Western Division of Suffolk

The seat was created under the Reform Act 1832 as one of two divisions, together with the Eastern Division, of the Parliamentary County of Suffolk. This resulted in a more representative allocation, with a total of four MPs instead of two for the former entire county at large, which still allowed for double voting (or more) of those Forty Shilling Freeholders who also were householders or landlords of any particular boroughs within the county. This Act retained the four largest boroughs of the seven before 1832.

With two heirs to their title serving the seat, the Marquesses of Bristol, the Hervey family, were major landowners in the county. The modern seat is at Ickworth, with part of its grand house now being a luxury hotel.

Further sweeping changes took place as a result of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which saw the 2 two-member Suffolk divisions being replaced by five single-member constituencies. The Western Division was largely replaced by the North-Western or Stowmarket Division and the Southern or Sudbury Division. A small area in the east was included in the North-Eastern or Eye Division.

1832–1885: The Liberty of Bury St. Edmund's, and the Hundreds of Hartesmere, and Stow.{{Cite web |date=1832 |title=The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uq0uAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA300 |access-date=23 May 2020 |publisher=His Majesty's statute and law printers |pages=300–383 |location=London}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=General election 1832: West Suffolk

}}

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

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Charles Tyrell

|votes = 1,832

|percentage = 38.4

|change =

}}

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

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Hyde Parker

|votes = 1,664

|percentage = 34.9

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Tories (British political party)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

|votes = 1,272

|percentage = 26.7

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority no change|

|votes = 392

|percentage = 8.2

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout no change|

|votes = 2,920

|percentage = 87.8

|change =

}}

{{Election box registered electors no change|

|reg. electors = 3,326

}}

{{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| title=General election 1835: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Wilson

|votes = 1,723

|percentage = 27.6

|change = −10.8

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Rushbrooke

|votes = 1,655

|percentage = 26.5

|change = +13.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Hart Logan

|votes = 1,509

|percentage = 24.2

|change = +10.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = John Turner Hales

|votes = 1,350

|percentage = 21.6

|change = −13.3

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 3,256

|percentage = 87.3

|change = −0.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 3,731

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 68

|percentage = 1.1

|change = −7.1

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = −11.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 146

|percentage = 2.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +12.6

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1837: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Hart Logan

|votes = 2,217

|percentage = 29.7

|change = +5.5

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Rushbrooke

|votes = 2,173

|percentage = 29.1

|change = +2.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Bunbury

|votes = 1,560

|percentage = 20.9

|change = −0.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Whigs (British political party)

|candidate = Henry Wilson

|votes = 1,505

|percentage = 20.2

|change = −7.4

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 613

|percentage = 8.2

|change = +5.9

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 3,810

|percentage = 76.8

|change = −10.5

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,959

}}

{{Election box hold with party link

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|swing = +4.8

}}

{{Election box gain with party link|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

|loser = Whigs (British political party)

|swing = +3.3

}}

{{Election box end}}

Logan's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin no change| title=By-election, 7 May 1838: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1841: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Robert Rushbrooke

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,091

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Rushbrooke's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin| title=By-election, 7 July 1845: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Bennet

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1847: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Bennet

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,913

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1852: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Bennet

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,379

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1857: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Harry Spencer Waddington

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Bennet

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,084

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1859: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Frederick Hervey

|votes = 1,958

|percentage = 42.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Parker

|votes = 1,379

|percentage = 29.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Philip Bennet

|votes = 1,300

|percentage = 28.0

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 79

|percentage = 1.7

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 2,319 (est)

|percentage = 55.6 (est)

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,172

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Hervey succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Marquess of Bristol and causing a by-election.

{{Election box begin| title=By-election, 8 December 1864: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Augustus Hervey

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1865: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Augustus Hervey

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Parker

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 4,269

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1868: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Parker

|votes = 2,500

|percentage = 37.9

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Augustus Hervey

|votes = 2,389

|percentage = 36.2

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Lamport{{cite news|title=West Suffolk Election|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000762/18681114/074/0005|access-date=18 March 2018|work=Bury Free Press|date=14 November 1868|page=5|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 1,705

|percentage = 25.9

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 684

|percentage = 10.3

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 4,150 (est)

|percentage = 74.3 (est)

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,583

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1874: West Suffolk

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Augustus Hervey

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Parker

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,949

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Hervey's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin| title=June 1875 West Suffolk by-election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Fuller Maitland Wilson

|votes = 2,780

|percentage = 72.4

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Liberal Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Easton{{cite news|title=Election News|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000155/18750608/024/0003|access-date=21 January 2018|work=Bradford Observer|date=8 June 1875|page=3|via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

|votes = 1,061

|percentage = 27.6

|change = New

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 1,719

|percentage = 44.8

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 3,841

|percentage = 66.1

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,811

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Wilson's death caused a by-election.

{{Election box begin| title=October 1875 West Suffolk by-election

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Thornhill

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General election 1880: West Suffolk{{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|type=e-book|pages=463–464}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = William Biddell

}}

{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Thomas Thornhill

}}

{{Election box registered electors|

|reg. electors = 5,700

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist|group=n}}

{{reflist}}

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

Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1885

Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Suffolk (historic)