Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)

Devizes
County constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Devizes in Wiltshire
Outline map
Location of Wiltshire within England
CountyWiltshire
Electorate68,846 (December 2010)[1]
Major settlementsDevizes, Marlborough, Durrington, Pewsey
Current constituency
Created1885
Member of ParliamentNone
SeatsOne
1331–1885
SeatsTwo until 1868, then One
Type of constituencyBorough constituency

Devizes /dɪvaɪzɪz/ was a constituency[n 1] in Wiltshire, England, which included four towns and many villages in the middle and east of the county. The seat was held by members of the Conservative Party continuously for a century from 1924.

Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was subject to boundary changes which entailed the loss of the town of Devizes to the newly created constituency of Melksham and Devizes. As a consequence, it was renamed East Wiltshire, and first contested under its new name at the 2024 general election.[2][3]

History

Until 1885 Devizes was a parliamentary borough, electing two Members of Parliament (MPs) by the bloc vote system until the 1868 election, when the Reform Act 1867 reduced its representation to one MP, elected by the first-past-the-post system of election. The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 abolished the parliamentary borough, and created a new county constituency of the same name, covering a wider area and electing one member. It returned a Conservative MP at every election from 1924.

Its most notable MP was Henry Addington, who held the seat during his term as Prime Minister, as well as when he was Speaker of the House of Commons.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Sessional Divisions of Devizes, Everley, and Marlborough and Ramsbury, and part of the Sessional Division of Pewsey.

1918–1950: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, the Rural Districts of Devizes, Marlborough, Pewsey, and Ramsbury, and part of the Rural District of Highworth.

1950–1983: The Boroughs of Devizes and Marlborough, and the Rural Districts of Devizes, Highworth, Marlborough and Ramsbury, and Pewsey.

1983–1997: The District of Kennet, and the Borough of Thamesdown wards of Blunsdon, Chiseldon, Covingham, Highworth, Ridgeway, St Margaret, St Philip, and Wroughton.

1997–2010: The District of Kennet, the District of North Wiltshire wards of Calne Abberd, Calne Central, Calne North, Calne North East, Calne South, and Calne Without, and the District of West Wiltshire wards of Blackmore Forest, Melksham Forest, Melksham Lambourne, Melksham Roundpoint, Melksham Town, and Melksham Woodrow.

2010–2024: The District of Kennet, and the District of Salisbury wards of Bulford and Durrington.

The constituency covered Devizes in Wiltshire and the surrounding former Kennet district, which included the towns of Marlborough, Ludgershall and Tidworth, together with the large villages of Bulford, Durrington and Pewsey.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

Parliament First member Second member
1386 Richard Gobet William Salter[4]
1388 (Feb) Richard Cardmaker William Salter[4]
1388 (Sep) Richard Cardmaker William Spicer[4]
1390 (Jan) Richard Gobet William Spicer[4]
1390 (Nov)
1391
1393 William Coventre I William Spicer[4]
1394 John Tapener Richard Brunker[4]
1395 Richard Cardmaker William Spicer[4]
1397 (Jan) William Salter Henry Webbe[4]
1397 (Sep) William Salter John Peyntour[4]
1399 Richard Cardmaker William Salter[4]
1401
1402 Simon Skinner Richard Smith[4]
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406 John Huwet John Kingston[4]
1407 John Peyntour Simon Skinner[4]
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May) John Coventre Simon Skinner[4]
1414 (Apr) Thomas Coventre Robert Smith[4]
1414 (Nov) William Coventre III Thomas Coventre[4]
1415 William Coventre III Roger Barbour[4]
1416 (Mar) Richard Litelcote John Peyntour[4]
1416 (Oct)
1417 William Coventre III Robert Tyndale[4]
1419 Robert Tyndale William Hendelove[4]
1420 John Coventre I Robert Chandler[4]
1421 (May) William Coventre III Robert Smith[4]
1421 (Dec) John Baker John Fauconer[4]
1425 Robert Chandler[5]
1429 Robert Chandler[5]
1442 Henry Long
1492 Richard Pudsey[6]
1510–1523 No names known[7]
1529 John Poyntz Richard Mytton[7]
1536 ?
1539 ?
1542 ?
1545 Clement Throckmorton Geoffrey Danielle[7]
1547 Sir George Howard Nicholas Throckmorton[7]
1553 (Mar) ?
1553 (Oct) William Rede Thomas Hull[7]
1554 (Apr) Thomas Highgate Henry Leke[7]
1554 (Nov) Thomas Hull Edward Heynes[7]
1555 Thomas Hull James Webbe[7]
1558 Thomas Hull Henry Morris[7]
1558 John Young Edward Heynes[8]
1562–3 Hugh Powell Edward Heynes[8]
1571 Edward Baynton William Clerke[8]
1572 George Reynolds, died
and replaced 1580 by John Snell		 Henry Grube[8]
1584 Edward Baynton I Henry Brouncker[8]
1586 Edward Baynton I Henry Brouncker[8]
1588 Henry Brouncker John Delabere[8]
1593 Henry Baynton I or Henry Baynton II Richard Mompesson[8]
1597 John Kent Robert Drew[8]
1601 Giles Fettiplace Robert Drew[8]
1604 Sir Henry Baynton Robert Drew
1614 Sir Edward Baynton William Kent
1621 Sir Henry Ley John Kent
1624 Edward Bayntun John Kent
1625 Edward Bayntun Robert Drew
1626 Robert Long Sir Henry Ley
1628 Robert Long Thomas Kent
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned

1640–1832

Election First member[9] First party Second member[9] Second party
March 1640 Edward Bayntun Henry Danvers
November 1640 Edward Bayntun Robert Nicholas
1653 Devizes not represented in Barebones Parliament
September 1654 Edward Bayntun One seat only
September 1656 Edward Scotton One seat only
January 1659 Chaloner Chute jnr Edward Scotton
March 1660 William Lewis Robert Aldworth
April 1661 William Yorke John Kent
December 1666 John Norden
October 1669 Edward Lewis George Johnson
April 1675 Sir Edward Bayntun
February 1679 Sir Walter Ernle
September 1679 Sir Giles Hungerford John Eyles
February 1681 Sir Walter Ernle George Johnson
March 1685 John Talbot of Lacock Walter Grubbe
January 1689 Sir William Pynsent
March 1690 Sir Thomas Fowle
December 1690 John Methuen
November 1695 Sir Edward Ernle
July 1698 Sir Francis Child
January 1701 Francis Merewether
November 1701 John Methuen
November 1702 John Child
March 1703 Francis Merewether
May 1705 Sir Francis Child
December 1706 Josiah Diston
May 1708 Paul Methuen
October 1710 Sir Francis Child Thomas Richmond Webb
August 1713 Robert Child John Nicholas
January 1715 Josiah Diston Francis Eyles (expelled)
February 1721 Benjamin Haskins-Stiles
March 1722 Sir Joseph Eyles Whig
August 1727 Francis Eyles Whig
April 1734 Sir Joseph Eyles Whig
February 1740 John Garth Whig
July 1742 George Lee Whig
July 1747 William Willy
January 1765 Charles Garth
June 1765 James Sutton
September 1780 Sir James Tylney-Long, 7th Bt.
November 1780 Henry Jones
April 1784 Tory[10] Henry Addington Tory[10]
December 1788 Joshua Smith Tory[10]
January 1805 Thomas Grimston Estcourt Tory[10]
June 1818 John Pearse Tory[10]
March 1826 George Watson-Taylor Tory[10]

1832–1868

Election First member[9] First party Second member[9] Second party
1832 Wadham Locke Whig[11][12][13][10] Montague Gore Whig[14][15][10]
February 1834 Admiral Sir Philip Charles Durham Tories[10]
December 1834 Conservative[10]
November 1835 T. H. S. Sotheron-Estcourt Conservative[10]
February 1836 James Whitley Deans Dundas Whig[16][17][18][19][10]
May 1838 George Heneage Walker Heneage Conservative[10]
February 1844 William Heald Ludlow Bruges Conservative
February 1848 James Bucknall Bucknall-Estcourt Conservative
1852 John Neilson Gladstone Conservative
1857 Simon Watson Taylor Peelite[20][21] Christopher Darby Griffith Conservative
1859 John Neilson Gladstone Conservative
Feb 1863 William Addington Conservative
Apr 1864 Sir Thomas Bateson, Bt. Conservative
1868 Second Reform Act: representation reduced to one member

Since 1868

Devizes has been a safe Conservative seat since 1945. The last Member of Parliament was Danny Kruger who had been first elected at the 2019 general election, succeeding Claire Perry O'Neill, who stood down at that election after nine years of holding the seat.[22]

Election Member[9] Party
1868 Sir Thomas Bateson Conservative
1885 Walter Long Conservative
1892 Charles Hobhouse Liberal
1895 Edward Goulding Conservative
1906 Francis Rogers Liberal
1910 Basil Peto Unionist
1918 Cory Bell Unionist
1923 Eric Macfadyen Liberal
1924 Percy Hurd Conservative
1945 Christopher Hollis Conservative
1955 Percivall Pott Conservative
1964 by-election Charles Morrison Conservative
1992 Michael Ancram Conservative
2010 Claire Perry Conservative
2019 Danny Kruger Conservative

Fictional Member of Parliament

Devizes was the stated constituency of fictional Conservative MP The Honourable Sir Piers Fletcher-Dervish, Baronet, later Junior Minister for Housing, in the TV sitcom The New Statesman starring Rik Mayall as Alan B'Stard MP, which was produced and set during the same decade (1980s) that Charles Andrew Morrison was MP for the real-life seat. Sir Piers was portrayed by actor Michael Troughton.

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Devizes[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Danny Kruger 32,150 63.1 +0.4
Liberal Democrats Jo Waltham 8,157 16.0 +6.7
Labour Rachael Schneider 7,838 15.4 −5.6
Green Emma Dawnay 2,809 5.5 +2.3
Majority 23,993 47.1 +5.4
Turnout 50,954 69.4 −1.7
Conservative hold Swing −3.15
General election 2017: Devizes[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Perry 31,744 62.7 +5.0
Labour Imtiyaz Shaikh 10,608 21.0 +8.0
Liberal Democrats Chris Coleman 4,706 9.3 +1.2
UKIP Timothy Page 1,706 3.4 −12.0
Green Emma Dawnay 1,606 3.2 −2.6
Wessex Regionalist Jim Gunter 223 0.4 New
Majority 21,136 41.7 −0.6
Turnout 50,593 71.1 +0.3
Conservative hold Swing −1.5
General election 2015: Devizes[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Perry 28,295 57.7 +2.6
UKIP David Pollitt 7,544 15.4 +10.9
Labour Chris Watts 6,360 13.0 +2.8
Liberal Democrats Manda Rigby 3,954 8.1 −18.9
Green Emma Dawnay[26] 2,853 5.8 +4.0
Majority 20,751 42.3 +14.2
Turnout 49,006 70.8 +2.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 2010: Devizes[27][28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Perry 25,519 55.1 +4.0
Liberal Democrats Fiona Hornby 12,514 27.0 +4.7
Labour Junab Ali 4,711 10.2 −12.2
UKIP Patricia Bryant 2,076 4.5 +0.2
Green Mark Fletcher 813 1.8 New
Independent Martin Houlden 566 1.2 New
Libertarian Nic Coome 141 0.3 New
Majority 13,005 28.1 +4.6
Turnout 46,340 68.8 +3.5
Conservative hold Swing −0.3

Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Devizes[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 27,253 48.5 +1.3
Liberal Democrats Fiona Hornby 14,059 25.0 +2.9
Labour Sharon Charity 12,519 22.3 −2.6
UKIP Alan Wood 2,315 4.1 +1.2
Majority 13,194 23.5 +1.2
Turnout 56,146 65.2 +1.0
Conservative hold Swing −0.8
General election 2001: Devizes[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 25,159 47.2 +4.4
Labour Jim Thorpe 13,263 24.9 +0.7
Liberal Democrats Helen Frances 11,756 22.1 −4.6
UKIP Alan Wood 1,521 2.9 +1.9
Independent Ludovic Kennedy 1,078 2.0 New
Monster Raving Loony Long Tall Sally Potter 472 0.9 New
Majority 11,896 22.3 +6.0
Turnout 53,249 64.2 −10.5
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Devizes[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 25,710 42.8 −11.5
Liberal Democrats Antony Vickers 15,928 26.5 +0.1
Labour Frank Jeffrey 14,551 24.2 +3.4
Referendum John Goldsmith 3,021 5.0 New
UKIP S. Oram 622 1.0 New
Natural Law Stephen Haysom 204 0.3 New
Majority 9,782 16.3 −10.6
Turnout 60,036 74.7 −7.0
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1992: Devizes[32][33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Michael Ancram 39,090 53.3 −1.5
Liberal Democrats Jane Mactaggart 19,378 26.4 −1.5
Labour Rosemary Berry 13,060 17.8 +0.5
Liberal S. C. Coles 962 1.3 New
Green David Ripley 808 1.1 New
Majority 19,712 26.9 0.0
Turnout 73,298 81.7 +4.5
Conservative hold Swing 0.0

Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Devizes[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 36,372 54.8 +0.8
Liberal Linda Siegle 18,542 27.9 −1.0
Labour Richard Buxton 11,487 17.3 +0.5
Majority 17,830 26.9 +1.8
Turnout 66,401 77.2 +2.2
Conservative hold Swing +0.9
General election 1983: Devizes[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 33,644 54.0 +3.1
SDP Elizabeth Palmer 18,020 28.9 +6.8
Labour David Hulme 10,468 16.8 −6.9
Wessex Regionalist G. Ewen 234 0.4 +0.2
Majority 15,624 25.1 −0.1
Turnout 62,366 75.0 −4.6
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 32,439 50.92
Labour V. E. Finlayson 16,351 25.67
Liberal Jack Ainslie 14,059 22.07
Ecology R. Burcham 713 1.12 New
Wessex Regionalist A. B. Mockler 142 0.22 New
Majority 16,088 25.25
Turnout 63,704 79.60
Conservative hold Swing
General election October 1974: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 24,842 42.45
Labour V. E. Finlayson 17,821 30.46
Liberal Jack Ainslie 15,851 27.09
Majority 7,021 11.99
Turnout 58,514 75.22
Conservative hold Swing
General election February 1974: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 27,878 44.53
Labour Richard Faulkner 17,980 28.72
Liberal J. Crawford 16,753 26.76
Majority 9,898 15.81
Turnout 62,611 81.29
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1970: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 28,475 51.65
Labour Richard Faulkner 20,442 37.08
Liberal John Jones 6,210 11.26
Majority 8,033 14.57
Turnout 55,127 76.15
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 21,429 44.65
Labour Ian Hamilton 18,832 39.24
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 7,730 16.11
Majority 2,597 5.41
Turnout 47,991 81.02
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1964: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 21,118 46.75
Labour Irving Rogers 17,170 38.01
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 6,881 15.23
Majority 3,948 8.74
Turnout 45,169 81.37
Conservative hold Swing
Devizes by-election, 1964[36]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Morrison 19,554 46.87 −4.54
Labour Irving Rogers 17,884 42.87 +1.00
Liberal Michael Patrick Fogarty 4,281 10.26 +3.53
Majority 1,670 4.00 −5.54
Turnout 41,719
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percivall Pott 20,682 51.41 −1.28
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave 16,844 41.87 −5.45
Independent Liberal Jack Norton 2,707 6.73 New
Majority 3,838 9.54
Turnout 40,233 79.23
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1955: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percivall Pott 20,317 52.69 +0.77
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave 18,242 47.31 −0.67
Majority 2,075 5.38
Turnout 38,559 78.62
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1951: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 20,319 52.02 +6.76
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave 18,742 47.98 +5.80
Majority 1,577 4.04
Turnout 39,061 81.41
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1950: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 17,401 45.26 −1.74
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave 16,216 42.18 +12.28
Liberal Richard William Thomas Aston 4,832 12.57 −10.53
Majority 1,185 3.08
Turnout 38,449 82.11
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Christopher Hollis 12,796 47.0 −12.32
Labour Wilfrid Edward Cave 8,120 29.9 New
Liberal Frances Josephy 6,278 23.1 −17.58
Majority 4,676 17.1 −1.5
Turnout 27,194 67.6 −4.6
Conservative hold Swing

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;

  • Conservative: Percy Hurd,
  • Liberal: Frances Josephy

Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Hurd 14,438 59.32
Liberal Frances Josephy 9,903 40.68
Majority 4,535 18.64
Turnout 24,341 72.20
Conservative hold Swing
General election 1931: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Percy Hurd 16,702 66.27
Liberal Joseph William Molden 8,501 33.73
Majority 8,201 32.54
Turnout 25,203 76.20
Conservative hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Percy Hurd 11,979 47.8 −13.1
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 10,728 42.7 +3.6
Labour R. P. Sheppard 2,391 9.5 New
Majority 1,251 5.1 −16.7
Turnout 25,098 77.5 +1.3
Registered electors 32,371
Unionist hold Swing −8.4
General election 1924: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Percy Hurd 12,157 60.9 +12.7
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 7,807 39.1 −12.7
Majority 4,350 21.8 N/A
Turnout 19,964 76.2 +6.7
Registered electors 26,195
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +12.7
General election 1923: Devizes [37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Eric Macfadyen 9,202 51.8 +11.1
Unionist Cory Bell 8,574 48.2 −11.1
Majority 628 3.6 N/A
Turnout 17,776 69.5 +4.6
Registered electors 25,588
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +11.1
Currie
General election 1922: Devizes
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Cory Bell 9,598 59.3 −4.5
Liberal Hilda Beatrice Currie 6,576 40.7 +4.5
Majority 3,020 18.6 −9.0
Turnout 16,174 64.9 +11.8
Registered electors 24,937
Unionist hold Swing −4.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Devizes[38]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Cory Bell 8,512 63.8 +9.2
Liberal James Currie 4,823 36.2 −9.2
Majority 3,689 27.6 +18.4
Turnout 13,335 53.1 −34.0
Registered electors 25,091
Unionist hold Swing +9.2
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

Election results 1885–1918

Elections in the 1880s

Long
General election 1885: Devizes [39][40][41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Long 3,849 50.6 −2.9
Liberal William Barber 3,752 49.4 +2.9
Majority 97 1.2 −5.8
Turnout 7,601 81.2 −10.1
Registered electors 9,357
Conservative hold Swing −2.9
Philipps
General election 1886: Devizes [39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Long 4,123 63.2 +12.6
Liberal John Philipps 2,397 36.8 −12.6
Majority 1,726 26.4 +25.2
Turnout 6,520 69.7 −11.5
Registered electors 9,357
Conservative hold Swing +12.6

Elections in the 1890s

Hobhouse
General election 1892: Devizes [39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Hobhouse 3,896 50.9 +14.1
Conservative Walter Long 3,758 49.1 −14.1
Majority 138 1.8 N/A
Turnout 7,654 76.6 +6.9
Registered electors 9,987
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +14.1
Goulding
General election 1895: Devizes [39][40][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Goulding 4,114 53.1 +4.0
Liberal Charles Hobhouse 3,637 46.9 −4.0
Majority 477 6.2 N/A
Turnout 7,751 84.7 +8.1
Registered electors 9,156
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +4.0

Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Devizes [39][40][42]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Goulding 3,738 54.6 +1.5
Liberal Francis Rogers 3,111 45.4 −1.5
Majority 627 9.2 +3.0
Turnout 6,849 77.8 −6.9
Registered electors 8,807
Conservative hold Swing +1.5
General election 1906: Devizes [39][40]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Francis Rogers 4,247 53.9 +8.5
Conservative Godfrey Dalrymple-White 3,633 46.1 −8.5
Majority 614 7.8 N/A
Turnout 7,880 87.7 +9.9
Registered electors 8,988
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.5

Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Devizes [39][43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Basil Peto 4,709 55.7 +9.6
Liberal Francis Rogers 3,742 44.3 −9.6
Majority 967 11.4 N/A
Turnout 8,451 91.1 +3.4
Registered electors 9,277
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +9.6
Pocock
General election December 1910: Devizes [39][43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Basil Peto 4,408 54.6 −1.1
Liberal Sidney Job Pocock 3,670 45.4 +1.1
Majority 738 9.2 −2.2
Turnout 8,078 87.1 −4.0
Registered electors 9,277
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 July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

  • Unionist: Basil Peto
  • Liberal: James Currie[44]

Election results 1868–1880

Elections in the 1860s

Seat reduced to one member

General election 1868: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 385 52.0 −2.4
Liberal John Webb Probyn[46] 321 43.4 +43.4
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 34 4.6 −41.0
Majority 64 8.6 −37.0
Turnout 740 86.2 +39.8
Registered electors 858
Conservative hold Swing −22.9

Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 396 52.0 ±0.0
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 364 47.8 +43.2
Ind. Conservative Sidney Fitzroy Kelly Sloper[47] 2 0.3 New
Majority 32 4.2 −4.4
Turnout 762 84.5 −1.7
Registered electors 902
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 446 53.5 +1.5
Liberal Albert Meysey-Thompson[48] 388 46.5 New
Majority 58 7.0 +2.8
Turnout 834 91.3 +6.8
Registered electors 913
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Election results 1832–1868

General election 1832: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Wadham Locke 216 45.4 New
Whig Montague Gore 166 34.9 New
Tory Philip Charles Durham 94 19.7 N/A
Majority 72 15.2 N/A
Turnout 276 87.6 N/A
Registered electors 315
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A
Whig gain from Tory Swing N/A

Gore resigned after defecting to the Tories, causing a by-election.

By-election, 17 February 1834: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory Philip Charles Durham Unopposed
Tory gain from Whig
General election 1835: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Wadham Locke 240 49.0 +3.6
Conservative Philip Charles Durham 154 31.4 +11.7
Whig Philip Pleydell-Bouverie 96 19.6 −15.3
Turnout 260 83.6 −4.0
Registered electors 311
Majority 86 17.6 +2.4
Whig hold Swing −1.1
Majority 58 11.8 N/A
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +11.7

Locke's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 25 November 1835: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative T. H. S. Bucknall-Estcourt 157 52.0 +20.6
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas 145 48.0 −20.6
Majority 12 4.0 −7.8
Turnout 302 88.0 +4.4
Registered electors 343
Conservative gain from Whig Swing +20.6

Durham resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 10 February 1836: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas Unopposed
Whig gain from Conservative
General election 1837: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas Unopposed
Conservative T. H. S. Bucknall-Estcourt Unopposed
Registered electors 341
Whig hold
Conservative hold

Dundas was appointed as Clerk of the Ordnance, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 26 March 1838: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig James Whitley Deans Dundas 109 51.7 N/A
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage 102 48.3 N/A
Majority 7 3.4 N/A
Turnout 211 79.3 N/A
Registered electors 266
Whig hold Swing N/A
  • Following the by-election, Dundas was unseated due to bribery and Heneage was declared elected in his place[49]

Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Conservative Thomas Sotheron Unopposed
Registered electors 375
Conservative hold
Conservative gain from Whig

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

By-election, 7 February 1844: Devizes [45][10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Heald Ludlow Bruges 202 75.1 N/A
Whig Christopher Temple 67 24.9 New
Majority 135 50.2 N/A
Turnout 269 69.9 N/A
Registered electors 385
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1847: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Conservative William Heald Ludlow Bruges Unopposed
Registered electors 389
Conservative hold
Conservative hold

Bruges resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.

By-election, 25 February 1848: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Bucknall Bucknall Estcourt Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone Unopposed
Conservative George Heneage Walker Heneage Unopposed
Registered electors 373
Conservative hold
Conservative hold
General election 1857: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Peelite Simon Watson Taylor 230 45.4 N/A
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 159 31.4 N/A
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone 118 23.3 N/A
Majority 71 22.1 N/A
Turnout 254 (est) 79.5 (est) N/A
Registered electors 319
Peelite gain from Conservative Swing N/A
Conservative hold Swing N/A
General election 1859: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Neilson Gladstone 171 35.2 +11.9
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 167 34.4 +3.0
Liberal Simon Watson Taylor 148 30.5 −14.9
Majority 19 4.7 N/A
Turnout 243 (est) 77.4 (est) −2.1
Registered electors 314
Conservative hold Swing +9.7
Conservative gain from Peelite Swing +5.2

Elections in the 1860s

Gladstone's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 18 February 1863: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Addington 170 64.4 −5.2
Liberal John Webb Probyn[46] 88 33.3 N/A
Liberal Israel Abrahams[50] 6 2.3 N/A
Majority 82 31.1 +26.4
Turnout 264 79.8 +2.4
Registered electors 331
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Addington succeeded to the peerage, causing a by-election.

By-election, 18 April 1864: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson Unopposed
Conservative hold
General election 1865: Devizes [45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Bateson 181 54.4 +19.2
Conservative Christopher Darby Griffith 152 45.6 +11.2
Liberal John Curling[51] 0 0.0 −30.5
Majority 152 45.6 +41.7
Turnout 167 (est) 46.4 (est) −31.0
Registered electors 359
Conservative hold Swing +17.2
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +13.2
  • Curling retired before polling day.[52]

Election results before 1832

General election 1831: Devizes[10][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Pearse Unopposed
Tory George Watson-Taylor Unopposed
Registered electors c. 36
Tory hold
Tory hold
General election 1830: Devizes[10][53]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Tory John Pearse
Tory George Watson-Taylor
Tory William Salmon
Whig Wadham Locke
Turnout 30 c. 83.3 N/A
Registered electors c. 36
Tory hold
Tory hold
  • Some sources, including the corporation minutes, do not list Locke or Salmon as candidates. However, they are included here as per Stooks Smith.[10]

See also

  • List of parliamentary constituencies in Wiltshire

Notes

  1. ^ A county constituency (for the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer)

References

  1. ^ "Electorate Figures – Boundary Commission for England". 2011 Electorate Figures. Boundary Commission for England. 4 March 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  2. ^ "How Wiltshire constituency boundaries could change". BBC News. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ^ "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b "CHANDLER, Robert II, of Devizes, Wilts. | History of Parliament Online".
  6. ^ Cavill. The English Parliaments of Henry VII 1485–1504.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d e Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 2)
  10. ^ 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 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. 112–114.
  11. ^ Farrell, Stephen (2009). "Wiltshire". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Election Talk". The Spectator. 24 November 1836. p. 13. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  13. ^ Roebuck, John Arthur (1835). Pamphlets for the people. [36 political pamphlets, written or ed. by J.A. Roebuck. Wanting the general title-leaves and lists of contents]. p. 11. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  14. ^ Disraeli, Benjamin (1982). Gunn, John A. W.; Matthews, John P.; Schurman, Donald M.; Wiebe, Melvin G. (eds.). Benjamin Disraeli Letters: 1835–1837. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 549. ISBN 9781442639546. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  15. ^ "The State and Prospects of Toryism". Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, Volume 9. James Fraser. 1834. p. 368. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Admiral Sir J. W. Deans Dundas GCB". The Gentleman's magazine, Volume 213. 1862. p. 782. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  17. ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 163. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  18. ^ Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. p. 77. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  19. ^ Dod, Charles Roger; Dod, Robert Phipps (1843). Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Volume 11. Dod's Parliamentary Companion. p. 147. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Election Intelligence". Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser. 18 March 1857. p. 7. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Election Intelligence". Berkshire Chronicle. 14 March 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Tories select successor to Ancram". BBC News. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  23. ^ "General Election 12 December 2019 – Wiltshire Council". www.wiltshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  24. ^ "Parliamentary elections 2017". Wiltshire Council. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  25. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Press release: Green Party announces new candidates for Chippenham and Devizes constituencies". Kennet and North Wiltshire Green Party. 8 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  28. ^ Kerr, Andrew (20 April 2010). "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll" (PDF). Electoral Services. Wiltshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  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. ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  34. ^ "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  35. ^ "Election Data 1983". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  36. ^ "1964 By Election Results". Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  37. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1918–1949 by FWS Craig.
  38. ^ Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench, 1922.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g h British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, F. W. S. Craig.
  40. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907.
  41. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886.
  42. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901.
  43. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916.
  44. ^ Western Daily Press 20 July 1914.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  46. ^ a b "Devizes Election". Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette. 19 November 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 7 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ^ "Devizes: The Election". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. 7 February 1874. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ^ "This Evening's News". The Pall Mall Gazette. 8 March 1880. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 25 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ "The Coronation". Hampshire Advertiser. 2 June 1838. p. 3. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "Devizes Election". Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette. 12 February 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 7 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "Election Intelligence". Reading Mercury. 15 July 1865. p. 6. Retrieved 7 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "Election Intelligence". Dorset County Chronicle. 20 July 1865. p. 12. Retrieved 7 February 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ a b Farrell, Stephen. "Devizes". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 11 April 2020.

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