(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

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1510–1523No names knownNo names known
1529John FosterEdward Hall
1536?-
1539?-
1542William BlountReginald Corbet
1545Richard CornwallRichard Lawley
1547Richard LawleyThomas Lawley
1553 John HerbertThomas Lawley
1553 Richard LeeRobert Eyton
1554 Thomas FosterEdward Lacon
1554 Sir George BlountJohn Evans
1555Sir George BlountThomas Ridley
1558Sir George BlountGeorge Bromley
1558/9Roland LaconGeorge Bromley
1562/3Sir George BlountCharles Foxe
1571William LaconThomas Eyton
1572Sir George BlountThomas Lawley
1584Thomas LawleyWilliam Baynham
1586Thomas LawleyWilliam Baynham
1588William BaynhamRobert Lawley
1593William BaynhamSir John Poole
1597William Baynham, died
and replaced by
Thomas Fanshawe
William Lacon
1601John BrettWilliam Leighton
1604Robert LawleyGeorge Lawley
1614Rowland LaconEdward Lawley
1621Sir Edward LawleyThomas Wolryche
1624Henry MyttonThomas Wolryche
1625Thomas LawleyThomas Wolryche
1626Thomas LawleyFrancis Smallman
1628Thomas LawleyGeorge Bridgmant
1629–1640No Parliaments summonedNo Parliaments summoned

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.

Elections in the 1860s

Elections in the 1870s

Forester succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Forester and causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s