salwey Winnington , of Stanford Court, Worcestershire, was an English landowner and Member of Parliament .... |
Tory | |
| 1708 British general election, 1708 The British general election, 1708 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 2nd Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:... |
Hon. Henry Herbert | Whig | |
| 1709 | Charles Cornwall | Tory | |
| October 1710 British general election, 1710 The British general election, 1710 produced a landslide victory for the Tory party in the wake of the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell and the collapse of the previous Whig government lead by Godolphin and the Whig junto... |
Anthony Lechmere | Whig | |
| December 1710 | Salwey Winnington Salwey Winnington Salwey Winnington , of Stanford Court, Worcestershire, was an English landowner and Member of Parliament .... |
Tory | |
| 1715 British general election, 1715 The British general election of 1715 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 5th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707... |
Grey James Grove | Whig | |
| 1722 British general election, 1722 The British general election of 1722 elected members to serve in the House of Commons of the 6th Parliament of Great Britain. This event took place following the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was fiercely fought, with contests taking place... |
Crewe Offley | Whig | |
| 1734 British general election, 1734 The British general election, 1734 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 8th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. Robert Walpole's increasingly unpopular Whig government lost ground to the... |
William Bowles | Whig | |
| 1735 | Phineas Bowles Phineas Bowles (1690–1749) Lieutenant-General Phineas Bowles was a British Army officer.He was the son of Major-General Phineas Bowles .... |
Whig | |
| 1741 | William Bowles | Whig | |
| 1748 | William Henry Lyttelton | Tory | |
| 1755 | William Finch | ||
| 1761 British general election, 1761 The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707... |
Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Bt Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Baronet was the son of Edward Winnington of Broadway, son of Francis Winnington of Broadway, son of Sir Francis Winnington and younger brother of Francis Winnington.... |
Whig | |
| 1768 British general election, 1768 The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:... |
Hon. Thomas Lyttelton Thomas Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton Thomas Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton of Frankley was a British MP and profligate. Sometimes dubbed the nicknames "the wicked Lord Lyttelton" and "bad Lord Lyttelton", he was the son of George Lyttelton and Lucy Fortescue. His mother died when he was two years old. He was very talented in his... |
Tory | |
| 1769 | Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Bt Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Baronet Sir Edward Winnington, 1st Baronet was the son of Edward Winnington of Broadway, son of Francis Winnington of Broadway, son of Sir Francis Winnington and younger brother of Francis Winnington.... |
Whig | |
| 1774 | William Henry Lyttelton | Tory | |
| 1790 | Hon. George Fulke Lyttelton George Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton George Fulke Lyttelton, 2nd Baron Lyttelton was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician.He was the eldest son of the first baron. Between 1798 and 1800, Lyttelton represented Granard in the Irish House of Commons He succeeded his father as Member of Parliament for Bewdley in 1790 and to his title and... |
Tory | |
| 1796 | Miles Peter Andrews Miles Peter Andrews Miles Peter Andrews was an 18th century English playwright, gunpowder manufacturer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1796 to 1814.-Biography:... |
Tory | |
| 1814 | Charles Edward Wilsonn Charles Wilsonn Charles Edward Wilsonn was an English stationer and bookbinder and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1814 to 1818.... |
Tory | |
| 1818 United Kingdom general election, 1818 The 1818 general election of the United Kingdom saw the Whigs gain a few seats, but the Tories under the Earl of Liverpool retained a majority of around 90 seats... |
Wilson Aylesbury Roberts | Tory | |
| 1832 United Kingdom general election, 1832 -Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807.... |
Sir Thomas Winnington, 3rd Bt Sir Thomas Winnington, 3rd Baronet Sir Thomas Edward Winnington was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1807 and 1837.... |
Whig | |
| 1837 United Kingdom general election, 1837 The 1837 United Kingdom general election saw Robert Peel's Conservatives close further on the position of the Whigs, who won their fourth election of the decade.... |
Thomas Winnington Sir Thomas Winnington, 4th Baronet Sir Thomas Edward Winnington 4th Baronet was an English Whig politician.He was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Winnington, 3rd Baronet, of Stanford Court, Stanford-on-Teme, Worcestershire. He served as Member of Parliament for Bewdley in 1837–1847 and again in 1852–1868 and as High Sheriff of... |
Whig | |
| 1847 United Kingdom general election, 1847 -Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... |
Thomas James Ireland | 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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| 1848 | Viscount Mandeville William Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester, KP , known as Lord Kimbolton from 1823 to 1843 and as Viscount Mandeville from 1843 to 1855, was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.William Montagu was the eldest son of George Montagu, 6th Duke of Manchester... |
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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| 1852 United Kingdom general election, 1852 The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising... |
Sir Thomas Winnington, 4th Bt Sir Thomas Winnington, 4th Baronet Sir Thomas Edward Winnington 4th Baronet was an English Whig politician.He was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Winnington, 3rd Baronet, of Stanford Court, Stanford-on-Teme, Worcestershire. He served as Member of Parliament for Bewdley in 1837–1847 and again in 1852–1868 and as High Sheriff of... |
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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| 1868 United Kingdom general election, 1868 The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom... |
Sir Richard Atwood Glass Richard Atwood Glass Sir Richard Atwood Glass was an English telegraph cable manufacturer and a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1869.-Biography:... |
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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| 1869 | John Cunliffe Pickersgill Cunliffe | 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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| 1869 | Augustus Henry Archibald Anson Augustus Henry Archibald Anson Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus Henry Archibald Anson VC MP was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was member of parliament for Lichfield from 1859 until 1868 and for... |
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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| 1874 United Kingdom general election, 1874 -Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *... |
Charles Harrison Charles Harrison (Bewdley MP) Charles Harrison was a British businessman and Liberal politician.He was the younger son of Benjamin Harrison of Liverpool and his wife, Hannah King of Stourbridge. Harrison entered business with Mr B Devey, a wharfinger at Stourport-on-Severn. Among the goods that were dealt with on the wharf... |
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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| 1880 | Enoch Baldwin Enoch Baldwin Enoch Baldwin was an English iron founder and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1885.Baldwin was the son of Enoch Baldwin iron founder of Stourport whose brother was George Pearce Baldwin... |
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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| 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:... |
Borough abolished – name transferred to county division | ||
Bewdley county division 1885–1950
| Election | Member | Party | |
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| 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:... |
Sir Edmund Lechmere, Bt Sir Edmund Lechmere, 3rd Baronet Sir Edmund Anthony Harley Lechmere, 3rd Baronet was a British Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1866 and 1895. He was a pioneer of the Red Cross.... |
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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| 1892 United Kingdom general election, 1892 The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election... |
Alfred Baldwin | 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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| 1908 by-election | Rt Hon Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars... |
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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| 1937 by-election | Roger Conant Sir Roger Conant, 1st Baronet Sir Roger John Edward Conant, 1st Baronet was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Member of Parliament for more than 25 years between 1931 and 1959.... |
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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| 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... |
constituency abolished: see Kidderminster Kidderminster (UK Parliament constituency) Kidderminster was a parliamentary constituency in Worcestershire, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.-History:... & South Worcestershire |
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