(Much) Wenlock (UK Parliament constituency)
Much Wenlock, often called simply Wenlock, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885, when it was abolished.
It was named after the town of that name in Shropshire.
The seat was founded in 1468 as a borough constituency and was represented throughout its history by two burgesses.
Boundaries
Much Wenlock's constituency boundaries ran from Leighton to just west of Dawley, to Ironbridge, and finally to just east of Madeley along the northern border; travelling eastwards, the boundaries ran from just east of Madeley to the bend in the River Severn, following the river thereafter. The far southern border, commencing in the east, travelled along the southern part of the Severn across to Easthope; the western border, running northwards, going from Easthope through to Benthall, and onwards back to Leighton.Members of Parliament
- Constituency created
Parliament | First member | Second member |
1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
1529 | John Foster | Edward Hall |
1536 | ? | - |
1539 | ? | - |
1542 | William Blount | Reginald Corbet |
1545 | Richard Cornwall | Richard Lawley |
1547 | Richard Lawley | Thomas Lawley |
1553 | John Herbert | Thomas Lawley |
1553 | Richard Lee | Robert Eyton |
1554 | Thomas Foster | Edward Lacon |
1554 | Sir George Blount | John Evans |
1555 | Sir George Blount | Thomas Ridley |
1558 | Sir George Blount | George Bromley |
1558/9 | Roland Lacon | George Bromley |
1562/3 | Sir George Blount | Charles Foxe |
1571 | William Lacon | Thomas Eyton |
1572 | Sir George Blount | Thomas Lawley |
1584 | Thomas Lawley | William Baynham |
1586 | Thomas Lawley | William Baynham |
1588 | William Baynham | Robert Lawley |
1593 | William Baynham | Sir John Poole |
1597 | William Baynham, died and replaced by Thomas Fanshawe | William Lacon |
1601 | John Brett | William Leighton |
1604 | Robert Lawley | George Lawley |
1614 | Rowland Lacon | Edward Lawley |
1621 | Sir Edward Lawley | Thomas Wolryche |
1624 | Henry Mytton | Thomas Wolryche |
1625 | Thomas Lawley | Thomas Wolryche |
1626 | Thomas Lawley | Francis Smallman |
1628 | Thomas Lawley | George Bridgmant |
1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
- Constituency abolished
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Weld-Forester was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to William IV, requiring a by-election.Elections in the 1840s
Gaskell was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.Elections in the 1850s
Weld-Forester was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.Gaskell was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.