West Riding of Yorkshire (UK Parliament constituency)

This constituency comprised part of Yorkshire, the largest of the ancient counties of England. Between 1826 and 1832 the undivided county constituency had returned four Members of Parliament to the House of Commons, instead of the traditional two knights of the shire which the county had sent before then and all other English counties elected up until 1832.

The Reform Act 1832 divided Yorkshire into three county constituencies, which each returned two members. The divisions were based on the three ridings, which were traditional sub-divisions of Yorkshire. The West Riding occupied the southwestern part of the county. The parliamentary constituency covered the whole West Riding, as the non-resident owners of forty shilling freeholds in the Parliamentary boroughs enclaved within the area thereby acquired a county franchise.

The polling place for the West Riding, at which the hustings were held and the result was declared, was at Wakefield. Unusually for British elections detailed results by polling district are available for a by-election in 1835 and the general elections of 1837 and 1841. These details are given in the Elections section below and provide a list of major towns in the area. Electors had to declare their votes (verbally and in public), as this was before the introduction of the secret ballot. (Source: Stooks Smith).

Charles Seymour, in Electoral Reform in England and Wales, commented about the debate in 1832 about the non resident freeholder vote. This was a particularly important issue for the West Riding because the major towns of Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield and the important ones of Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield were all to become new Parliamentary boroughs in 1832.

Though the general principle of the freeholder franchise was accepted without debate, one aspect of the question gave rise to much discussion at the time ... . The bill provided that the freeholders in boroughs who did not occupy their property should vote in the counties in which the borough was situated. This clause drew forth a torrent of complaint, especially from the Conservatives. Peel pointed out that it would be far simpler for the freeholders in the represented boroughs to vote in the borough where their property was situate instead of being forced to travel to the county polling place; moreover if the borough freeholders were allowed to vote in the counties he felt that the boroughs would have an unfair influence in county elections and the rural element would be submerged by the urban.

... Althorp ... pointed out that until 1832 freeholders in the unrepresented towns always had voted in the counties, so the Tories could hardly complain that the ministers were introducing new principles to favour urban interests ... .

Stooks Smith confirms the number of electors in the polling districts of the West Riding of Yorkshire constituency named after Parliamentary boroughs, at a by-election in 1835 (see below), which suggests up to two-thirds out of a total electorate of 18,063 might have qualified because of freeholds located in boroughs. However it is not known if all these urban area voters were qualified as non-resident freeholders in the boroughs.

The parliamentary boroughs in the area, during the period of the existence of this constituency, were Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Knaresborough, Leeds, Pontefract, Ripon, Sheffield and Wakefield.

For the 1865 general election the West Riding was split into two new two member county divisions by the Birkenhead Enfranchisement Act 1861. Unusually this local redistribution had taken place between the general redistributions of seats, in 1832 and 1868. This was because some seats, taken from Sudbury and St Albans boroughs disenfranchised for corruption, were re-allocated to what (by the developing idea that representation should be related to population) were the still under-represented northern English counties. The new divisions were Northern West Riding of Yorkshire and Southern West Riding of Yorkshire.

{{hatnote|Where the exact number of electors casting a vote or votes is unknown, turnout estimated by dividing votes cast by 2. This will underestimate turnout to the extent that electors only used one of their two possible votes.}}

• Constituency created (1832)

{{Election box begin no change |

|title=General election 1832: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats){{cite book|editor1-last=Craig|editor1-first=F. W. S.|editor-link=F. W. S. Craig|title=British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885|date=1977|publisher=Macmillan Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-349-02349-3|edition=1st|ref=craig1832}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Strickland

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 18,506

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box new seat win|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |

|title=General election 1835: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Strickland

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 18,061

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Appointment of Howard as Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

{{Election box begin no change |

|title=By-election, 6 May 1835: West Riding of Yorkshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

|votes = 9,066

|percentage = 59.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Stuart-Wortley

|votes = 6,259

|percentage = 40.8

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 2,807

|percentage = 18.4

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 15,325

|percentage = 84.9

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 18,061

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Breakdown of vote by polling district

• Note (1835 be): Discrepancy of 2 in reg. between Craig (result) and Stooks Smith (breakdown).

{{Election box begin no change |

|title=General election 1837: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

|votes = 12,576

|percentage = 35.0

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Strickland

|votes = 11,892

|percentage = 33.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Stuart-Wortley

|votes = 11,489

|percentage = 32.0

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 403

|percentage = 1.1

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 23,708

|percentage = 80.8

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 29,346

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1841: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = John Stuart-Wortley

|votes = 13,165

|percentage = 26.3

|change = +10.3

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Edmund Beckett

|votes = 12,780

|percentage = 25.5

|change = +9.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = William Wentworth-FitzWilliam

|votes = 12,080

|percentage = 24.1

|change = −9.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

|votes = 12,031

|percentage = 24.0

|change = −11.0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,134

|percentage = 2.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 700

|percentage = 1.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 25,273

|percentage = 81.0

|change = +0.2

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 31,215

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +10.2

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +9.8

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Note (1837): 25,273 voted. George Julian Harney and Lawrence Pitkethley were nominated on the Chartist interest, but did not obtain any votes. (Source: Stooks Smith).
• Succession of Stuart-Wortley as 2nd Baron Wharncliffe, 19 December 1845

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election, 4 February 1846: West Riding of Yorkshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Appointment of Howard as First Commissioner of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works, and Buildings

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election, 18 July 1846: West Riding of Yorkshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1847: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = Richard Cobden

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Howard

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 36,165

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Radicals (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Succession of Howard as 7th Earl of Carlisle, 7 October 1848

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election, 11 December 1848: West Riding of Yorkshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Edmund Beckett

|votes = 14,743

|percentage = 55.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Culling Eardley{{cite news |title=Essex Standard |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000165/18481215/028/0003 |access-date=11 August 2019 |date=15 December 1848 |page=3 |via = British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription}}

|votes = 11,795

|percentage = 44.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 2,948

|percentage = 11.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 26,538

|percentage = 75.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 35,280

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1852: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Radicals (UK)

|candidate = Richard Cobden

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Edmund Beckett

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 37,319

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Radicals (UK)

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1857: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate =Edmund Beckett

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = George Robinson

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 37,513

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|loser = Radicals (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Robinson succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl of Ripon and causing a by-election.

{{Election box begin |

|title=By-election, 21 February 1859: West Riding of Yorkshire}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = John Ramsden

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |

|title=General election 1859: West Riding of Yorkshire (2 seats)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = John Ramsden

|votes = 15,978

|percentage = 35.5

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Francis Crossley

|votes = 15,401

|percentage = 34.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = James Stuart-Wortley

|votes = 13,636

|percentage = 30.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,765

|percentage = 3.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 29,326 (est)

|percentage = 80.0 (est)

|change = ''N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 36,645

}}

{{Election box hold with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Liberal Party (UK)

|loser = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = N/A

}}

{{Election box end}}

• Constituency abolished 1865

{{Reflist}}

• British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1977)
• Electoral Reform in England and Wales, by Charles Seymour (David & Charles Reprints 1970) originally published in 1915, so out of copyright
• The Parliaments of England by Henry Stooks Smith (1st edition published in three volumes 1844–50), second edition edited (in one volume) by F.W.S. Craig (Political Reference Publications 1973) originally published in 1844-50, so out of copyright
• Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: Volume I 1832-1885, edited by M. Stenton (The Harvester Press 1976)
• {{Rayment-hc|y|date=March 2012}}

{{Sheffield Constituencies}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in North Yorkshire (historic)

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in South Yorkshire (historic)

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire (historic)

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1832

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1865

Category:West Riding of Yorkshire