Horncastle (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1983

Horncastle

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
1885–1983
Seats| one
Created from| Mid Lincolnshire
Replaced by| East Lindsey & Gainsborough and Horncastle

Horncastle was a county constituency in Lincolnshire which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. MPs were elected by the first past the post system of voting.

The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and first used for the 1885 general election. It was abolished for the 1983 general election.

## Boundaries

[edit]

1885–1918: The Sessional Division of Spilsby, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Alford and Horncastle.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Alford, Horncastle, Skegness, and Woodhall Spa, and the Rural Districts of Horncastle, Sibsey, and Spilsby.

1950–1983: The Urban Districts of Alford, Horncastle, Mablethorpe and Sutton, Skegness, and Woodhall Spa, and the Rural Districts of Horncastle and Spilsby.

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1885 | Edward Stanhope | Conservative
| 1894 by-election | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | Conservative
| 1911 by-election | Archibald Weigall | Conservative
| 1920 by-election | Stafford Hotchkin | Coalition Conservative
| 1922 | Samuel Pattinson | Liberal
| 1924 | Henry Haslam | Conservative
| 1945 | Sir John Maitland | Conservative
| 1966 | Peter Tapsell | Conservative
| 1983 | constituency abolished

## Election results

[edit]

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

E. Stanhope General election 1885: Horncastle[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Edward Stanhope | 4,824  | 54.9  |
| Lib-Lab | Thomas Threlfall  | 3,959  | 45.1  |
Majority | 865  | 9.8  |
Turnout | 8,783  | 88.4  |
Registered electors | 9,941  |  |
| Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: Horncastle[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Edward Stanhope | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

Stanhope was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 12 Aug 1886: Horncastle[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Edward Stanhope | Unopposed
| Conservative hold

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: Horncastle[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Edward Stanhope | 4,438  | 54.5  | N/A
| Liberal | Francis Otter | 3,700  | 45.5  | New
Majority | 738  | 9.0  | N/A
Turnout | 8,138  | 85.2  | N/A
Registered electors | 9,555  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A |

Stanhope's death caused a by-election.

Lord Willoughby 1894 Horncastle by-election[2][3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 4,582  | 55.0  | +0.5
| Liberal | Herbert James Torr[4] | 3,744  | 45.0  | −0.5
Majority | 838  | 10.0  | +1.0
Turnout | 8,326  | 87.4  | +2.2
Registered electors | 9,528  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.5  |
General election 1895: Horncastle [5][3][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 4,563  | 60.2  | +5.7
| Lib-Lab | John Bruce Wallace  | 3,022  | 39.8  | −5.7
Majority | 1,541  | 20.4  | +11.4
Turnout | 7,585  | 65.2  | −20.0
Registered electors | 11,642  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.7  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election 1900: Horncastle[5][2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 4,302  | 59.2  | −1.0
| Liberal | T Wallis  | 2,962  | 40.8  | +1.0
Majority | 1,340  | 18.4  | −2.0
Turnout | 7,264  | 76.6  | +11.4
Registered electors | 9,488  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.0  |
General election 1906: Horncastle[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 4,250  | 50.9  | −8.3
| Liberal | A Adams  | 4,100  | 49.1  | +8.3
Majority | 150  | 1.8  | −16.6
Turnout | 8,350  | 86.6  | +10.0
Registered electors | 9,637  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −8.3  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Horncastle[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 5,162  | 54.6  | +3.7
| Liberal | Charles Conybeare | 4,292  | 45.4  | −3.7
Majority | 870  | 9.2  | +7.4
Turnout | 9,454  | 90.0  | +3.4
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.7  |
General election December 1910: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby | 4,705  | 52.9  | −1.7
| Liberal | Frederick Linfield | 4,181  | 47.1  | +1.7
Majority | 524  | 5.8  | −3.4
Turnout | 8,886  | 86.0  | −4.0
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.6  |
1911 Horncastle by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Archibald Weigall | 4,955  | 50.5  | −2.4
| Liberal | Frederick Linfield | 4,848  | 49.5  | +2.4
Majority | 107  | 1.0  | −4.8
Turnout | 9,803  | 90.7  | +4.7
| Conservative hold | Swing | −2.4  |
William Weigall General election 1918: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Unionist | Archibald Weigall | 8,826 | 54.3 | +1.4
| Liberal | Samuel Pattinson | 7,433  | 45.7  | −1.4
Majority | 1,393  | 8.6  | +2.8
Turnout | 16,259  | 68.2  | −17.8
Registered electors | 23,854  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | +1.4  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

1920 Horncastle by-election[6] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Unionist | Stafford Hotchkin | 8,140 | 44.5 | −9.8
| Liberal | Samuel Pattinson | 6,727  | 36.7  | −9.0
| Labour | William Holmes | 3,443  | 18.8  | New
Majority | 1,413  | 7.8  | −0.8
Turnout | 18,310  | 77.0  | +8.8
Registered electors | 23,764  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | −0.4  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election 1922: Horncastle [7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Pattinson | 10,797  | 54.1  | +8.4
| Unionist | Maurice Roche | 9,158  | 45.9  | −8.4
Majority | 1,639  | 8.2  | N/A
Turnout | 19,955  | 81.5  | +13.3
Registered electors | 24,485  |  |
| Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +8.4  |
General election 1923: Horncastle [7] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Samuel Pattinson | 10,954  | 54.5  | +0.4
| Unionist | John Du Cane | 9,135  | 45.5  | −0.4
Majority | 1,819  | 9.0  | +0.8
Turnout | 20,089  | 80.9  | −0.6
Registered electors | 24,821  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.4  |
General election 1924: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Henry Haslam | 10,912  | 52.8  | +7.3
| Liberal | Samuel Pattinson | 9,743  | 47.2  | −7.3
Majority | 1,169  | 5.6  | N/A
Turnout | 20,655  | 81.7  | +0.8
Registered electors | 25,286  |  |
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.3  |
General election 1929: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Henry Haslam | 12,837  | 48.1  | −4.7
| Liberal | Frederick Linfield | 10,168  | 38.1  | −9.1
| Labour | J. R. Sanderson  | 3,683  | 13.8  | N/A
Majority | 2,669  | 10.0  | +4.4
Turnout | 26,688  | 80.8  | −0.9
Registered electors | 33,042  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing | +2.2  |

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1931: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Haslam | 18,100  | 67.3  | +19.2
| Liberal | George Henry John Dutton  | 8,788  | 32.7  | −5.4
Majority | 9,312  | 34.6  | +24.6
Turnout | 26,888  | 70.3  | −10.5
| Conservative hold | Swing | +12.3  |
General election 1935: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Haslam | 17,594  | 68.79  |
| Labour | Frank J Knowles  | 7,982  | 31.21  | New
Majority | 9,612  | 37.58  |
Turnout | 25,576  | 69.40  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1940s

[edit]

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: Henry Haslam
* Labour: Frank J Knowles

General election 1945: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 14,019  | 53.10  |
| Labour | George Holderness | 7,052  | 26.72  |
| Liberal | Frank Emerson  | 5,329  | 20.18  | New
Majority | 6,967  | 26.38  |
Turnout | 26,403  | 70.45  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 22,329  | 65.67  | +12.57
| Labour | Francis H Clark  | 11,671  | 34.33  | +7.61
Majority | 10,658  | 31.34  | +4.92
Turnout | 34,000  | 78.73  | +8.28
| Conservative hold | Swing | +2.48  |
General election 1951: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 22,043  | 66.42  | +0.75
| Labour | Francis H Clark  | 11,143  | 33.58  | −0.75
Majority | 10,900  | 32.84  | +1.50
Turnout | 33,186  | 76.67  | −2.06
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.75  |
General election 1955: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 20,392  | 66.83  | +0.41
| Labour | Wilfrid Pashby  | 10,122  | 33.17  | −0.41
Majority | 10,270  | 33.66  | +0.82
Turnout | 30,514  | 71.01  | −5.66
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.41  |
General election 1959: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 19,799  | 66.60  | −0.23
| Labour | Hugh W Peck  | 9,928  | 33.40  | +0.23
Majority | 9,871  | 33.20  | −0.46
Turnout | 29,727  | 70.34  | −0.67
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.23  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | John Maitland | 15,854  | 49.59  | −17.01
| Labour | Robin Brumby  | 8,069  | 25.24  | −8.16
| Liberal | T Frank Smith  | 8,044  | 25.16  | New
Majority | 7,785  | 24.35  | −8.85
Turnout | 31,967  | 74.73  | +4.39
| Conservative hold | Swing | −4.43  |
General election 1966: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 15,090  | 46.64  | −2.95
| Labour | Robert NH Sackur | 9,715  | 30.02  | +4.78
| Liberal | T Frank Smith  | 7,552  | 23.34  | −1.82
Majority | 5,375  | 16.62  | −7.73
Turnout | 32,357  | 81.10  | +6.37
| Conservative hold | Swing | −3.86  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 19,299  | 55.35  | +8.71
| Labour | Eric A Skinns  | 8,860  | 25.41  | −4.61
| Liberal | Roger S Miller  | 6,707  | 19.24  | −4.10
Majority | 10,439  | 29.94  | +13.32
Turnout | 34,866  | 74.20  | −6.90
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.69  |
General election February 1974: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 19,344  | 49.53  | −5.82
| Liberal | Roger S Miller  | 12,555  | 32.15  | +12.91
| Labour | AJR Berry  | 6,791  | 17.39  | −1.85
| Independent Democratic Alliance | EP Iszatt  | 367  | 0.94  | New
Majority | 6,789  | 17.38  | −12.56
Turnout | 39,057  | 79.33  | +5.13
| Conservative hold | Swing | −9.41  |
General election October 1974: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 16,750  | 47.71  | −1.82
| Liberal | MJC Starky  | 11,506  | 32.78  | +0.63
| Labour | K Bratton  | 6,849  | 19.51  | +2.12
Majority | 5,244  | 14.93  | −2.45
Turnout | 35,105  | 70.74  | −8.59
| Conservative hold | Swing | −1.23  |
General election 1979: Horncastle  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Peter Tapsell | 21,362  | 55.12  | +7.51
| Liberal | MJC Starky  | 10,833  | 27.95  | −4.83
| Labour | DP Collins  | 6,240  | 16.10  | −3.41
| National Front | M Hook  | 319  | 0.82  | New
Majority | 10,529  | 27.17  | +12.24
Turnout | 38,754  | 75.21  | +4.47
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.17  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
2. ^ a b c d e Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
3. ^ a b The Liberal Year Book, 1907
4. ^ "Mr Herbert James Torr". Boston Guardian. 30 December 1893. p. 5. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
5. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
6. ^ The Times, 10 March 1920 & Cook and Ramsden, op cit, p271
7. ^ a b The Liberal Year Book, 1931

* Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 4)