Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency) (original) (raw)

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Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–2010 and 2024 onwards

Bridgwater
County constituencyfor the House of Commons
Boundary of Bridgwater in South West England
County	Somerset
Electorate	71,418 (2023)[1]
Major settlements	Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, North Petherton
Current constituency
Created	2024
Member of Parliament	Ashley Fox (Conservative)
Created from	Bridgwater & West Somerset
1885–2010
Seats	One
Type of constituency	County constituency
Created from	West Somerset
Replaced by	Bridgwater & West Somerset
1295–1870
Seats	Two
Type of constituency	Borough constituency
Replaced by	West Somerset

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

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

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

The original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption in 1870. From 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset.

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

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

The seat received particular fame in late 1938 when a by-election took place in the aftermath of the signing of the Munich Agreement. Opponents of the agreement persuaded the local Labour and Liberal parties to not field candidates of their own against the Conservative candidate, but to instead jointly back an independent standing on a platform of opposition to the Government's foreign policy, in the hope that this would be the precursor to the formation of a more general Popular Front of opposition to the government of Neville Chamberlain in anticipation of the General Election due in either 1939 or 1940. The noted journalist Vernon Bartlett stood as the independent Popular Front candidate and achieved a sensational victory in what was hitherto a Conservative seat. He represented the constituency for the next twelve years.

In 1970 another by-election in the constituency achieved fame as it was the first occasion when 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds were able to vote in a UK Parliamentary election. The first teenager to cast a vote was Trudy Sellick, 18 on the day of the poll. The by-election was won by the future Conservative Cabinet Minister Tom King who held the seat for the next thirty-one years, followed by another Conservative until its abolition in 2010.

Bridgwater within Somerset in 2005

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

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

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

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

2024–present:

Map of boundaries from 2024

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

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

It comprises:

• The bulk of the parts of the District of Sedgemoor in current Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency (74% of the electorate), mainly consisting of the town of Bridgwater itself.[5]
• Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, previously in the now-abolished constituency of Wells.[3]

Members of Parliament

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• Constituency created (1295)

Bridgwater borough, 1295–1870

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Bridgwater county constituency, 1885–2010; 2024–present

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• County division created (1885)

• County division re-created (2024)

Elections in the 2020s

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Elections in the 2010s

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Elections in the 2000s

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Elections in the 1990s

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Elections in the 1980s

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Elections in the 1970s

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Elections in the 1960s

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Elections in the 1950s

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Elections in the 1940s

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General Election 1939–40:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;

• Independent Progressive: Vernon Bartlett
• Conservative: Patrick Heathcoat Amery[37]

Elections in the 1930s

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Elections in the 1920s

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Elections in the 1910s

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General Election 1914–15:

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

• Unionist: Robert Sanders
• Liberal: Philip Foale Rowsell

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

Elections in the 1900s

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Montgomery

Edward Stanley

Elections in the 1890s

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Elections in the 1880s

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Elections in the 1860s

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

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

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

Elections in the 1850s

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Elections in the 1840s

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Elections in the 1830s

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

• List of parliamentary constituencies in Somerset

Notes and references

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1. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume two: Constituency names, designations and composition – South West". Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
2. ^ 2023 review South West Boundary Commission for England
3. ^ a b "New Seat Details - Bridgwater". www.electoralcalculus.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
4. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023". Schedule 1 Part 7 South West region.
5. ^ "Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?".
6. ^ a b c d "THOMER (TOMERE), William, of Bridgwater, Som". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
8. ^ Baker, J. H. "Hody, Sir William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13456. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
9. ^ a b c d e "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
10. ^ Browne Willis gives Molyns' name only tentatively for 1555
11. ^ a b c "Bridgwater". The History of Parliament. The History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
12. ^ Expelled as a monopolist, January 1641
13. ^ Cobbett lists the second MP elected in 1645 as John Palmer, MD, and gives Blake as MP for Taunton. Brunton & Pennington agree with the Dictionary of National Biography in naming Blake as MP for Bridgwater and Palmer for Taunton.
14. ^ Perceval was initially declared re-elected in 1768, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Poulett, was seated in his place.
15. ^ Allen was initially declared re-elected in 1780, but on petition he was judged not to have been duly elected and his opponent, Acland, was seated in his place.
16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 28–31. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via Google Books.
17. ^ Vice-Admiral from 1787
18. ^ Lieutenant-Colonel from 1793, Colonel from 1796
19. ^ Jenkins, Terry (2009). "KEMEYS TYNTE, Charles Kemeys (1778–1860), of Halswell House, Goathurst, Som.; Cefn Mably, Glam.; Burhill, nr. Cobham, Surr. and 16 Hill Street, Hanover Square, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
20. ^ "John Bull". 30 July 1837. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
21. ^ "County Chronicle, Surrey Herald and Weekly Advertiser for Kent". 1 August 1837. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
22. ^ "The Elections". Morning Post. 30 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
23. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
24. ^ Porter, Mary (1898). "The Lions of London". Annals of a Publishing House: John Blackwood (PDF). Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. p. 127.
25. ^ The election of Westropp was declared void and a by-election was held
26. ^ The election of Kinglake and Vanderbyl in 1868 declared void. The writ (of election) was suspended and a Royal Commission was appointed, which reported that it had found proof of extensive bribery.
27. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament to the Bridgwater Constituency - Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated". Somerset Council. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
28. ^ "Notional results for a UK general election on 12 December 2019". Rallings & Thrasher, Professor David Denver (Scotland), Nicholas Whyte (NI) for Sky News, PA, BBC News and ITV News. UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
29. ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
30. ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
31. ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
32. ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
33. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
34. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
35. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1951.
36. ^ The Times' Guide to the House of Commons. 1950.
37. ^ Western Daily Press, 13 Jan 1939
38. ^ a b c d e Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
39. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916
40. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
41. ^ a b c d e The Liberal Year Book, 1907
42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
43. ^ "Bridgwater Election". Western Daily Press. 10 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
44. ^ "Election Intelligence". London Daily News. 11 July 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 29 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
45. ^ "Bridgwater Mercury". 20 April 1859. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
46. ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 6 March 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
47. ^ "The General Election". Bristol Times and Mirror. 10 July 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
48. ^ "Election Intelligence". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 10 July 1852. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 18 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
49. ^ "Bridgwater". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 31 July 1847. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
50. ^ "General Election". Western Times. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
51. ^ "Local Elections". Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. 3 July 1841. p. 3. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
52. ^ "The Elections". Dorset County Chronicle. 1 July 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 28 October 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
53. ^ "The Close of the Elections". Bell's Weekly Messenger. 14 August 1837. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
54. ^ "Close of the Election". Belfast Commercial Chronicle. 20 May 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
55. ^ Gapper, Anthony. "List of the Electors at the Bridgwater Election" (PDF). Bridgwater Museum. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

• Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885–1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press, revised edition 1977)
• British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832–1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886–1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919–1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume IV 1945–1979, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1981)
• Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
• D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
• Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803 (London: Thomas Hansard, 1808) [2]
• Esther S Cope and Willson H Coates (eds), Camden Fourth Series, Volume 19: Proceedings of the Short Parliament of 1640 (London: Royal Historical Society, 1977)
• Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988) [3]
• J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
• 'Bridgwater: Parliamentary representation' in Victoria County History of Somerset: Volume 6 (1992)
• Bridgwater UK Parliament constituency (boundaries April 1997 – April 2010) at MapIt UK
• Bridgwater UK Parliament constituency (boundaries from June 2024) at MapIt UK