Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)

Tiverton
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Tiverton1983Constituency.svg
Tiverton in Devon 1983-1997
County Devon
1885–1997
Number of members One
Replaced by Tiverton & Honiton
1621–1885
Number of members Two
Type of constituency Borough constituency
Tiverton in Devon 1885-1918

Tiverton was a constituency located in Tiverton in east Devon, formerly represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1615 and first represented in 1621, it elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the first past the post system of election until 1885. The name was then transferred to a county constituency electing one MP. (Between 1885 and 1918, the constituency was alternatively called Devon, North East.)

In 1997, it was merged with the neighbouring constituency of Honiton to form the Tiverton and Honiton constituency.

Prime Minister Lord Palmerston was a former MP for the seat.

History

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Borough of Tiverton, and the Sessional Divisions of Cullompton and Wonford.

1918–1950: The Municipal Borough of Tiverton, the Urban Districts of Bampton and Dawlish, the Rural Districts of Oulmstock and Tiverton, and parts of the Rural Districts of Newton Abbot and St Thomas.

1950–1974: The Municipal Borough of Tiverton, the Urban Districts of Dawlish and Teignmouth, the Rural District of Tiverton, and part of the Rural District of St Thomas.

1974–1983: The Municipal Borough of Tiverton, the Urban Districts of Crediton, Dawlish, and Teignmouth, the Rural Districts of Crediton and Tiverton, and part of the Rural District of St Thomas.

1983–1997: The District of Mid Devon wards of Boniface, Bradninch, Cadbury, Canal, Canonsleigh, Castle, Clare, Cullompton Outer, Cullompton Town, Culm, East Creedy, Halberton, Lawrence, Lowman, Newbrooke, Paullet, Sandford, Shuttern, Silverton, Upper Culm, Upper Yeo, Westexe North, Westexe South, Willand, and Yeo, and the District of East Devon wards of Broadclyst, Clystbeare, Clyst Valley, Exe Valley, Ottery St Mary Rural, Ottery St Mary Town, and Tale Vale.

Members of Parliament

Tiverton borough, 1621–1885

Year First member[1] First party Second member[1] Second party
1621–1622 John Bampfield John Davie
1624-March 1625 Sir George Chudleigh Humphrey Were
April–August 1625 Rowland St John John Francis
December 1625 – 1626 John Drake sat for Devon
replaced by Richard Oliver		 Peter Ball
1628–1629 John Bluett
No Parliament summoned 1629-40
April 1640 Peter Sainthill Royalist Peter Ball
November 1640 George Hartnall Royalist
January 1644 Sainthill and Hartnall disabled from sitting - both seats vacant
1646 Robert Shapcote John Elford
December 1648 Shapcote excluded in Pride's Purge - seat vacant Elford not recorded as sitting after Pride's Purge
1653 Tiverton was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Robert Shapcote Tiverton had only one seat in the First and
Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
1656
January 1659 Francis Warner Sir Coplestone Bampfylde
May 1659 Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660 Robert Shapcote Thomas Bampfylde
July 1660 Roger Colman
November 1660 Henry Newte
1661 Sir Thomas Carew, Bt Sir Thomas Stucley
1664 Sir Henry Ford
1673 Samuel Foote
1685 Sir Hugh Acland William Colman
1689 Samuel Foote
1690 Thomas Bere
1691 Sir Anthony Keck
1695 Lord Spencer Whig
1702 Robert Burridge
1708 Richard Mervin
1710 [2] Sir Edward Northey John Worth
1715 Thomas Bere
1722 Arthur Arscott
1726 George Deane
1727 Sir William Yonge, Bt [3] Whig
1728 by-election James Nelthorpe
1734 (Sir) Dudley Ryder
July 1747 Sir William Yonge, Bt [3] Whig
December 1747 by-election Henry Conyngham [4]
1754 Sir William Yonge, Bt Whig Henry Pelham
1755 by-election Thomas Ryder
1756 by-election Nathaniel Ryder
1758 by-election Sir Edward Hussey-Montagu
1762 by-election Charles Gore
1768 Sir John Duntze, Bt
1776 by-election John Eardley Wilmot
1784 Hon. Dudley Ryder Tory

[5]

1795 by-election Hon. Richard Ryder Tory[5]
1803 by-election William Fitzhugh Tory[5]
1819 by-election Viscount Sandon Tory[5]
1830 Hon. Granville Ryder Tory[5]
1831 Spencer Perceval Tory[5]
1832 John Heathcoat Whig[6][7][5][8] James Kennedy[9] Radical[5]
1835 by-election The Viscount Palmerston Whig[5]
1859 Hon. George Denman Liberal Liberal
1865 John Walrond, of Bradfield, Uffculme Conservative
1866 by-election Hon. George Denman Liberal
1868 John Heathcoat-Amory Liberal
1872 by-election William Nathaniel Massey Liberal
1881 by-election Viscount Ebrington Liberal
1885 Reduced to one member

County constituency, 1885–1997

Election Member[1] Party
1885 Sir William Walrond Conservative
1906 Hon. William Walrond Conservative
1915 by-election Charles Carew Conservative
1922 Herbert Sparkes Conservative
1923 by-election Sir Francis Dyke Acland, Bt Liberal
1924 Gilbert Acland-Troyte Conservative
1945 Derick Heathcoat-Amory Conservative
1960 by-election Robin Maxwell-Hyslop Conservative
1992 Angela Browning Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see Tiverton & Honiton

Election results

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Tiverton (2 seats) [5] [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Dudley Ryder Unopposed
Tory Granville Ryder Unopposed
Registered electors 24
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1831: Tiverton (2 seats) [5] [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Tory Spencer Perceval (junior) Unopposed
Tory Granville Ryder Unopposed
Registered electors 24
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1832: Tiverton (2 seats) [5] [11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig John Heathcoat 376 51.1
Radical James Kennedy (MP) 265 36.0
Whig Benjamin Wood 55 7.5
Whig Charles Chichester[12] 40 5.4
Turnout 402 87.0
Registered electors 462
Majority 111 15.1
Whig gain from Tory
Majority 210 28.5
Radical gain from Tory

Kennedy's election was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.

By-election, 24 May 1833: Tiverton [5] [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical James Kennedy (MP) 214 69.3 +33.3
Whig Benjamin Wood 95 30.7 −33.3
Majority 119 38.6 +10.1
Turnout 309 66.9 −20.1
Registered electors 462
Radical hold Swing +33.3
General election 1835: Tiverton (2 seats) [5] [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Heathcoat 366 49.1 −2.0
Radical James Kennedy (MP) 184 24.7 −11.3
Whig Charles Chichester[12] 134 18.0 +12.6
Conservative J Langmead 62 8.3 New
Turnout c. 373 c. 78.9 c. −8.1
Registered electors 473
Majority 182 24.4 +9.3
Whig hold Swing +1.8
Majority 50 6.7 −21.8
Radical hold Swing −11.0

Kennedy resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 1 June 1835: Tiverton [5] [11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig gain from Radical
General election 1837: Tiverton (2 seats) [5] [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Heathcoat 323 43.1 −6.0
Whig Viscount Palmerston 246 32.8 +14.8
Conservative Benjamin Bowden Dickinson 180 24.0 +15.7
Majority 66 8.8 −15.6
Turnout 420 84.3 c. +5.4
Registered electors 498
Whig hold Swing −6.9
Whig gain from Radical Swing +3.5

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig John Heathcoat Unopposed
Registered electors 478
Whig hold
Whig hold

Palmerston was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 10 July 1846: Tiverton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1847: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Heathcoat 148 53.8 N/A
Whig Viscount Palmerston 127 46.2 N/A
Chartist George Julian Harney 0 0.0 New
Majority 127 46.2 N/A
Turnout 138 (est) 30.9 (est) N/A
Registered electors 445
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig John Heathcoat Unopposed
Registered electors 461
Whig hold
Whig hold

Palmerston was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 3 January 1853: Tiverton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig hold

Palmerston became Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 February 1855: Tiverton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig hold
General election 1857: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Whig John Heathcoat Unopposed
Registered electors 482
Whig hold
Whig hold
General election 1859: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Liberal George Denman Unopposed
Registered electors 506
Liberal hold
Liberal hold

Palmerston became Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 June 1859: Tiverton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Temple was appointed Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 28 March 1861: Tiverton [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Viscount Palmerston Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Viscount Palmerston 261 37.4 N/A
Conservative John Walrond[13] 220 31.5 New
Liberal George Denman 217 31.1 N/A
Majority 3 0.4 N/A
Turnout 349 (est) 75.1 (est) N/A
Registered electors 465
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing N/A

Lord Palmerston's death in October 1865 caused a by-election.

By-election, 28 February 1866: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Denman 232 55.5 −13.0
Conservative John Dalrymple-Hay 186 44.5 +13.0
Majority 46 11.0 +10.6
Turnout 418 89.9 +14.8
Registered electors 465
Liberal hold Swing −13.0
General election 1868: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal George Denman Unopposed
Liberal John Heathcoat-Amory Unopposed
Registered electors 1,155
Liberal hold
Liberal gain from Conservative

Elections in the 1870s

Denman resigned after being appointed a Judge of Court of Common Pleas.

By-election, 6 Nov 1872: Tiverton (1 seat) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Nathaniel Massey 577 51.3 N/A
Conservative John Walrond 547 48.7 New
Majority 30 2.6 N/A
Turnout 1,124 89.3 N/A
Registered electors 1,258
Liberal hold Swing N/A
General election 1874: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Heathcoat-Amory 677 35.4 N/A
Liberal William Nathaniel Massey 629 32.9 N/A
Conservative John Walrond 605 31.7 N/A
Majority 24 1.2 N/A
Turnout 1,258 (est) 97.2 (est) N/A
Registered electors 1,294
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Tiverton (2 seats) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Heathcoat-Amory 743 36.6 +1.2
Liberal William Nathaniel Massey 699 34.4 +1.5
Conservative John Walrond[14] 590 29.0 −2.7
Majority 109 5.4 +4.2
Turnout 1,229 (est) 93.1 (est) −4.1
Registered electors 1,320
Liberal hold Swing +1.3
Liberal hold Swing +1.4

Massey's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 15 Nov 1881: Tiverton (1 seat) [11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hugh Fortescue 705 60.9 −10.1
Conservative Robert Frederick Loosemore[15] 453 39.1 +10.1
Majority 252 21.8 +16.4
Turnout 1,158 82.4 −10.7
Registered electors 1,405
Liberal hold Swing −10.1

Representation was reduced to one member.

General election 1885: Tiverton [16] [17] [18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond 4,563 56.9 +27.9
Liberal Sydney Stern 3,460 43.1 −27.9
Majority 1,103 13.8 N/A
Turnout 8,023 85.8 −7.3 (est)
Registered electors 9,349
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +27.9
General election 1886: Tiverton [16] [17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond Unopposed
Conservative hold

Walrond was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 Aug 1886: Tiverton [16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Tiverton [16] [17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond 4,433 58.8 N/A
Liberal John Budd Phear 3,101 41.2 New
Majority 1,332 17.6 N/A
Turnout 7,534 84.0 N/A
Registered electors 8,972
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1895: Tiverton [16] [17] [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Tiverton [20] [17] [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond Unopposed
Conservative hold
By-election, 1902: Tiverton [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Walrond Unopposed
Conservative hold
Reed
General election 1906: Tiverton [17] [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lionel Walrond 4,455 52.9 N/A
Liberal William Henry Reed 3,970 47.1 New
Majority 485 5.8 N/A
Turnout 8,425 91.1 N/A
Registered electors 9,248
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1910s

Walrond
General election January 1910: Tiverton [21] [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lionel Walrond 4,945 54.4 +1.5
Liberal Sir Ian Murray Heathcoat-Amory, 2nd Baronet 4,153 45.6 −1.5
Majority 792 8.8 +3.0
Turnout 9,098 94.2 +3.1
Registered electors 9,660
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
General election December 1910: Tiverton [21] [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lionel Walrond 5,033 59.3 +4.9
Liberal Alfred Trestrail 3,455 40.7 −4.9
Majority 1,578 18.6 +9.8
Turnout 8,488 87.9 −6.3
Registered electors 9,660
Conservative hold Swing +4.9

General Election 1914/15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

1915 Tiverton by-election [16] [21] [20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Charles Carew Unopposed
Unionist hold
General election 1918: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Charles Carew 9,598 57.2 −2.1
Liberal Edward Penton 4,827 28.7 −12.0
Labour Donald B. Fraser 2,377 14.1 New
Majority 4,771 28.5 +9.9
Turnout 16,802 64.8 −23.1
Unionist hold Swing +5.0
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Elections in the 1920s

Francis Acland
General election 1922: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Herbert Sparkes 10,304 46.9 -10.3
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 10,230 46.5 +17.8
Labour Frederick Brown 1,457 6.6 -7.5
Majority 74 0.4 -28.1
Turnout 21,991 80.1 +5.3
Unionist hold Swing
1923 Tiverton by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 12,041 49.8 +3.4
Unionist Gilbert Acland-Troyte 11,639 48.1 +1.2
Independent Labour Frederick Brown 495 2.1 -4.6
Majority 403 1.7 N/A
Turnout 24,174 88.1 +8.0
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.2
General election 6 December 1923: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 12,303 50.0 +3.5
Unionist Gilbert Acland-Troyte 12,300 50.0 -3.1
Majority 3 0.0 N/A
Turnout 24,603 87.4 +7.3
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
General election 1924: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Gilbert Acland-Troyte 13,601 53.2 +3.2
Liberal Francis Dyke Acland 11,942 46.8 -3.2
Majority 1,659 6.4 N/A
Turnout 25,543 90.2 +2.8
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +3.2
General election 1929: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Gilbert Acland-Troyte 15,423 50.5 -2.7
Liberal Dingle Foot 12,908 42.3 -4.5
Labour Heyman Wreford Wreford-Glanville 2,199 7.2 New
Majority 2,515 8.2 +1.8
Turnout 30,530 86.2 -4.0
Unionist hold Swing +0.9

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gilbert Acland-Troyte Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1935: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Gilbert Acland-Troyte Unopposed N/A N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1940s

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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;

General election 1945: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derick Heathcoat-Amory 16,919 51.3 N/A
Labour GC Tompson 8,634 26.2 New
Liberal Cyril Harry Blackburn 7,418 22.5 New
Majority 8,285 25.1 N/A
Turnout 32,971 74.0 N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derick Heathcoat-Amory 20,606 52.11
Labour Patrick Duffy 12,055 30.48
Liberal Cyril Harry Blackburn 6,885 17.41
Majority 8,551 21.63
Turnout 46,536 84.98
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derick Heathcoat-Amory 24,532 63.53
Labour Patrick Duffy 14,084 36.47
Majority 10,448 27.06
Turnout 38,616 81.26
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derick Heathcoat-Amory 23,475 64.27
Labour Patrick Duffy 13,051 35.73
Majority 10,424 28.54
Turnout 36,526 76.32
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1959: Tiverton [22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Derick Heathcoat-Amory 21,714 55.6 -8.7
Labour John Dunwoody 9,836 25.2 -10.5
Liberal James J Collier 7,504 19.2 New
Majority 11,878 30.4 +1.9
Turnout 39,054 80.7 +4.4
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

1960 Tiverton by-election [22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 15,308 45.7 -9.9
Liberal James J Collier 12,268 36.7 +17.5
Labour Raymond F H Dobson 5,895 17.6 -7.6
Majority 3,040 9.0 -21.4
Turnout 33,471 68.4 -12.3
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Tiverton [22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 19,280 47.3 -8.3
Liberal James J Collier 14,053 34.5 +15.3
Labour John T Mitchard 7,393 18.2 -7.0
Majority 5,227 12.8 -17.6
Turnout 40,726 80.1 -0.6
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1966: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 20,351 48.57
Labour F Keith Taylor 11,325 27.03
Liberal Frank J Suter 10,225 24.40
Majority 9,026 21.54
Turnout 41,901 80.72
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 24,689 55.18
Labour Roy Hewetson 10,823 24.19
Liberal Frank J Suter 9,229 20.63
Majority 13,866 30.99
Turnout 44,741 77.01
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 27,164 47.58
Liberal Frank J Suter 21,623 37.87
Labour Roy Hewetson 8,308 14.55
Majority 5,541 9.69
Turnout 57,095 82.36
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 25,265 46.68
Liberal Frank J Suter 19,911 36.79
Labour M Phillips 8,946 16.53
Majority 5,354 9.89
Turnout 54,122 77.45
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1979: Tiverton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 33,444 56.74
Liberal David J Morrish 17,215 29.21
Labour AWF Cook 8,281 14.05
Majority 16,229 27.53
Turnout 58,940 79.25
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Tiverton [23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 27,101 54.78
Liberal David J Morrish 19,215 38.84
Labour DA Gorbutt 3,154 6.38
Majority 7,886 15.94
Turnout 49,470 77.51
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1987: Tiverton [24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robin Maxwell-Hyslop 29,875 54.95
Liberal David J Morrish 20,663 38.00
Labour JA Northam 3,400 6.25
Independent WJ Jones 434 0.80 New
Majority 9,212 16.95
Turnout 54,372 79.71
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Tiverton [25] [26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Angela Browning 30,376 51.5 -3.4
Liberal Democrats DN Cox 19,287 32.7 -5.3
Labour SC Gibb 5,950 10.1 +3.9
Liberal David J Morrish 2,225 3.8 New
Green Peter Foggitt 1,007 1.7 New
Natural Law BC Rhodes 96 0.2 New
Majority 11,089 18.8 +1.9
Turnout 58,941 83.3 +3.6
Conservative hold Swing +0.9

See also

Other Languages

Copyright