Rye (UK Parliament constituency)
Rye was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Rye in East Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was halved under the Reform Act 1832.
From the 1832 general election, Rye returned one Member of Parliament until its abolition for the 1950 general election, when the town of Rye itself was transferred to the redrawn Hastings constituency where it remained until 1955 when it returned to the re-created Rye seat.
The constituency was re-created for the 1955 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election.
Boundaries
1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Hastings and Rye, the Sessional Divisions of Battle, Burwash, Frant, Hastings, and Rye, the ancient town of Winchelsea, and the Liberty of the Sluice and Petit Iham.1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Bexhill and Rye, the Urban District of Battle, the Rural Districts of Battle, Hastings, Rye, and Ticehurst, and in the Rural District of Hailsham the civil parishes of Heathfield, Herstmonceux, Hooe, Ninfield, Warbleton, and Wartling.
1955–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Bexhill and Rye, the Rural District of Battle, and part of the Rural District of Hailsham.
Members of Parliament
MPs 1366–1640
| Parliament | First Member | Second Member |
| 1372 | John Salerne | |
| 1373 | John Salerne | |
| 1381 | Simon Lunceford | - |
| 1386 | Stephen Elyot | John Baddyng |
| 1388 | Stephen Elyot | William Marchaunt II |
| 1388 | William atte Vawte | John Macop |
| 1390 | Laurence Lunceford | Laurence Corboyle |
| 1390 | - | |
| 1391 | John Salerne I | Laurence Lunceford |
| 1393 | John Baddyng | John Bertelot |
| 1394 | - | |
| 1395 | John Baddyng | William Ormed |
| 1397 | Richard Tichebourne | John Langeport |
| 1397 | - | |
| 1399 | John Baddyng | William atte Vawte |
| 1401 | - | |
| 1402 | John Baddyng | John Roberd |
| 1404 | - | |
| 1404 | - | |
| 1406 | William atte Vawte | Laurence Mersey |
| 1407 | John Baddyng | Thomas Long |
| 1410 | John Shelley | William Long II |
| 1411 | - | |
| 1413 | - | |
| 1413 | William Long II | Robert Onewyn |
| 1414 | - | |
| 1414 | William Long II | Robert Onewyn |
| 1415 | - | |
| 1416 | - | |
| 1416 | - | |
| 1417 | John Shelley | Richard Posterf |
| 1419 | Robert Onewyn | William Long II |
| 1420 | John Shelley | William Long II |
| 1421 | Robert Onewyn | Thomas Piers |
| 1421 | William Thirlwall | John Shelley |
| 1504 | Richard Berkeley | - |
| 1510 | Nicholas Sutton | Richard Berkeley |
| 1512 | Nicholas Sutton | Robert Mede |
| 1515 | Robert Mede | Nicholas Sutton |
| 1523 | Thomas Cheseman alias Baker | Thomas Basseden |
| 1529 | Nicholas Sutton, died and replaced by 1534 by Richard Inglet | John Fletcher |
| 1536 | Richard Inglet | John Fletcher |
| 1539 | Thomas Birchet | William Mede |
| 1542 | John Fletcher | William Oxenbridge |
| 1545 | Alexander Welles | Robert Wymond |
| 1547 | Alexander Welles | George Reynolds |
| 1553 | Richard Fletcher | John Holmes I |
| 1553 | Clement Heigham | John Holmes I |
| 1554 | John Holmes I | Richard Fletcher |
| 1554 | John Holmes I | Thomas Smith |
| 1555 | John Holmes I | Reginald Mohun |
| 1558 | Thomas Fletcher | Thomas Cheyne |
| 1559 | Richard Fletcher I | Robert Marche |
| 1562/3 | George Reynolds I | John Bredes |
| 1571 | John Donning | Thomas Fanshawe |
| 1572 | Clement Cobbe, died and replaced July 1575 by Robert Carpenter | Henry Gaymer |
| 1584 | John Hammond | Robert Carpenter |
| 1586 | Henry Gaymer | Robert Carpenter |
| 1588/9 | Audley Dannett | Robert Carpenter |
| 1593 | Henry Gaymer | Robert Carpenter |
| 1597 | Sampson Lennard | Thomas Hamon |
| 1601 | Sir Arthur Gorges | Thomas Colepeper |
| 1604–1611 | Thomas Hamon, died and replaced by Heneage Finch | John Young |
| 1614 | Edward Hendon | Thomas Watson |
| 1621–1622 | Emmanuel Gifford | John Angell |
| 1624 | Thomas Conway | Sir Edward Conway, sat for Warwick and replaced by John Angel |
| 1625 | Thomas Fotherley | Sir John Sackville |
| 1626 | Thomas Fotherley | Sir John Sackville |
| 1628 | Richard Tufton | Thomas Fotherley |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
MPs 1640–1832
MPs 1832–1950
MPs 1955–1983
Elections
Elections in the 1830s
Bonham resigned, causing a by-election.- 15 votes for De Lacy Evans were rejected but, after petition, he was declared elected on 17 May 1830 and Pusey's election was declared void.
- 200 inhabitants voted for Evans and Smith, but these were rejected
- A riot broke out during the poll and it was then agreed that Pusey withdrew from the contest o the condition that De Lacy Evan's party would protect the peace of the town. Just three electors polled on the second day.
Elections in the 1840s
Curteis' election was declared void on petition on 27 March 1848, due to insufficient notice being given of the election, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
Mackinnon was unseated when his election was declared void on petition due to bribery and treating, causing a by-election.Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1870s
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Elections in the 1910s
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1940s
General Election 1939/40:Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1940. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
- Conservative: George Courthope
- Labour: George A. Greenwood
Elections in the 1950s