Barnstaple was a constituency centred on the town of Barnstaple in Devon, in the South West of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800 and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, thereafter, one.
It was created in 1295 and abolished for the 1950 general election. Most of the area and the town falls into the North Devon seat.
Boundaries
1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, and the Sessional Divisions of Bideford and Braunton.
1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, the Urban Districts of Ilfracombe, Lynton, and Northam, and the Rural Districts of Barnstaple and Bideford (including Lundy Island).
Members of Parliament
1295–1885
1885–1950
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Elections in the 1840s
Elections in the 1850s
The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.
Laurie's election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.
- Prinsep withdrew from the election during polling.
Elections in the 1860s
Potts' death caused a by-election.
On petition, Lloyd's election was declared void due to bribery and, on 15 April 1864, Bremridge was declared elected.
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1880s
Waddy resigned in order to contest Sheffield, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
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;
- Liberal:
- Unionist: Charles Sandbach Parker
Both candidates supported the Coalition Government; Rees may have received its endorsement.
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1930s
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;
- Liberal: Richard Acland
- Conservative: Marjorie Graves
Elections in the 1940s
Notes
References
- Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) [1]
- F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 1)
