South Monmouthshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918

Southern Monmouthshire

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
1885 (1885)–1918 (1918)
Seats| one
Created from| Monmouthshire
Replaced by| Bedwellty and Monmouth

Southern Monmouthshire was a parliamentary constituency in Monmouthshire, Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

## History

[edit]

The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election, which divided into three constituencies, the Monmouthshire constituency that had elected two members until 1885. The constituency was abolished for the 1918 general election, when most of its area became the Monmouth county constituency.

In 1852, the old constituency had elected members of two powerful families - the Morgans of Tredegar and the Somerset dukes of Beaufort. In 1885, the Morgan interest continued with the election of Colonel Hon. Frederick Courtenay Morgan as MP from 1885 until 1906 when he retired. His son, Courtney Morgan, afterwards Baron Tredegar attempted to succeed him, but was defeated by another local landowner Colonel Ivor Herbert of Llanarth, Monmouthshire. Herbert retained the constituency until 1917 when he departed to the House of Lords. The constituency was abolished a year later.

## Boundaries

[edit]

The constituency (shown in pink) within Monmouthshire

The constituency consisted of:

* The petty sessional divisions of:
* Caerleon (the civil parishes of Caerleon, Kilgwrrwg, Llandegveth, Llangattock, Llanhennock, Llanthewy-vach, Llanvihangel, Llantarnam, Llanfrechfa Lower and Tredunnock)
* Chepstow (Caerwent, Caldicot, Chapel Hill, Chepstow, Howick, Ifton, Itton, Llanfihnagel juxta Rogiet, Llnavair Discoed, Mathern, Mounton, Newchurch, Penterry, Portskewett, Rogiet, St Arvans, Shirenewton, Tintern Parva)
* Christchurch (Bishton, Christchurch (part), Goldcliff, Kemeys Inferior, Langstone, Llanmartin, Llanvaches, Magor, Nash, Penhow, Redwick, St Brides Netherwent, Undy, Whitson and Wilcrick)
* Monmouth (Dixton (part), Mitchel Troy, Monmouth (part), Rockfield and Wonastow)
* Newport (Bassaleg, Bettws, Coedkernew, Duffryn, Graig, Henllys, Llandavenny, Machen, Malpas, Marshfield, Michaelstone-y-vedw, Peterstone, Risca, Rogerstone, Rumney, St Bride's Wentloog, St Mellons and St Woollos (part))
* Raglan (Bryngwyn, Clytha, Dingestow, Llanarth, Llandenny, Parc Grace Dieu, Penrhos, Pen-y-clawdd, Raglan and Tregare)
* Trellech (Cwmcarvan, Llandogo, Llanishen, Llangoven, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Penallt, Trelleck and Wolvesnewton)
* and Usk (Bettws Newydd, Gwehellog, Gwernesney, Kemeys Commander, Llanbadoc, Llangeview, Llangibby, Llangwm-Isaf, Llangwm-Ucha, Llanllowell, Llansoy, Llantrissant, Monkswood, Trostrey and Usk)
* The parts of the municipal boroughs of
* Monmouth
* and Newport outside the Monmouth Boroughs constituency
* The civil parishes of
* Bedwas
* and Mynyddislwyn.[1]

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

Year | Member | Party

|
|

| 1885 | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | Conservative
| 1906 | Ivor Herbert | Liberal
| 1917 | Sir Garrod Thomas | Liberal
1918 | constituency abolished

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1885: South Monmouthshire [2][3][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | 4,890  | 53.3  |
| Liberal | Sir Henry Mather-Jackson, 3rd Baronet  | 4,293  | 46.7  |
Majority | 597  | 6.6  |
Turnout | 9,183  | 83.0  |
Registered electors | 11,069  |  |
| Conservative win (new seat)
General election 1886: South Monmouthshire [2][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | 5,235  | 64.0  | +10.7
| Liberal | Oliver Bryant  | 2,950  | 36.0  | −10.7
Majority | 2,285  | 28.0  | +21.4
Turnout | 8,185  | 73.9  | −9.1
Registered electors | 11,069  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | +10.7  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

General election 1892: South Monmouthshire [2][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | 5,421  | 53.6  | −10.4
| Liberal | Joseph Alexander Profumo, 3rd Baron Profumo  | 4,700  | 46.4  | +10.4
Majority | 721  | 7.2  | −20.8
Turnout | 10,121  | 76.6  | +2.7
Registered electors | 13,211  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −10.4  |
General election 1895: South Monmouthshire [2][5][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | 5,815  | 52.8  | −0.8
| Liberal | Clifford Cory | 5,203  | 47.2  | +0.8
Majority | 612  | 5.6  | −1.6
Turnout | 11,018  | 77.9  | +1.3
Registered electors | 14,137  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing | −0.8  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election 1900: South Monmouthshire [2][5][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Frederick Courtenay Morgan | Unopposed
| Conservative hold
Herbert General election 1906: South Monmouthshire [2][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Ivor Herbert | 7,503  | 54.7  | New
| Conservative | Courtenay Morgan | 6,216  | 45.3  | N/A
Majority | 1,287  | 9.4  | N/A
Turnout | 13,719  | 86.5  | N/A
Registered electors | 15,858  |  |
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: South Monmouthshire [6][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Ivor Herbert | 9,738  | 58.5  | +3.8
| Conservative | Leolin Forestier-Walker | 6,910  | 41.5  | −3.8
Majority | 2,828  | 17.0  | +7.6
Turnout | 16,648  | 87.0  | +0.5
Registered electors | 19,134  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +3.8  |
General election December 1910: South Monmouthshire [6][4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Ivor Herbert | 8,597  | 56.4  | −2.1
| Conservative | Leolin Forestier-Walker | 6,656  | 43.6  | +2.1
Majority | 1,941  | 12.8  | −4.2
Turnout | 15,253  | 79.7  | −7.3
Registered electors | 19,134  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −2.1  |

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;

* Liberal: Ivor Herbert
* Unionist:
* Labour:

A.G. Thomas 1917 South Monmouthshire by-election[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Garrod Thomas | 6,769  | 90.3  | +33.9
| Independent | Bertie Pardoe Thomas  | 727  | 9.7  | New
Majority | 6,042  | 80.6  | +67.8
Turnout | 7,496  | 32.6  | −47.1
Registered electors | 22,991  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Seventh Schedule of the Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885, (48 & 49 Vict. C.23)
2. ^ a b c d e f The Liberal Year Book, 1907
3. ^ Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1886
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Craig, FWS, ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 9781349022984.
5. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1901
6. ^ a b Debrett's House of Commons & Judicial Bench, 1916

* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)

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