Tavistock (UK Parliament constituency)

Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1330–1974

Tavistock

Former county constituency
for the House of Commons
1885–February 1974
Seats| one
Replaced by| West Devon
1330–1885
Seats| two (1330–1868), one (1868–1885)
Type of constituency| Borough constituency

Tavistock was a parliamentary constituency in Devon between 1330 and 1974. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough, consisting solely of the town of Tavistock; it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, when its representation was reduced to one member. From 1885, the name was transferred to a single-member county constituency covering a much larger area. (Between 1885 and 1918, the constituency had the alternative name of West Devon.)

The constituency was abolished for the February 1974 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new West Devon constituency.

## Boundaries

[edit]

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Devonport and Plymouth, and the Sessional Divisions of Hatherleigh, Holsworthy, Lifton, Midland Roborough, and Tavistock.

1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy, Ivybridge, and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Plympton St Mary, and Tavistock, and part of the Rural District of Holsworthy.

1950–1951: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Holsworthy, and Tavistock, and the Rural District of Plympton St Mary except the parishes of Bickleigh and Tamerton Foliot.[1]

1951–1974: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Holsworthy, and Tavistock, and the Rural District of Plympton St Mary less the parts of the parishes of Bickleigh and Tamerton Foliot added to the county borough of Plymouth by the Plymouth Extension Act 1950.[2]

In 1965 Tavistock was one of the largest seats in England, in terms of land area. It included the towns of Plympton and Plymstock (effectively eastern suburbs of Plymouth). It also included a great deal of rural land, including two-thirds of Dartmoor.[3]

## Members of Parliament

[edit]

### MPs 1295–1640

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2011)

|

Parliament | First member | Second member

|
|

1335 | Richard Crocker[4]
Oct. 1377 | Thomas Raymond[5]
1381 | Peter Hadley[6]
1384 |  | Thomas Raymond[5]
1386 | John Wyndout | John Tryll[7]
1388 (Feb) | Ranulph Hunt | John atte Pole[7]
1388 (Sep) | John Ford | William Walreddon[7]
1390 (Jan) | Walter Milemead | John Bithewater[7]
1390 (Nov) |
1391 | Ranulph Hunt | John Whitham[7]
1393 | Ranulph Hunt | Matthew Row[7]
1394 | Ranulph Hunt | John Crocker[7]
1395 | Ranulph Hunt | Walter Dimmock[7]
1397 (Jan) | William Whitham | John Plenty[7]
1397 (Sep) |
1399 |
1401 |
1402 | Ranulph Hunt | John Kene[7]
1404 (Jan) |
1404 (Oct) |
1406 | John Plenty | Roger Baker[7]
1407 | John Godfrey | William Brit[7]
1410 |
1411 | John Lopynford | Richard Secheville[7]
1413 (Feb) |
1413 (May) | William May | John Julkin[7]
1414 (Apr) |
1414 (Nov) | William May | John Julkin[7]
1415 |
1416 (Mar) |
1416 (Oct) |
1417 |
1419 | Richard Secheville | ?[7]
1420 | Richard Secheville | William Bentley[7]
1421 (May) | John Fortescue | William May[7]
1421 (Dec) | John Fortescue | Nicholas Fitzherbert[7]
1467–1468 | Richard Edgcumbe
1472 | John Say
1485 | Richard Edgcumbe
1510-1512 | No names known[8]
1515 | Richard Lybbe | John Amadas[8]
1523 | ?
1529 | William Honychurch | John Dynham[8]
1536 | ?
1539 | ?
1542 | ?
1545 | Sir Peter Carew | Richard Fortescue[8]
1547 | Sir Edward Rogers | John Gale[8]
1553 (Mar) | Edward Underhill | Anthony Lyte[8]
1553 (Nov)  | Richard Wilbraham | Thomas Smyth
Parliament of 1554  | Richard Mayo | John Fitz, junior
Parliament of 1554–1555  | John Onebyche
Parliament of 1555  | Richard Mayo | Thomas Southcote
Parliament of 1558  | Thomas Browne | George Southcote
Parliament of 1559  | Unknown: the return has been lost
Parliament of 1563–1567  | Sir Nicholas Throckmorton | Richard Cooke
Parliament of 1571  | Nathaniel Bacon | Robert Ferrers died after 1572
In his place Charles Morison
Parliament of 1572–1581
Parliament of 1584–1585  | Edward Bacon | Valentine Knightley
Parliament of 1586–1587  | John Glanville
Parliament of 1588–1589  | Michael Heneage | Anthony Ashley
Parliament of 1593  | Hugh Vaughan | Richard Codrington
Parliament of 1597–1598  | Edward Montagu | Valentine Knightley
Parliament of 1601  | Henry Grey | Walter Wentworth
Parliament of 1604–1611  | Sir George Fleetwood | Edward Duncombe
Addled Parliament (1614) | (Sir) Francis Glanville
Parliament of 1621–1622  | Sir Baptist Hicks, Bt
Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Sampson Hele | John Pym
Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Francis Glanville
Parliament of 1625–1626  | Sir John Ratcliffe
Parliament of 1628–1629  | Sir Francis Glanville
No Parliament summoned 1629-1640

### MPs 1640–1868

[edit]

Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party

|
|
|
|

April 1640 |  | Lord Russell | Royalist |  | John Pym | Parliamentarian
November 1640
1641  |  | Hon. John Russell | Royalist
December 1643  | Pym died - seat vacant
January 1644  | Russell disabled from sitting - seat vacant
1646  |  | Elisha Crimes |  |  | Edward Fowell |
December 1648  | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge \- both seats vacant
1653  | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate
January 1659 |  | Henry Hatsell |  |  | Edmund Fowell |
May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump
April 1660  |  | William Russell | Whig |  | George Howard |
April 1661  |  | Sir John Davie, 2nd Baronet |
December 1661  |  | Lord Russell | Whig
1673  |  | Sir Francis Drake, 3rd Baronet |
1679  |  | Edward Russell | Whig
1685  |  | Sir James Butler  |  |  | John Beare  |
1689  |  | Lord Robert Russell |  |  | Sir Francis Drake, Bt |
1695  |  | Lord James Russell |
March 1696  |  | Ambrose Manaton |
November 1696  |  | Sir Francis Drake, Bt |
1701  |  | Lord Edward Russell | Whig
1702  |  | Lord James Russell |
November 1703  |  | James Bulteel |
December 1703  |  | Henry Manaton[9] |
1708  |  | Sir John Cope, Bt[10] | Whig
1711  |  | James Bulteel |
1715  |  | Sir Francis Henry Drake, Bt |
1728  |  | Sir Humphrey Monoux, Bt | Tory
1734  |  | Hon. Charles Fane[11] | Whig |  | Sidney Meadows |
1741  |  | Lord Sherard Manners |
1742  |  | The Viscount of Limerick |
July 1747  |  | Richard Leveson-Gower[12] |  |  | Thomas Brand |
December 1747  |  | Sir Richard Wrottesley, Bt |
April 1754  |  | Richard Rigby | Whig[13] |  | Jeffrey French |
December 1754  |  | Richard Vernon |
1761  |  | Richard Neville Aldworth |
1774  |  | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig[13]
1788  |  | Lord John Russell | Whig[13]
June 1790  |  | Hon. Charles Wyndham[14] | Whig[13]
December 1790  |  | Lord John Russell | Whig[13]
1802  |  | Lord Robert Spencer | Whig[13]
May 1807  |  | Lord William Russell | Whig[13]
July 1807  |  | Viscount Howick | Whig[13]
1808  |  | George Ponsonby | Whig[13]
1812  |  | Richard FitzPatrick | Whig[13]
1813  |  | Lord John Russell | Whig[13]
1817  |  | Lord Robert Spencer | Whig[13]
1818  |  | Lord John Russell | Whig[13]
1819  |  | John Peter Grant | Whig[13]
March 1820  |  | John Nicholas Fazakerly | Whig[13]
May 1820  |  | Viscount Ebrington[15] | Whig[13]
1826  |  | Lord William Russell | Whig[13]
August 1830  |  | Lord Russell | Whig[13]
November 1830  |  | Lord John Russell[16] | Whig[13]
July 1831  |  | John Heywood Hawkins | Whig[13]
October 1831  |  | Lieutenant Colonel Francis Russell | Whig[13]
1832  |  | Lord Russell[17] | Whig[13][18][19] |  | Charles Richard Fox | Whig[13]
1835  |  | John Rundle | Whig[13][18][20]
1841  |  | Lord Edward Russell | Whig[13][20]
1843  |  | John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical[21][22][23][24]
1847  |  | Hon. Edward Russell | Whig[24][25]
April 1852  |  | Samuel Carter[26] | Radical[27][28]
July 1852  |  | Hon. George Byng | Whig[29]
1853  |  | Robert Phillimore | Peelite[30][31][32]
March 1857  |  | Sir John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical[21][22][23][24]
September 1857  |  | Arthur Russell | Whig[33][34]
1859  |  | Liberal |  | Liberal
1865  |  | Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda | Liberal
1868  | Representation reduced to one member

### MPs 1868–1974

[edit]

Election | Member | Party

|
|

| 1868 | Arthur Russell[35] | Liberal
| 1885 | Viscount Ebrington | Liberal
| 1886 | Liberal Unionist
| 1892 | Hugh Luttrell | Liberal
| 1900 | John Spear | Liberal Unionist
| 1906 | Hugh Luttrell | Liberal
| Dec. 1910 | Sir John Spear | Liberal Unionist
| 1918 | Charles Williams | Conservative
| 1922 | Maxwell Ruthven Thornton | Liberal
| 1924 | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | Unionist
| 1928 by-election | Wallace Duffield Wright | Conservative
| 1931 | Colin Patrick | Conservative
| 1942 by-election | Sir Henry Studholme, Bt | Conservative
| 1966 | Michael Heseltine | Conservative
Feb 1974 | constituency abolished: see West Devon

## Elections

[edit]

### Elections in the 1830s

[edit]

General election 1830: Tavistock[13][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | William Russell | Unopposed
| Whig | Hugh Fortescue | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 30 |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

Fortescue chose to sit for Devon where he had also been elected, causing a by-election.

By-election, 27 November 1830: Tavistock[13][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 30 |
| Whig hold
General election 1831: Tavistock[13][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | William Russell | Unopposed
| Whig | John Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 30 |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

John Russell was also elected for Devon and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.

By-election, 13 July 1831: Tavistock[13][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | John Heywood Hawkins | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 30 |
| Whig hold

William Russell resigned, causing a by-election.

By-election, 25 October 1831: Tavistock[13][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | Francis Russell (British Army officer) | Unopposed
Registered electors | c. 30 |
| Whig hold
General election 1832: Tavistock[13][37][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | William Russell | 159  | 45.2
| Whig | Charles Richard Fox | 129  | 36.6
| Whig | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet  | 64  | 18.2
Majority  | 65  | 18.4
Turnout | 193  | 78.1
Registered electors | 247  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1835: Tavistock[13][37][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | William Russell | 167  | 52.7  | +7.5
| Whig | John Rundle | 145  | 45.7  | +9.1
| Whig | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet  | 5  | 1.6  | −16.6
Majority | 140  | 44.1  | +25.7
Turnout | 178  | 61.6  | −16.5
Registered electors | 289  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold
General election 1837: Tavistock[13][37][36] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Whig | William Russell | Unopposed
| Whig | John Rundle | Unopposed
Registered electors | 329  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

### Elections in the 1840s

[edit]

General election 1841: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | John Rundle | Unopposed
| Whig | Edward Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | 275  |  |
| Whig hold
| Whig hold

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

By-election, 16 March 1843: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 113  | 62.1  | N/A
| Chartist | Henry Vincent | 69  | 37.9  | New
Majority | 44  | 24.2  | N/A
Turnout | 182  | 68.9  | N/A
Registered electors | 264  |  |
| Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |
General election 1847: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Edward Russell | 153  | 34.4  | N/A
| Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 150  | 33.7  | N/A
| Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 86  | 19.3  | New
| Radical | Samuel Carter | 56  | 12.6  | N/A
Turnout | 223 (est)  | 70.6 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 315  |  |
Majority | 3  | 0.7  | N/A
| Whig hold | Swing | N/A |
Majority | 64  | 14.4  | N/A
| Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A |

### Elections in the 1850s

[edit]

Trelawny resigned to seek re-election after voting against the disestablishment of the Church of England when he had promised his constituents he would vote for it.[38]

By-election, 28 April 1852: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Radical | Samuel Carter | 115  | 40.5  | +27.9
| Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 89  | 31.3  | −2.4
| Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 80  | 28.2  | +8.9
Majority | 26  | 9.2  | −5.2
Turnout | 284  | 81.4  | +10.8
Registered electors | 349  |  |
| Radical hold | Swing | +15.2  |
General election 1852: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | George Byng | 220  | 44.6  | +10.2
| Radical | Samuel Carter | 169  | 34.3  | −12.0
| Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 104  | 21.1  | +1.8
Turnout | 247 (est)  | 70.6 (est)  | —
Registered electors | 349  |  |
Majority | 51  | 10.3  | +9.6
| Whig hold | Swing | +8.1  |
Majority | 65  | 13.2  | −1.2
| Radical hold | Swing | −8.6  |

On petition, Carter was unseated in 1853 and Phillimore was declared elected in his place.

General election 1857: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | George Byng | 242  | 42.5  | −2.1
| Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 198  | 34.7  | N/A
| Radical | Samuel Carter | 130  | 22.8  | −11.5
Turnout | 285 (est)  | 72.2 (est)  | +1.6
Registered electors | 395  |  |
Majority | 44  | 7.7  | −2.6
| Whig hold | Swing | +4.7  |
Majority | 68  | 11.9  | −1.3
| Radical hold | Swing | −4.7  |

Byng resigned in order to contest a by-election in Middlesex, causing a by-election.[39]

By-election, 4 September 1857: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Whig | Arthur Russell | 164  | 57.7  | +15.2
| Radical | Edward Miall[40][41] | 120  | 42.3  | −15.2
Majority | 44  | 15.4  | +7.7
Turnout | 284  | 71.9  | −0.3
Registered electors | 395  |  |
| Whig hold | Swing | +15.2  |
General election 1859: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Arthur Russell | Unopposed
| Liberal | John Salusbury-Trelawny | Unopposed
Registered electors | 414  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1860s

[edit]

General election 1865: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Arthur Russell | 330  | 45.3  | N/A
| Liberal | Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda | 179  | 24.6  | N/A
| Liberal | Samuel Carter | 119  | 16.3  | N/A
| Conservative | Francis Rummens[42] | 93  | 12.8  | New
| Liberal | Theophilus Alexander Blakely[43] | 8  | 1.1  | N/A
Majority | 60  | 8.3  | N/A
Turnout | 411 (est)  | 96.5 (est)  | N/A
Registered electors | 426  |  |
| Liberal hold
| Liberal hold

Seat reduced to one member

General election 1868: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Arthur Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | 802  |  |
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1870s

[edit]

General election 1874: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Lord Arthur Russell | 362  | 57.0  | N/A
| Liberal | Russell Hugh Worthington Biggs[44] | 273  | 43.0  | N/A
Majority | 89  | 14.0  | N/A
Turnout | 635  | 78.9  | N/A
Registered electors | 805  |  |
| Liberal hold

### Elections in the 1880s

[edit]

General election 1880: Tavistock[37] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Lord Arthur Russell | Unopposed
Registered electors | 847  |  |
| Liberal hold
Ebrington General election 1885: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Viscount Ebrington | 5,390  | 63.0  | N/A
| Conservative | Henry Imbert-Terry | 3,172  | 37.0  | New
Majority | 2,218  | 26.0  | N/A
Turnout | 8,562  | 78.9  | N/A
Registered electors | 10,851  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | N/A |
General election 1886: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | Viscount Ebrington | 3,917  | 59.0  | +22.0
| Liberal | John Budd Phear | 2,722  | 41.0  | −22.0
Majority | 1,195  | 18.0  | N/A
Turnout | 6,639  | 61.2  | −17.7
Registered electors | 10,851  |  |
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.0  |

### Elections in the 1890s

[edit]

Hugh Luttrell General election 1892: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 4,458  | 51.2  | +10.2
| Liberal Unionist | Robert Thomas White-Thomson  | 4,241  | 48.8  | −10.2
Majority | 217  | 2.4  | N/A
Turnout | 8,699  | 74.2  | +13.0
Registered electors | 11,720  |  |
| Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +10.2  |
General election 1895: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 4,970  | 51.9  | +0.7
| Liberal Unionist | Robert Thomas White-Thomson  | 4,597  | 48.1  | −0.7
Majority | 373  | 3.8  | +1.4
Turnout | 9,567  | 78.7  | +4.5
Registered electors | 12,154  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | +0.7  |

### Elections in the 1900s

[edit]

General election 1900: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 4,746  | 50.1  | +2.0
| Liberal | John Fellowes Wallop, 7th Earl of Portsmouth  | 4,731  | 49.9  | −2.0
Majority | 15  | 0.2  | N/A
Turnout | 9,477  | 77.7  | −1.0
Registered electors | 12,202  |  |
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.0  |
General election 1906: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,405  | 55.2  | +5.3
| Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 5,196  | 44.8  | −5.3
Majority | 1,209  | 10.4  | N/A
Turnout | 11,601  | 82.9  | +5.2
Registered electors | 13,989  |  |
| Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +5.3  |

### Elections in the 1910s

[edit]

General election January 1910: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,570  | 50.9  | −4.3
| Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 6,343  | 49.1  | +4.3
Majority | 227  | 1.8  | −8.6
Turnout | 12,913  | 83.9  | +1.0
Registered electors | 15,395  |  |
| Liberal hold | Swing | −4.3  |
General election December 1910: Tavistock[45] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 6,409  | 51.6  | +2.5
| Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,019  | 48.4  | −2.5
Majority | 390  | 3.2  | N/A
Turnout | 12,428  | 80.7  | −3.2
Registered electors | 15,395  |  |
| Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.5  |

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: John Spear
* Liberal: Oliver Brett[46]

General election 1918: Tavistock  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

C | Unionist | Charles Williams | 9,157 | 56.7 | +5.1
| Liberal | Harry Geen  | 7,005  | 43.3  | −5.1
Majority | 2,152  | 13.4  | +10.2
Turnout | 16,162  | 62.2  | −18.5
| Unionist hold | Swing | +5.1  |
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.

### Elections in the 1920s

[edit]

Maxwell Thornton General election 1922: Tavistock  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 11,708  | 54.5  | +11.2
| Unionist | Charles Williams | 9,757  | 45.5  | −11.2
Majority | 1,951  | 9.0  | N/A
Turnout | 21,465  | 77.6  | +14.4
| Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing |  |
General election 1923: Tavistock  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 11,883  | 54.1  | −0.4
| Unionist | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | 10,072  | 45.9  | +0.4
Majority | 1,811  | 8.2  | −0.8
Turnout | 21,955  | 77.7  | +0.1
| Liberal hold | Swing | -0.4  |
1924 general election: Tavistock[47] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | 12,058  | 52.8  | +6.9
| Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 10,786  | 47.2  | −6.9
Majority | 1,272  | 5.6  | N/A
Turnout | 22,844  | 77.7  | 0.0
| Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |  |
1928 Tavistock by-election[47] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Wallace Wright | 10,745  | 45.2  | −7.6
| Liberal | Reginald Fletcher | 10,572  | 44.5  | −2.7
| Labour | Richard Davies | 2,449  | 10.3  | New
Majority | 173  | 0.7  | −4.9
Turnout | 21,317  | 77.3  | −4.4
| Unionist hold | Swing | -2.5  |
1929 general election: Tavistock[47] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Unionist | Wallace Wright | 14,192  | 44.7  | −0.5
| Liberal | Hilda Runciman | 14,040  | 44.1  | −0.4
| Labour | Richard Davies | 3,574  | 11.2  | +0.9
Majority | 152  | 0.6  | −0.1
Turnout | 31,716  |  |
| Unionist hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1930s

[edit]

General election 1931: Tavistock[48] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Colin Patrick | 17,310  | 52.4  | +7.7
| Liberal | John Adam Day | 13,592  | 41.2  | −2.9
| Labour | Richard Davies | 2,124  | 6.4  | −4.8
Majority | 3,718  | 11.2  | +10.6
Turnout | 33,026  | 83.3  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1935: Tavistock[48] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Colin Patrick | 17,475  | 52.8  | +0.4
| Liberal | John Adam Day | 13,422  | 40.5  | −0.7
| Labour | Charles Henry Townsend  | 2,236  | 6.7  | +0.3
Majority | 4,053  | 12.3  | +1.1
Turnout | 33,133  | 77.9  | −3.4
| 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: Colin Patrick
* Liberal: Frank Milton
* Labour: J Finnigan

1942 Tavistock by-election Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | Unopposed  | N/A | N/A
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
1945 general election: Tavistock  Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,730  | 46.9  | −5.9
| Liberal | Isaac Foot | 13,764  | 32.8  | −7.7
| Labour | James Finnigan  | 8,539  | 20.3  | +13.6
Majority | 5,966  | 14.1  | +1.8
Turnout | 42,033  | 75.8  | −2.1
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1950s

[edit]

General election 1950: Tavistock[49] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 18,682  | 50.3  | +3.4
| Labour | Frank W Harcourt-Munning  | 10,189  | 27.4  | +7.1
| Liberal | JD Wyatt  | 8,281  | 22.3  | +10.5
Majority | 8,493  | 22.9  | +8.8
Turnout | 37,152  | 84.7  | +8.9
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1951: Tavistock[49] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 22,683  | 63.87  |
| Labour | Frank W Harcourt-Munning  | 12,833  | 36.13  |
Majority | 9,850  | 27.8  | +4.9
Turnout | 35,516  | 78.8  | −5.9
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1955: Tavistock[49] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 18,991  | 54.8  | −9.1
| Labour | Harold Lawrance  | 8,755  | 25.2  | −10.9
| Liberal | Richard Moore | 6,937  | 20.0  | New
Majority | 10,236  | 29.6  | +1.8
Turnout | 34,683  | 76.9  | −1.9
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1959: Tavistock[50] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,778  | 53.7  | −1.1
| Liberal | Richard Moore | 9,008  | 24.5  | +4.5
| Labour | Bryan R Weston  | 8,022  | 21.8  | −3.4
Majority | 10,770  | 29.2  | −0.4
Turnout | 36,808  | 78.5  | +1.6
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1960s

[edit]

General election 1964: Tavistock[50] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,493  | 47.8  | −5.9
| Liberal | Grenville Jones | 14,093  | 34.5  | +10.0
| Labour | John A Elswood  | 7,226  | 17.7  | −4.1
Majority | 5,400  | 13.2  | −16.0
Turnout | 40,812  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |
General election 1966: Tavistock[49] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Michael Heseltine | 21,644  | 49.2  | +1.4
| Liberal | Christopher Trethewey  | 13,461  | 30.6  | −3.9
| Labour | Peggy Middleton | 8,902  | 20.2  | +2.5
Majority | 8,183  | 18.6  | +5.4
Turnout | 44,007  | 81.4  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

### Elections in the 1970s

[edit]

General election 1970: Tavistock[49] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Conservative | Michael Heseltine | 25,846  | 57.1  | +7.9
| Liberal | Michael E B Banks  | 10,397  | 23.0  | −7.6
| Labour | Harold M Luscombe  | 8,982  | 19.9  | −0.3
Majority | 15,449  | 34.1  | +15.5
Turnout | 45,225  |  |
| Conservative hold | Swing |  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Representation of the People Act 1948: Schedule 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1948 c. 65 (sch. 1), retrieved 28 February 2023
2. ^ "The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) (No. 10) Order 1951. SI 1951/432". Statutory Instruments 1951. Vol. II. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1952. pp. 431–434.
3. ^ Crick 1997, pp117-8
4. ^ "CROCKER, John, of Tavistock and Hele, Devon. | History of Parliament Online". Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
5. ^ a b "RAYMOND, Thomas (D.1418), of Simpson in Holsworthy, Devon. | History of Parliament Online". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
6. ^ "HADLEY, Peter, of Exeter, Devon. | History of Parliament Online". Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
8. ^ a b c d e f "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
9. ^ Manaton was initially returned as re-elected in 1710, but on petition he was adjudged not to have been duly elected
10. ^ Cope was re-elected in 1727, but had also been elected for Hampshire, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Tavistock
11. ^ Succeeded as The Viscount Fane (in the Peerage of Ireland), July 1744
12. ^ Leveson-Gower was also elected for Lichfield, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Tavistock
13. ^ 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 aa ab ac ad ae af ag Stooks Smith, Henry. (1973) [1844-1850]. Craig, F. W. S. (ed.). The Parliaments of England (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 75–77. ISBN 0-900178-13-2.
14. ^ Wyndham was also elected for Midhurst, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Tavistock
15. ^ Ebrington was re-elected in 1830, but had also been elected for Devon, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Tavistock
16. ^ Russell was re-elected in 1831, but had also been elected for Devon, which he chose to represent, and did not sit again for Tavistock
17. ^ Styled Marquess of Tavistock from 1839
18. ^ a b Churton, Edward (1838). The Assembled Commons or Parliamentary Biographer: 1838. pp. 198–199\. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2018 – via Google Books.
19. ^ Mosse, Richard Bartholomew (1838). The Parliamentary Guide: a concise history of the Members of both Houses, etc. p. 212\. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2018 – via Google Books.
20. ^ a b "General Election, 1841". Morning Post. 28 June 1841. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 21 December 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
21. ^ a b Hoppen, K. Theodore (2016). Governing Hibernia: British Politicians and Ireland 1800-1921. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 133\. ISBN 9780198207436. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
22. ^ a b "Bedford Election". Worcester Journal. 9 December 1854. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
23. ^ a b "Bedford Election". Leeds Intelligencer. 9 December 1854. p. 3. Retrieved 8 April 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
24. ^ a b c "Tavistock Election". The Suffolk Chronicle; or Weekly General Advertiser & County Express. 7 August 1847. p. 1. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
25. ^ "Election Intelligence". Morning Post. 26 July 1847. pp. 5–6. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
26. ^ Carter's re-election in 1853 was declared void and his opponent, Phillimore, was seated in his place.
27. ^ Crail, Mark (19 March 2017). "Samuel Carter, Chartist MP, 1814 - 1903". Chartist Ancestors. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
28. ^ "Election Intelligence". London Evening Standard. 27 April 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
29. ^ "Latest News". York Herald. 5 September 1857. p. 7. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
30. ^ "Coventry". Evening Mail. 27 March 1857. p. 7. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
31. ^ "Election Movements". Coventry Standard. 20 March 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 6 May 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
32. ^ "Western Courier, West of England Conservative, Plymouth and Devonport Advertiser". 14 July 1852. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
33. ^ "Representation of Tavistock". London Evening Standard. 3 September 1857. p. 6. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
34. ^ "Nottingham Journal". 11 September 1857. p. 3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
35. ^ Styled Lord Arthur Russell from 1872
36. ^ a b c d e f g h Fisher, David R. "Tavistock". The History of Parliament. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
38. ^ McKie, David (26 October 2006). "No sense in self-denial". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
39. ^ "The Election for the County of Middlesex". The Times. 4 September 1857. p. 9.
40. ^ "North Wales Chronicle". 12 September 1857. p. 12. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
41. ^ "Domestic". Royal Cornwall Gazette. 11 September 1857. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 15 July 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
42. ^ "To the Electors of Tavistock". Western Morning News. 5 July 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
43. ^ Roberts, Steven (2012). "Captain Alexander Blakely RA". p. 3\. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
44. ^ "Tavistock". Western Morning News. 6 February 1874. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 21 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
45. ^ a b c d e f g h Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1974). British Parliamentary Election Results: 1885-1918. London: Macmillan Press. p. 259\. ISBN 9781349022984.
46. ^ Western Times 13 Mar 1914
47. ^ a b c F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1949
48. ^ a b British parliamentary election results 1918-1949, Craig, F. W. S.
49. ^ a b c d e British parliamentary election results, 1950-1973 by FWS Craig
50. ^ a b F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1950-1973; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow 1973

* Robert Beatson, A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)
* 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)
* The Constitutional Year Book for 1913 (London: National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations, 1913)
* F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)
* F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949 (Glasgow: Political Reference Publications, 1969)
* Michael Crick, Michael Heseltine: A Biography, Hamish Hamilton, 1997, ISBN 0-241-13691-1.
* Maija Jansson (ed.), Proceedings in Parliament, 1614 (House of Commons) (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1988)
* J E Neale, The Elizabethan House of Commons (London: Jonathan Cape, 1949)
* J Holladay Philbin, Parliamentary Representation 1832 - England and Wales (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
* Henry Stooks Smith, The Parliaments of England from 1715 to 1847 (2nd edition, edited by FWS Craig - Chichester: Parliamentary Reference Publications, 1973)
* Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. p. 1.
* Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)

*[c.]: circa