Sandwich (UK Parliament constituency)


Sandwich was a parliamentary constituency in Kent, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1366 until 1885, when it was disfranchised for corruption.

History

Sandwich like most of the other Cinque Ports, was first enfranchised in the 14th century. As
a Cinque Port it was technically of different status from a parliamentary borough, but the difference was in most respects purely a nominal one. Until 1832, the constituency consisted of the three parishes making up the town of Sandwich; it had once been a flourishing port but by the 19th century the harbour had silted up and there was only a limited maritime trade.
The right to vote was reserved to the freemen of the town, whether or not they were resident within the borough. In 1831 this amounted to 955 qualified voters, of whom only 320 lived in Sandwich. The freedom could be obtained by inheritance, by serving an apprenticeship, or by marrying the daughter or widow of a freeman; the corporation apparently did not, as in some boroughs, have the power to create unlimited numbers of honorary freemen so as to swamp the rights of the genuine freemen. At one period in the 17th century, the town corporation attempted to annex the right of voting to itself on the grounds of "the avoidance of popular tumults common at elections", and in 1621 the Lord Warden ordered with the consent of the Privy Council that this should be so. However, the inhabitants of the town not only petitioned against the election result, but informed the Lord Warden that they intended to present a bill to Parliament to annul the result of that year's election and to restore their former privileges. In the event the petition against the election result was upheld and the election declared void, and a decision of the Commons in another dispute election, in 1690, confirmed that the right of voting was in the freemen.
For most of its existence, no single interest had a predominant influence in Sandwich so as to reduce it to a pocket borough, but the power of official patronage sometimes exerted some leverage. In Tudor times, the Lord Warden expected to be able to nominate one of the two MPs, but - unlike most of the other Cinque Ports - Sandwich consistently defied him, and made its own choice of both MPs throughout Queen Elizabeth's reign. In the 18th and 19th centuries, though, the influence of the navy was sufficient that the Admiralty could be sure of choosing at least one MP at most elections. Nevertheless, Sandwich fell short of being a true "Admiralty borough", and generally elected members who would benefit the town.
In 1831, the population of the constituency was 3,084, and the town contained 610 houses. This would not have been sufficient for the borough to retain both its MPs under the Great Reform Act, but the boundaries were extended so as to include the neighbouring towns of Deal and Walmer, which quadrupled the population. Even so, and despite the extension of the franchise, the revised constituency had only 916 qualified voters for the 1832 general election.
At a by-election in 1880, evidence of widespread bribery in Sandwich emerged. Its writ was suspended, and a Royal Commission appointed to investigate. It was found that out of an electorate of 2115, 1850 voted, of whom 900 admitted they had been bribed and 100 admitted they had bribed. As a result of its report, Sandwich was abolished as a constituency with effect from 25 June 1885, being incorporated into the Eastern Kent county division.

Members of Parliament

1366–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386 John Godard William Ive
1388 William Jordan Stephen Reyner
1388 John Berham Peter Cundy
1390 John BerhamStephen Reyner
1390 -
1391 John Edward William Jordan
1393 Stephen ReynerThomas atte Welle
1394-
1395 John GodardJohn atte Nessche
1397 Richard Benge John Godard
1397 -
1399 John GodardStephen Peyntour
1401-
1402 John GodardJohn atte Nessche
1404 -
1404 -
1406 Henry LoverykJohn Norton
1407 Richard MildenaleJohn Norton
1410 John GyllyngRobert Haddon
1411-
1413 -
1413 John GeldefordJohn Gyllyng
1414 -
1414 Simon HalleRichard Mildenale
1415-
1416 -
1416 -
1417 William GaylerRichard Mildenale
1419 Laurence CundyThomas Loveryk
1420 John BolleLaurence Cundy
1421 Simon HalleLaurence Cundy
1421 John BolleLaurence Cundy
1485Thomas Overton
1491John Naseby
1510 John WestcliffJohn Cock
1512 John WestcliffJohn Hobard
1515 John WestcliffJohn Hobard
1523 John SomerRoger Manwood
1529 Vincent EngehamJohn Boys, died
and replaced Dec 1553 by Thomas Wingfield
1536 Thomas WingfieldVincent Engeham
1539 Thomas PatcheNicholas Peake
1542 John LeeThomas Rolfe
1545 John MasterThomas Menys
1547 Thomas PinnockJohn Seer
1547 Thomas PatcheThomas Ardern
1553 Thomas PatcheThomas Menys
1553 Sir John PerrotSimon Linch
1554 John MasterSimon Linch
1554 John TysarNicholas Crispe
1555 Nicholas PeakeSir John Perrot
1558 Roger ManwoodNicholas Crispe
1559 Roger ManwoodJohn Tysar
1562/3Roger ManwoodRice Perrot
1571 Roger ManwoodJohn Manwood
1572 Roger Manwood, made a judge
replaced Jul 1576 by Edward Peake		John Boys
1584 Edward PeakeEdward Wood
1586 Edward PeakeEdward Wood
1588/9Peter ManwoodEdward Peake
1593 Peter ManwoodEdward Peake
1597 Peter ManwoodEdward Peake
1601 Peter ManwoodEdward Peake
1604-1611Sir George FaneEdward Peake died
replaced by John Griffith
1614Thomas SmytheSir Samuel Peyton, 1st Baronet
1621-1622Sir Edwin SandysSir Robert Hatton
election voided - replaced by
John Burroughes
1624Sir Robert HattonFrancis Drake
1625Sir Henry WottonSir Robert Hatton
1626Sir John Suckling
sat for Norwich, replaced by Sir Edward Boys		Peter Peake
1628John PhilipotPeter Peake
1629–1640No Parliaments summonedNo Parliaments summoned

1640–1885

Notes

Election results

Elections in the 1830s

Troubridge was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
Rivett-Carnac resigned after being appointed Governor of Bombay, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s

Donkin's death caused a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s

Grenfell resigned in order to contest a by-election at Windsor, causing a by-election.


Knatchbull-Hugessen was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Paget resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

Elections in the 1880s

Hugessen resigned in advance of being elevated to the peerage, causing a by-election.
A Royal Commission found proof of extensive bribery and the writ was suspended, with the by-election result being voided. The writ was never returned and the constituency was merged into East Kent on 25 June 1885, before that seat was then abolished for the 1885 general election.