West Gloucestershire
Former County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
West Gloucestershire, showing boundaries used from 1983-1997
CountyGloucestershire
1950–1997
SeatsOne
Created fromForest of Dean and Stroud[1]
Replaced byForest of Dean, Tewkesbury
1832–1885
SeatsTwo
Type of constituencyCounty constituency
Created fromGloucestershire
Replaced byForest of Dean
Thornbury

West Gloucestershire was a parliamentary constituency in Gloucestershire, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It was first created by the Great Reform Act for the 1832 general election as a 2-seat constituency (i.e. electing two Members of Parliament). It was abolished for the 1885 general election.

Its namesake, a seat of about half the physical size of the above, took up a north-west side of the Severn estuary similar to the Forest of Dean, and came into being for the 1950 general election. It was abolished for the 1997 general election.

History

The 1950 to 1997 single-member constituency was held by the Labour Party from its creation in 1950 until 1979 and then held by the Conservative Party until its abolition.

Boundaries

1832 to 1885

Context: 1832-1868. Extract from 1837 result: the western, striped areas straddling the Severn estuary.

1832–1885: The Hundreds of Berkeley, Thornbury, Langley and Swineshead, Grumbald's Ash, Pucklechurch, Lancaster Duchy, Botloe, St Briavel's, Westbury, and Bledisloe, and the parts of the Hundreds of Henbury and Barton Regis that are not included in the limits of the City of Bristol.[2]

The place of election was the small town of Dursley. This was where the hustings were put up and electors voted (by spoken declaration in public, before the secret ballot was introduced in 1872).

The qualification to vote in county elections, in the period, was to be a 40 shilling freeholder.

The county's five parliamentary boroughs were all in East Gloucestershire. Qualified freeholders from those boroughs could vote in the eastern county division. Bristol was a "county of itself", so its freeholders qualified to vote in the borough, not in a county division.

There were no electors qualified to vote in the western division, because they were freehold owners of land in a parliamentary borough.

1950 to 1997

1950–1983: The Rural Districts of East Dean, Lydney, Newent, and West Dean, and part of the Rural District of Gloucester.

1983–1997: The District of Forest of Dean, and the Borough of Tewkesbury wards of Brockworth Glebe, Brockworth Moorfield, Brockworth Westfield, Churchdown Brookfield, Churchdown Parton, Churchdown Pirton, De Winton, Haw Bridge, Highnam, Horsbere, and Innsworth.

The constituency in this period was a smaller part of the county of Gloucestershire than its nineteenth century namesake. It was centred on the Forest of Dean, and indeed the majority of the constituency at abolition formed the new Forest of Dean constituency. About a fifth of the constituency moved to Tewkesbury, with 735 constituents moving to Gloucester.[3]

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885

Election 1st member[4] 1st party 2nd member[4] 2nd party
1832 Hon. Grantley Berkeley Whig[5][6] Hon. Augustus Moreton Whig[5]
1835 Henry Somerset[7] Conservative[5]
1836 by-election[8] Robert Blagden Hale Conservative[5]
1852 Robert Kingscote[9] Whig[10][11]
1857 Sir John Rolt[12] Conservative
1859 Liberal
1867 by-election[13] Edward Arthur Somerset Conservative
1868 Samuel Marling Liberal
1874 Hon. Randal Plunkett Conservative
1880 Henry Moreton Liberal
1885 by-election[14] Benjamin St John Ackers Conservative
1885 constituency abolished

MPs 1950–1997

Election Member[4] Party
1950 M. Philips Price Labour
1959 Charles Loughlin Labour
Oct 1974 John Watkinson Labour
1979 Paul Marland Conservative
1997 constituency abolished: see Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury

Election results

Election in the 1990s

General election 1992: Gloucestershire West[15][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Marland 29,232 43.6 −2.5
Labour Diana Organ 24,274 36.2 +8.2
Liberal Democrats J. E. Boait 13,366 19.9 −6.0
British Independent A. Reeve 172 0.3 New
Twenty First Century C. R. Palmer 75 0.1 New
Majority 4,958 7.4 −10.7
Turnout 67,119 83.9 +2.5
Registered electors 80,007 +2.6
Conservative hold Swing −5.4

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: West Gloucestershire[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Marland 29,257 46.1 +0.3
Labour Peter Sandland-Nielsen 17,758 28.0 +3.3
SDP John Watkinson 16,440 25.9 −3.6
Majority 11,499 18.1 +1.8
Turnout 63,455 81.4 +1.8
Registered electors 77,994 +5.0
Conservative hold Swing +1.9
General election 1983: West Gloucestershire[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Marland 27,092 45.8 −2.1
SDP John Watkinson 17,440 29.5 +18.7
Labour Michael J. Hodkinson 14,572 24.7 −16.1
Majority 9,652 16.3 +9.2
Turnout 59,104 79.6 −4.3
Registered electors 74,266 +5.0
Conservative hold Swing +7.0

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: West Gloucestershire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Paul Marland 28,183 47.9 +7.0
Labour John Watkinson 24,009 40.8 −0.9
Liberal Margaret Joachim 6,370 10.8 −6.6
National Front G. Storkey 270 0.5 New
Majority 4,174 7.1 N/A
Turnout 58,832 83.9 +3.7
Registered electors 70,104 +4.3
Conservative gain from Labour Swing +3.9
General election October 1974: West Gloucestershire
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Watkinson 22,481 41.7 +1.0
Conservative Paul Marland 22,072 40.9 +3.1
Liberal A. L. MacGregor 9,353 17.4 −3.8
Majority 409 0.8 −2.1
Turnout 53,906 80.2 −3.7
Registered electors 67,239 +0.8
Labour hold Swing −1.1
General election February 1974: Gloucestershire West [19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Loughlin 22,765 40.7 −5.4
Conservative Paul Marland 21,141 37.8 −6.1
Liberal A. L. MacGregor 11,856 21.2 +11.2
Independent S. S. Hart 171 0.3 New
Majority 1,624 2.9 +0.7
Turnout 55,933 83.9 +6.7
Registered electors 66,706 +3.7
Labour hold Swing +0.4
General election 1970: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Loughlin 22,637 46.1 −5.7
Conservative Stanley H. A. F. Hopkins 21,530 43.9 +9.4
Liberal J. Alan Svendsen 4,932 10.0 −3.7
Majority 1,107 2.2 −15.1
Turnout 49,099 77.2 −0.8
Registered electors 63,599 +10.7
Labour hold Swing −7.5

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Loughlin 23,181 51.8 +1.9
Conservative Stanley H. A. F. Hopkins 15,476 34.5 +0.4
Liberal Kenneth G. Harvey 6,137 13.7 −2.3
Majority 7,705 17.3 +1.5
Turnout 44,794 78.0 −1.6
Registered electors 57,443 +1.8
Labour hold Swing +0.7
General election 1964: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Loughlin 22,420 49.9 +0.5
Conservative Douglas St P. Barnard 15,300 34.1 −3.0
Liberal Richard A. Cook 7,191 16.0 +2.5
Majority 7,120 15.8 +3.5
Turnout 44,911 79.6 −1.2
Registered electors 56,407 +4.1
Labour hold Swing +1.7

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Charles Loughlin 21,634 49.4 −5.5
Conservative Olive K. L. Lloyd-Baker 16,223 37.1 −8.0
Liberal Eric John Radley 5,921 13.5 New
Majority 5,411 12.3 +2.5
Turnout 43,778 80.8 +2.2
Registered electors 54,202 +4.7
Labour hold Swing +1.2
General election 1955: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Philips Price 22,366 54.9 −3.0
Conservative Bryan J. Y. Williams 18,346 45.1 +3.0
Majority 4,020 9.8 −6.0
Turnout 40,712 78.6 −3.7
Registered electors 51,772 +1.5
Labour hold Swing −3.0
General election 1951: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Philips Price 24,334 57.9 +3.1
Conservative Arthur Russell 17,665 42.1 +9.2
Majority 6,669 15.8 −6.1
Turnout 41,999 82.3 0.0
Registered electors 51,020 +1.0
Labour hold Swing −3.0
General election 1950: Gloucestershire West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour M. Philips Price 22,765 54.8
Conservative Granger Boston 13,664 32.9
Liberal Basil Houldsworth 5,125 12.3
Majority 9,101 21.9
Turnout 41,554 82.3
Registered electors 50,513
Labour win (new seat)

Elections in the 1880s

By-election, 12 Mar 1885: West Gloucestershire (1 seat vacant)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Benjamin St John Ackers 4,837 52.2 +21.5
Liberal William Marling[21] 4,426 47.8 −21.6
Majority 411 4.4 N/A
Turnout 9,263 72.4 −9.5 (est)
Registered electors 12,802
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +21.6
General election 1880: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Kingscote 5,316 35.2 +2.3
Liberal Henry Reynolds-Moreton 5,164 34.2 +1.5
Conservative Randal Plunkett 4,640 30.7 −3.8
Majority 524 3.5 N/A
Turnout 9,956 (est) 81.9 (est) +5.5
Registered electors 12,162
Liberal hold Swing +2.1
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.7

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Randal Plunkett 4,553 34.5 +3.6
Liberal Robert Kingscote 4,344 32.9 −2.1
Liberal Charles Berkeley[22] 4,317 32.7 −1.4
Majority 236 1.8 N/A
Turnout 8,884 (est) 76.4 (est) −4.9
Registered electors 11,632
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +1.6
Liberal hold Swing −2.0

Elections in the 1860s

General election 1868: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Kingscote 4,985 35.0 N/A
Liberal Samuel Marling 4,862 34.1 N/A
Conservative Edward Arthur Somerset 4,394 30.9 N/A
Majority 468 3.2 N/A
Turnout 9,318 (est) 81.3 (est) N/A
Registered electors 11,463
Liberal hold
Liberal gain from Conservative
By-election, 25 July 1867: West Gloucestershire (1 seat)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Arthur Somerset 3,649 50.7 N/A
Liberal Charles Berkeley 3,553 49.3 N/A
Majority 96 1.4 N/A
Turnout 7,202 76.9 N/A
Registered electors 9,368
Conservative hold
By-election, 15 November 1866: West Gloucestershire (1 seat)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Rolt Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Rolt Unopposed
Liberal Robert Kingscote Unopposed
Registered electors 9,368
Conservative hold
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1850s

By-election, 7 July 1859: West Gloucestershire[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Kingscote Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1859: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Kingscote Unopposed
Conservative John Rolt Unopposed
Registered electors 9,167
Liberal hold
Conservative hold
General election 1857: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Kingscote Unopposed
Conservative John Rolt Unopposed
Registered electors 9,250
Whig hold
Conservative hold
General election 1852: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Robert Kingscote 3,528 40.8 +17.5
Conservative Robert Blagden Hale 2,946 34.1 −12.5
Whig Grantley Berkeley 2,166 25.1 −5.0
Turnout 6,474 (est) 75.0 (est) −12.8
Registered electors 8,635
Majority 582 6.7 N/A
Whig hold Swing +11.9
Majority 780 9.0 −7.5
Conservative hold Swing −12.5

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1847: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Blagden Hale 4,240 46.6 N/A
Whig Grantley Berkeley 2,744 30.1 N/A
Whig Grenville Berkeley 2,123 23.3 N/A
Majority 1,496 16.5 N/A
Turnout 6,674 (est) 87.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 7,601
Conservative hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1841: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grantley Berkeley Unopposed
Conservative Robert Blagden Hale Unopposed
Registered electors 7,875
Whig hold
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1830s

General election 1837: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grantley Berkeley Unopposed
Conservative Robert Blagden Hale Unopposed
Registered electors 6,936
Whig hold
Conservative hold
By-election, 2 January 1836: West Gloucestershire[20][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Blagden Hale Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1835: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grantley Berkeley Unopposed
Conservative Henry Somerset Unopposed
Registered electors 6,473
Whig hold
Conservative gain from Whig
General election 1832: West Gloucestershire (2 seats)[20][5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Grantley Berkeley 3,153 34.6
Whig Augustus Moreton 2,996 32.9
Tory Robert Somerset 2,962 32.5
Majority 34 0.4
Turnout 5,943 91.1
Registered electors 6,521
Whig win (new seat)
Whig win (new seat)

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1972). Boundaries of parliamentary constituencies 1985-1972. Chichester, Sussex: Political Reference Publications. ISBN 0-900178-09-4.
  2. ^ "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament". London: His Majesty's statute and law printers. 1832. pp. 300–383. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. ^ C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p. 220 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995).
  4. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 1)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 113–114. ISBN 0-900178-13-2. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  6. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1847). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 15. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 130. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Succeeded as the 7th Duke of Beaufort, in November 1835.
  8. ^ 2 January 1836 by-election.
  9. ^ Joined the Liberal Party, when it was formally created following the 1859 general election. Appointed Commissioner of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues in 1885.
  10. ^ "West Gloucestershire Election". Gloucester Journal. 24 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette". 8 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 3 August 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ Appointed Attorney General and knighted in 1866. Appointed Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery in 1867.
  13. ^ 25 July 1867 by-election.
  14. ^ 12 March 1885 by-election.
  15. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  18. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  19. ^ Percentage change and swing for February 1974 is calculated relative to the BBC notional 1970 constituency result, not actual 1970 result. Notional 1970 results were rounded to the nearest hundred. Constituency data for 1974-83 including 1970 notionals, retrieved 18 July 2017
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. p. 391. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  21. ^ "West Gloucestershire Election". Western Daily Press. 3 March 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 20 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Liberalism in the Forest: Meeting at Cinderford". Gloucester Journal. 29 August 1874. p. 7. Retrieved 30 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

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