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Appleby (UK Parliament constituency)

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Appleby was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Westmorland in England. It existed for two separate periods: from 1295 to 1832, and from 1885 to 1918.

Appleby
Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyWestmorland
BoroughAppleby-in-Westmorland
Major settlementsAppleby-in-Westmorland
1885–1918
Seats1
Created fromWestmorland
Replaced byWestmorland
1295–1832
Seats2
Type of constituencyborough constituency
Created fromWestmorland
Replaced byWestmorland

Appleby was enfranchised as parliamentary borough in 1295, and abolished by the Great Reform Act 1832. It returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) using the bloc vote system. It was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. Its best-known MP was William Pitt the Younger who became prime minister in 1783 at the age of 24.

For the 1885 general election the Redistribution of Seats Act created a county constituency of the same name, which returned a single MP elected by the first-past-the-post system. The county constituency was abolished at the 1918 general election.

HistoryEdit

The borough (1295–1832)Edit

The parliamentary borough of Appleby consisted of the town of Appleby, the county town of Westmorland, and was consistently represented in the House of Commons from the Model Parliament of 1295 until the Reform Act.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

The right to vote rested with the occupiers of around a hundred burgage tenements. By the 18th century, the majority of the burgages were owned by the Lowther and Tufton families, which enabled them to put in reliable tenants at election time and ensure their complete control of who was elected. The seats were frequently kept for members of those families, but Appleby's other representatives included William Pitt the younger, who was MP for Appleby when he became prime minister in 1783 (although he stood down at the following general election when he was instead elected for Cambridge University).

A later member for Appleby was Viscount Howick, subsequently (as Earl Grey) the Prime Minister whose administration passed the Great Reform Act of 1832; but Grey's history as a former MP for the town did not save it from losing both its members under the Act. Appleby was regarded as a classic example of a pocket borough, completely in the control of its owners who were also the major local landowners, and with a population of only 1,233 at the 1831 census unlikely to be freed from their influence even by widening the franchise. Nevertheless, as the only county town to be disfranchised, Appleby was one of the more controversial cases in the debates on the reform bill, the opposition making unsuccessful attempts to amend the bill so as to save at least one of its MPs.

After abolition the borough was absorbed into the Westmorland county constituency.

The county constituency (1885–1918)Edit

The Appleby constituency created for the 1885 election was, in full, "The Appleby or Northern Division of Westmorland", and was sometimes referred to as Westmorland North. It consisted of the whole of the northern half of the county, including the towns of Ambleside, Grasmere and Kirkby Stephen. It was abolished at the 1918 general election, the whole county henceforth being united in a single Westmorland constituency.

Members of ParliamentEdit

MPs 1295–1660Edit

Parliament First member Second member
1382 William Soulby[1]
1385 William Soulby[1]
1386 Robert Overdo I John Overdo[1]
1388 (Feb) William Soulby Adam Crosby[1]
1388 (Sep)
1390 (Jan)
1390 (Nov)
1391 William Soulby John Sowerby[1]
1393
1394
1395 Robert Gare William Savage[1]
1397 (Jan) John Helton John Sowerby[1]
1397 (Sep) Christopher Curwen Thomas Chamberlain[1]
1399 Thomas Warcop William Crackenthorpe I[1]
1401
1402 Robert Gare Robert Overdo II[1]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 John Ninezergh William Crackenthorpe II[1]
1407 John Sagher John Pray[1]
1410
1411 John Helton John Sowerby[1]
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) Robert Sandford Thomas Stockdale[1]
1414 (Apr)
1414 (Nov) Robert Crackenthorpe John Birkrig[1]
1415 Roland Thornburgh John Birkrig[1]
1416 (Mar) Richard Bristowe Thomas Ma[nningham][1]
1416 (Oct)
1417 Thomas Stockdale John Birkrig[1]
1419 Richard Wharton Thomas Pety[1]
1420 William Lowther Nicholas Stanshawe[1]
1421 (May) William Scalby Nicholas Stanshawe[1]
1421 (Dec) John Booth Nicholas Stanshawe[1]

1436-1427 Thomas Wharton

1510–1523 No names known[3]
1529 Sir Richard Tempest Sir Thomas Wharton[3]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 Cuthbert Horsley Thomas Jolye[3]
1545 Thomas Jolye Robert Wheatley[3]
1547 Thomas Jolye, died
and replaced Jan 1552 by George Clifford		 Robert Wheatley[3]
1553 (Mar) ?
1553 (Oct) George Clifford James Bankes[3]
1554 (Apr) John Eltoftes William Danby[3]
1554 (Nov) John Eltoftes William Danby[3]
1555 ?
1558 John Eltoftes Nicholas Purslow[3]
1559 (Jan) John Eltoftes Christopher Monckton[4]
1562/3 Christopher Monckton Robert Atkinson[4]
1571 John Layton Richard Wroth[4]
1572 (Apr) George Frevile Robert Bowes[4]
1584 (Nov) George Ireland Henry Macwilliam[4]
1586 James Ryther Robert Constable[4]
1588 Laurence Lister Thomas Musgrave
Robert Warcop
Anthony Felton
Election declared void, 11 Feb 1589
1589 Ralph Bowes Thomas Posthumous Hoby[4]
1593 Thomas Posthumous Hoby Cuthbert Reynolds[4]
1597 (Sep) James Colbrand John Lyly[4]
1601 (Oct) John Morice Thomas Caesar[4]
1604 John Morice Sir William Bowyer
1614 Sir George Savile, junior Sir Henry Wotton
1621 Sir Arthur Ingram Thomas Hughes
1624 Sir Arthur Ingram Thomas Hughes
1625 Sir John Hotham sat for Beverley – not replaced Thomas Hughes
1626 Sir William Slingsby William Ashton
1628 William Ashton Richard Lowther
1629–1640 No Parliaments convened
1640 (Apr) Richard Boyle Richard Lowther
1640 (Nov) Sir John Brooke (Royalist) – disabled March 1643 Richard Boyle (Royalist) ennobled, September 1642
1645 Richard Salway Henry Ireton
1648 Richard Salway Henry Ireton died November 1651
1653 Appleby unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Appleby unrepresented in the First Parliament of the Protectorate
1656 Appleby unrepresented in the Second Parliament of the Protectorate
1659 Adam Baynes Nathaniel Redding

MPs 1660–1832Edit

Year First member First party Second member Second party
1660 Sir Henry Cholmley Christopher Clapham
1661 John Lowther John Dalston
1668 Thomas Tufton Tory
1679 Richard Tufton Anthony Lowther
January 1681 Sackville Tufton
February 1681 Sir John Bland
1685 Philip Musgrave
January 1689 Richard Lowther
July 1689 William Cheyne
1690 Hon. Charles Boyle
1694 Sir John Walter
1695 Sir William Twysden Sir Christopher Musgrave
1697 Sir John Walter
1698 Gervase Pierrepont
1701 Wharton Dunch
1702 James Grahme
1705 William Harvey
1708 Nicholas Lechmere Edward Duncombe
1710 Thomas Lutwyche
1713 Sir Richard Sandford, Bt.
1722 Sackville Tufton Tory
1723 by-election [a] James Lowther Whig
1727 by-election John Ramsden Ind. Whig
1730 by-election [b] Walter Plumer Whig
1741 George Dodington [c] Whig
1742 by-election [c] Sir Charles Wyndham, Bt
1747 Randle Wilbraham
1754 [d] William Lee Philip Honywood
1756 by-election [d] Fletcher Norton
1761 John Stanwix
1767 by-election [e] Charles Jenkinson Whig
1773 by-election [f] Fletcher Norton the younger
1774 George Johnstone Independent
1780 William Lowther[g] Tory
1781 by-election [g] Hon. William Pitt Whig
1784 Hon. John Leveson-Gower Richard Penn
1790 Hon. Robert Jenkinson[h] Tory Richard Ford Tory
January 1791 by-election [h] Hon. William Grimston
May 1791 by-election [i] Hon. John Rawdon
1796 Hon. John Tufton John Courtenay
1799 by-election [j] Robert Adair Whig
1802 Sir Philip Francis Whig
May 1807 Charles Grey Whig James Cuthbert Whig
July 1807 by-election [k] Nicholas Ridley-Colborne Whig
October 1812 James Lowther Tory John Courtenay Whig
December 1812 by-election [l] George Tierney Whig
1818 George Fludyer Tory Lucius Concannon Whig
1819 by-election [m] Adolphus Dalrymple Tory
March 1820 George Tierney[n] Whig
May 1820 by-election [n] Thomas Creevey Whig
1826 Hon. Henry Tufton Whig[13] James Maitland Tory[14]
May 1832 by-election [o] Charles Henry Foster Barham Whig[15]
1832 Constituency abolished by the Great Reform Act

NotesEdit

  1. ^ The by-election in 1723 was due to the death of Sir Richard Sandford, Bt.
  2. ^ The by-election in 1730 was due to Tufton succeeding to the peerage as Earl of Thanet
  3. ^ a b In 1741, Dodington was also elected for Bridgwater, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Appleby
  4. ^ a b At the 1754 election, Lee and Honywood defeated Sir John Ramsden and Fletcher Norton, but this election was subsequently declared void and a by-election held in February 1756, at which Norton rather than Lee was elected
  5. ^ The 1767 by-election was due to the death of Stanwix, who was drowned while returning from Ireland
  6. ^ The 1773 by-election was due to the resignation of Jenkinson
  7. ^ a b In 1780, Lowther was also elected for Carlisle, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Appleby, causing a by-election in 1781
  8. ^ a b Jenkinson was also elected for Rye, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Appleby
  9. ^ The May 1791 by-election was caused by the resignation of Richard Ford
  10. ^ The 1799 by-election was caused by the death of Hon. John Tufton
  11. ^ The July 1807 by-election was caused by the resignation of Charles Grey to contest a vacancy in Tavistock
  12. ^ The December 1812 by-election was caused by the resignation of John Courtenay
  13. ^ The 1819 by-election was caused by the resignation of George Fludyer
  14. ^ a b Tierney was also elected for Knaresborough, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Appleby
  15. ^ The by-election in May 1832 was due to Henry Tufton succeeding to the peerage as Earl of Thanet

MPs 1885–1918Edit

Year Member Party
1885 Hon. William Lowther Conservative
1892 Sir Joseph Savory Conservative
1900 Richard Rigg Liberal
1905 Leif Jones Liberal
1910 Lancelot Sanderson Conservative
1915 Cecil Lowther Conservative
1918 constituency abolished

Election results 1885–1918Edit

Elections in the 1880sEdit

General election 1885: Appleby [16][17][18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Lowther 2,694 50.1
Liberal James Whitehead 2,684 49.9
Majority 10 0.2
Turnout 5,378 89.3
Registered electors 6,022
Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Appleby [16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Lowther 2,748 51.8 +1.7
Liberal James Whitehead 2,562 48.2 −1.7
Majority 186 3.6 +3.4
Turnout 5,310 88.2 −1.1
Registered electors 6,022
Conservative hold Swing +1.7

Elections in the 1890sEdit

General election 1892: Appleby [16][17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joseph Savory 2,963 56.8 +5.0
Liberal Alfred Charles Tufton 2,256 43.2 −5.0
Majority 707 13.6 +10.0
Turnout 5,219 80.5 −7.7
Registered electors 6,481
Conservative hold Swing +5.0
General election 1895: Appleby [16][17][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Joseph Savory 2,950 58.7 +1.9
Liberal Theodore Wilfrid Fry 2,077 41.3 −1.9
Majority 873 17.4 +3.8
Turnout 5,027 79.6 −0.9
Registered electors 6,316
Conservative hold Swing +1.9

Elections in the 1900sEdit

 
Rigg
General election 1900: Appleby [16][17][19][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Rigg 2,835 55.7 +14.4
Conservative Joseph Savory 2,256 44.3 −14.4
Majority 579 11.4 N/A
Turnout 5,091 75.5 −4.1
Registered electors 6,744
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +14.4
 
Jones
1905 Appleby by-election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leif Jones 2,922 52.0 −3.7
Conservative George Noble 2,702 48.0 +3.7
Majority 220 4.0 −7.4
Turnout 5,624 84.3 +8.8
Registered electors 6,670
Liberal hold Swing −3.7
General election 1906: Appleby [16][17][20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Leif Jones 2,890 50.1 −5.6
Conservative Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice 2,882 49.9 +5.6
Majority 8 0.2 −11.2
Turnout 5,785 88.4 +8.9
Registered electors 6,528
Liberal hold Swing −5.6
  • Figures are those following a recount

Elections in the 1910sEdit

 
Sanderson
General election January 1910: Appleby [16][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lancelot Sanderson 3,335 53.8 +3.9
Liberal Leif Jones 2,868 46.2 −3.9
Majority 467 7.6 N/A
Turnout 6,203 93.2 +4.8
Registered electors 6,656
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +3.9
 
Wilson
General election December 1910: Appleby [16][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lancelot Sanderson 3,258 54.9 +1.1
Liberal Philip Wilson 2,679 45.1 −1.1
Majority 579 9.8 +2.2
Turnout 5,937 89.2 -4.0
Registered electors 6,656
Conservative hold Swing +1.1

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 Appleby by-election[16][21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cecil Lowther (politician) Unopposed
Unionist hold

Election results before 1832Edit

Elections in the 1830sEdit

By-election, 24 May 1832: Appleby[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Charles Henry Foster Barham Unopposed
Registered electors c. 99
Whig hold
  • Caused by Tufton's succession to the peerage, becoming 11th Earl of Thanet
General election, 3 May 1831: Appleby[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Tufton Unopposed
Tory James Maitland Unopposed
Registered electors c. 99
Whig hold
Tory hold
General election, 5 August 1830: Appleby[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Whig Henry Tufton Unopposed
Tory James Maitland Unopposed
Whig hold
Tory hold

Elections in the 18th centuryEdit

Election results taken from the History of Parliament Trust series.

General election 1715: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Thomas Lutwyche Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Sandford Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1722: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sackville Tufton Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan Richard Sandford Unopposed N/A N/A
  • Death of Sandford
By-Election 2 May 1723: Appleby
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan James Lowther 99 53.80 N/A
Non Partisan Trevor Hill 85 46.20 N/A
General election 1727: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Sackville Tufton Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Ramsden Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 24 January 1730: Appleby
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Walter Plumer Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1734: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Walter Plumer Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Ramsden Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1741: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan George Dodington Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Ramsden Unopposed N/A N/A
By-Election 1 January 1742: Appleby
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Charles Wyndham Unopposed N/A N/A
General election 1747: Appleby (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Non Partisan Randle Wilbraham Unopposed N/A N/A
Non Partisan John Ramsden Unopposed N/A N/A

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1386–1421). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1422–1504). Retrieved 27 March 2019. (currently unavailable)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1509–1558). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1558–1603). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1604–1629). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1640–1660). Retrieved 27 March 2019.(currently unavailable )
  7. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1660–1690). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1690–1715). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1715–1754). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1754–1790). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1790–1820). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d "Appleby". History of Parliament Online (1820–1832). Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  13. ^ Escott, Margaret. "TUFTON, Hon. Henry (1775-1849)". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  14. ^ Escott, Margaret. "MAITLAND, James, Visct. Maitland (1784-1860)". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  15. ^ Escott, Margaret; Spencer, Howard. "FOSTER BARHAM, Charles Henry (1808-1878), of Trecwn, Pemb. and Stockbridge, Hants". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, FWS Craig
  17. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
  18. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
  19. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
  20. ^ a b c Liberal Year Book 1908
  21. ^ a b c Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Vacant
since 1782
Title last held by
Banbury 		Constituency represented by the Prime Minister
1783–1784 		Succeeded by
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