Queenborough (UK Parliament constituency)


Queenborough was a rotten borough situated on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
From 1572 until it was abolished by the great reform act of 1832, it returned two Members of Parliament. The franchise was vested in the freemen of the town, of whom there were more than 300. Its electorate was therefore one of largest of the 56 boroughs that were abolished. Most freemen, however, were non resident.
A small town in Kent, England, which grew as a port near the Thames Estuary.
Formerly a municipal borough in the Faversham parliamentary division of Kent, is two miles south of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey, nearby the westward entrance to the Swale, where it joins the River Medway. It is now in the Sittingbourne and Sheppey parliamentary constituency and governed by Swale Borough Council and Queenborough Town Council.
Queenborough Harbour offers moorings between the Thames and Medway. It is possible to land at Queenborough on any tide and there are boat builders and chandlers in the marina. Admiral Lord Nelson, is reputed to have learnt much of his seafaring skills in these waters, and also shared a house near the small harbour with his mistress, the Lady Hamilton.

Members of Parliament

1572-1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1571John Brooke alias CobhamJohn Parker
1572 John Brooke alias CobhamWilliam Butler, died
and replaced Dec 1580 by
Sir Humphrey Gilbert
1584 John Brooke alias CobhamWilliam Parry, expelled from the House
and replaced Feb 1585 by
Sir Edward Hoby
1586 Sir Edward HobyMichael Sondes
1588William BoysMichael Sondes
1593John Brooke alias CobhamJohn Baynham
1597Sir George CarewMichael Sondes
1601Sir Michael SondesNicholas Troughton
1604Sir Edward StaffordMichael Sondes
1605Sir Edward StaffordRichard Wright
1614Roger PalmerRobert Hatton
1621-1622James PalmerWilliam Frowde
1624Roger PalmerRobert Pooley
1625Roger PalmerSir Edward Hales
1626Roger PalmerRobert Pooley
1628Roger PalmerSir John Hales
1629–1640No Parliaments summonedNo Parliaments summoned

1640-1832