Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)

Southwark (/ˈsʌðərk/ ⓘ SUDH-ərk)[1] was a constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the UK Parliament until its first abolition for the 1885 general election. A seat of the same name, covering a smaller area than the last form of the earlier seat in the west of the original and beyond its boundaries to the southwest, was created in 1950 and abolished in 1974.

For similarly named constituencies, see Southwark constituency.

Southwark
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
CountyLondon
1295–1885
SeatsTwo
Created fromSurrey (part of)
Replaced byBermondsey
Rotherhithe
Southwark West
1950–1974 (1974)
SeatsOne
Created fromSouthwark Central, Southwark North and Southwark South East
Replaced byBermondsey (abolished 1983)
Peckham (abolished 1997)
Dulwich (absorbed small parts) (abolished 1997)
Southwark in London, 1868–85
Southwark in London, 1950–74

In its last creation the seat's broad electorate heavily supported the three successive Labour candidates, who won Southwark with a majority of greater than 36% of the votes cast at its eight elections – an extremely safe seat.

Creation, boundaries, abolition
First creation – or Southwark dual-member constituency

The constituency was created in 1295 as a parliamentary borough (also known as burgh) when its electorate was restricted to the owners of certain properties in its main streets of its burgage, returning two 'burgesses' as they were sometimes called. Its electorate was expanded to a more standard franchise in 1832. In 1833 the electorate was 4,775 adult males and this had risen to 23,472 by 1880.[2]

The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 replaced the two-member constituency with the seats West Southwark, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.[3]

Second creation – or Southwark seat

A seat taking the old constituency name was established for the 1950 general election. Its boundaries were unaltered in the 1955 corrective review and it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.

Members of Parliament

MPs 1295–1640
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1386[4] Henry Thymelby William Beeche
1388 (Feb)[4] John Northampton William Porter
1388 (Sep)[4] Roger Chandler Richard atte Vine
1390 (Jan)[4] William Wintringham John Mucking
1390 (Nov)
1391[4] William Spalding Walter Segrave
1393[4] John Solas Thomas Solas
1394
1395[4] John Solas John Mucking
1397 (Jan)[4] Thomas atte Gill
1397 (Sep)[4] William Derby
1399[4] Ralph Spalding John Parker
1401
1402[4] John Gofaire John Mucking
1404 (Jan)
1404 (Oct)
1406[4] John Baker Thomas Spencer
1407[4] Thomas Colman John Deken
1410
1411
1413 (Feb)
1413 (May)[4] William Horton Thomas Spencer
1414 (Apr)[4] John William John Welles
1414 (Nov)[4] John Solas William Kirton
1415[4] William Redstone Thomas Spencer
1416 (Mar)[4] John Solas John Mucking
1416 (Oct)
1417[4] William Kirton John Deken
1419[4] Robert William John Welles
1420[4] William Kirton John Deken
1421 (May)[4] William Redstone
1421 (Dec)[4] Thomas Dewy Thomas Lucas
1510–1523[5] No names known
1529 [5] Sir John Shilston, died 1530 Robert Acton
1536[5] Thomas Bulla  ?
1539[5] Sir Richard Long Robert Acton
1542[5] Robert Acton Thomas Bulla
1545[5]  ? William Gyllam
1547[5] Sir John Gates,
repl. by Jan 1552 by John Sayer		 Richard Fulmerston
1553 (Mar)[5] John Eston John Sayer
1553 (Oct)[5] Humphrey Colet
1554 (Apr)[5] John Eston
1554 (Nov)[5]
1555[5] Humphrey Colet
1558[5] Robert Freeman
1559 [6]
1562–3 [6] Thomas Cure Oliffe Burr
1571 [6] William Wilson
1572 [6] Oliffe Burr Thomas Way
1584 [6] Thomas Way Richard Hutton
1586 [6] Thomas Cure
1588–9 [6] Richard Hutton William Pratt
1593 [6] Hugh Browker Richard Hutton
1597 [6] Edmund Bowyer
1601 [6] Mathew Dale Zachariah Locke
1604–1611 Sir George Rivers William Counden
1614 Edward Coxe Richard Yarward
1621 Richard Yarward Robert Bromfield
1624
1625 William Coxe
1626
1628
1629–1640 No Parliaments summoned

MPs 1640–1885
ElectionFirst MemberFirst PartySecond MemberSecond Party
April 1640 Robert Holborne Richard Tuffnell
November 1640 Edward Bagshawe Royalist John White[7] Parliamentarian
January 1644 Bagshawe disabled from sitting – seat vacant
1645 George Thomson George Snelling
1653 Southwark was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament
1654 Samuel Highland Robert Warcup
1656 Peter De La Noy
January 1659 George Thomson Andrew Brewer
April 1660 John Langham Sir Thomas Bludworth
1661 George Moore
1666 Sir Thomas Clarges
1679 Sir Richard How Peter Rich
1685 Sir Peter Daniel Anthony Bowyer
1689 John Arnold Sir Peter Rich
1690 Anthony Bowyer
1695 Sir Charles Cox Whig
1698 John Cholmley Whig
January 1712 Edmund Halsey[8]
February 1712 Sir George Matthews
1713 John Lade Tory Fisher Tench[9] Whig
1722 George Meggott Edmund Halsey Whig
1724 by-election[10] John Lade Tory
1727 Sir Joseph Eyles Whig
1730 by-election[11] Thomas Inwen
1734 George Heathcote Tory
1741 Ralph Thrale
1743 by-election[12] Alexander Hume
1747 William Belchier
1754 William Hammond
1761 Joseph Mawbey[13] Alexander Hume
1765 by-election[14] Henry Thrale Pro-Government Chathamite/Northite
1774 Nathaniel Polhill Radical
1780 Sir Richard Hotham
1782 by-election[15] Henry Thornton Tory[16]
April 1784 Sir Barnard Turner Independent[16]
June 1784 by-election[17] Paul Le Mesurier Tory[16]
May 1796 George Woodford Thellusson[18]
December 1796 by-election[18] George Tierney Whig[16]
1806 Sir Thomas Turton, Bt Tory[16]
1812 Charles Calvert Whig[16]
1815 by-election[19] Charles Barclay
1818 Sir Robert Wilson Radical[16]
Aug 1830 John Rawlinson Harris
Nov 1830 by-election[20] Charles Calvert
1831 William Brougham Whig[16][21]
1832 John Humphery Whig[22][16]
1835 Daniel Whittle Harvey Radical[16][23]
1840 by-election[24] Benjamin Wood Whig[16][25][26]
1845 by-election[27] Sir William Molesworth Radical[28][29]
1852 Apsley Pellatt Radical[30][31]
1855 by-election Sir Charles Napier Radical[30][32]
1857 John Locke Radical[33]
1859 Liberal Liberal
1860 by-election[34] Austen Henry Layard
1870 by-election[35] Marcus Beresford Conservative
1880 by-election[36] Edward Clarke Conservative
1880 Arthur Cohen Liberal Thorold Rogers Liberal
1885 constituency abolished: creating all of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Southwark West

MPs 1950–1974
ElectionMemberParty
1950 George Isaacs Labour
1959 Ray Gunter
1972 by-election Harry Lamborn
Feb 1974 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s
General election 1830: Southwark[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Rawlinson Harris 1,664 40.7
Radical Robert Wilson 1,434 35.0
Whig Charles Calvert 995 24.3
Majority 230 5.7 N/A
Whig hold Swing
Majority 439 10.7 N/A
Turnout 2,635
Radical hold Swing

Harris' death caused a by-election.

By-election November 1830: Southwark[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Calvert 1,066 62.4 −2.6
Tory Thomas Farncomb 643 37.6 New
Majority 423 24.8 +19.1
Turnout 1,709
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1831: Southwark[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Charles Calvert Unopposed
Whig William Brougham Unopposed
Whig hold
Whig gain from Radical
General election 1832: Southwark[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig William Brougham 2,264 45.2 N/A
Whig John Humphery 1,708 34.1 N/A
Whig Lancelot Baugh Allen[38] 1,040 20.8 N/A
Radical Thomas Lamie Murray[39] 0 0.0 New
Majority 668 13.3 N/A
Turnout 2,810 58.8 N/A
Registered electors 4,775
Whig hold Swing N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
General election 1835: Southwark[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Humphery Unopposed
Radical Daniel Whittle Harvey Unopposed
Registered electors 5,249
Whig hold
Radical gain from Whig
General election 1837: Southwark[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Humphery 1,941 41.1 N/A
Radical Daniel Whittle Harvey 1,927 40.9 N/A
Conservative John Richards 847 18.0 New
Conservative Benjamin Harrison 2 0.0 New
Turnout 2,898 52.9 N/A
Registered electors 5,477
Majority 14 0.2 N/A
Whig hold Swing N/A
Majority 1,080 22.9 N/A
Radical hold Swing N/A

Harvey was appointed a registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages, causing a by-election.

By-election, 27 February 1839: Southwark[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Daniel Whittle Harvey Unopposed
Radical hold

Elections in the 1840s

Harvey resigned after being appointed a Commissioner of Police for the City of London, causing a by-election.

By-election, 24 January 1840: Southwark[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig Benjamin Wood 2,059 57.3 +16.2
Conservative John Walter[40] 1,535 42.7 +24.7
Majority 524 14.6 +14.3
Turnout 3,594 71.2 +18.3
Registered electors 5,047
Whig gain from Radical Swing −4.3
General election 1841: Southwark (2 seats)[37][16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Humphery Unopposed
Whig Benjamin Wood Unopposed
Registered electors 5,124
Whig hold
Whig hold

Wood's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 12 September 1845: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Molesworth 1,943 55.9 New
Conservative Jeremiah Pilcher[41] 1,182 34.0 New
Radical Edward Miall[42] 352 10.1 New
Majority 761 21.9 N/A
Turnout 3,477 65.0 N/A
Registered electors 5,353
Radical gain from Whig Swing N/A
General election 1847: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Whig John Humphery Unopposed
Radical William Molesworth Unopposed
Registered electors 7,989
Whig hold
Radical gain from Whig

Elections in the 1850s
General election 1852: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Molesworth 3,941 36.7 N/A
Radical Apsley Pellatt 3,887 36.2 N/A
Radical George Scovell[43] 2,909 27.1 N/A
Majority 978 9.1 N/A
Turnout 5,369 (est) 56.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 9,458
Radical hold
Radical gain from Whig

Molesworth was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 1 January 1853: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Molesworth Unopposed
Radical hold

Molesworth was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 27 July 1855: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical William Molesworth Unopposed
Radical hold

Molesworth's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 20 November 1855: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Charles Napier Unopposed
Radical hold
General election 1857: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Radical Charles Napier 3,991 39.4 +2.7
Radical John Locke 3,647 36.0 N/A
Radical Apsley Pellatt 2,499 24.7 −11.5
Majority 1,148 11.3 +2.2
Turnout 5,069 (est) 49.8 (est) −7.0
Registered electors 10,170
Radical hold
Radical hold
General election 1859: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Napier 4,446 38.9 −0.5
Liberal John Locke 4,255 37.2 +1.2
Liberal Apsley Pellatt 2,730 23.9 −0.8
Majority 1,525 13.3 +2.0
Turnout 5,716 (est) 53.9 (est) +4.1
Registered electors 10,606
Liberal hold
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1860s

Napier's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 12 December 1860: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Austen Henry Layard 4,572 57.5 N/A
Liberal George Scovell[44] 3,377 42.5 N/A
Majority 1,195 15.0 +1.7
Turnout 7,949 70.5 +16.6
Registered electors 11,278
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Locke was appointed Recorder of Brighton, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 24 April 1861: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Locke Unopposed
Liberal hold
General election 1865: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Locke Unopposed
Liberal Austen Henry Layard Unopposed
Registered electors 11,631
Liberal hold
Liberal hold
General election 1868: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Locke 6,027 41.8 N/A
Liberal Austen Henry Layard 5,908 40.9 N/A
Conservative William Cotton 2,495 17.3 New
Majority 3,413 23.6 N/A
Turnout 8,463 (est) 47.8 (est) N/A
Registered electors 17,703
Liberal hold Swing N/A
Liberal hold Swing N/A

Layard was appointed First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 21 December 1868: Southwark[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Austen Henry Layard Unopposed
Liberal hold

Elections in the 1870s

Layard resigned after being appointed British ambassador to Spain.

By-election, 17 Feb 1870: Southwark (1 seat)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Marcus Beresford 4,686 38.9 +21.6
Lib-Lab George Odger 4,382 36.4 New
Liberal Sydney Waterlow 2,966 24.6 −58.1
Majority 304 2.5 N/A
Turnout 12,034 68.0 +20.2
Registered electors 17,703
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +39.9
General election 1874: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Locke 5,901 32.4 −9.4
Conservative Marcus Beresford 5,716 31.3 +14.0
Lib-Lab George Odger 3,496 19.2 N/A
Liberal Andrew Dunn[45] 3,121 17.1 −23.8
Turnout 11,975 (est) 58.6 (est) +10.8
Registered electors 23,472
Majority 185 1.1 −22.5
Liberal hold Swing −8.2
Majority 2,220 12.2 N/A
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +15.3

Elections in the 1880s

Locke's death caused a by-election.

By-election, 14 Feb 1880: Southwark (1 seat)[37][46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Edward Clarke 7,683 50.2 +18.9
Liberal Andrew Dunn 6,830 44.6 −4.9
Lib-Lab George Shipton 799 5.2 −14.0
Majority 853 5.6 N/A
Turnout 15,312 65.2 +6.6
Registered electors 23,472
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +11.9
General election 1880: Southwark (2 seats)[37]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Cohen 9,693 27.7 −4.7
Liberal Thorold Rogers 9,521 27.2 +10.1
Conservative Edward Clarke 8,163 23.3 +7.6
Conservative Mark Cattley[47] 7,674 21.9 +6.2
Majority 1,358 3.9 +2.8
Turnout 17,526 (est) 74.7 (est) +16.1
Registered electors 23,472
Liberal hold Swing −5.5
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.3

Elections in the 1950s
General election 1950: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Isaacs 35,049 68.27
Conservative James Greenwood (MP) 12,671 24.68
Liberal Lionel Fowler 2,950 5.75
Communist Spencer John Bent 668 1.30
Majority 22,378 43.59
Turnout 51,338 73.98
Labour win (new seat)
General election 1951: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Isaacs 36,586 72.28
Conservative James Greenwood (MP) 14,032 27.72
Majority 22,554 44.56
Turnout 50,618 72.32
Labour hold Swing
General election 1955: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour George Isaacs 28,174 70.30
Conservative James Greenwood(MP) 10,944 27.31
Communist Spencer John Bent 959 2.39 New
Majority 17,230 42.99
Turnout 40,077 60.18
Labour hold Swing
General election 1959: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Gunter 25,036 63.99
Conservative James Greenwood (MP) 12,696 32.45
Communist Spencer John Bent 1,395 3.57
Majority 12,340 31.54
Turnout 39,127 63.37
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1960s
General election 1964: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Gunter 22,426 68.82
Conservative Anthony Paul R Noble 8,563 26.28
Communist Spencer John Bent 1,599 4.91
Majority 13,863 42.54
Turnout 32,588 55.86
Labour hold Swing
General election 1966: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Gunter 21,855 73.55
Conservative Anthony Paul Noble 6,454 21.72
Communist Spencer John Bent 1,404 4.73
Majority 15,401 51.83
Turnout 29,713 54.03
Labour hold Swing

Elections in the 1970s
General election 1970: Southwark
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Ray Gunter 16,834 67.33
Conservative Jeffrey Gordon 7,040 28.16
Communist Earle Hume 1,128 4.51
Majority 9,794 39.17
Turnout 25,002 48.19
Labour hold Swing
1972 Southwark by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Harry Lamborn 12,108 79.33 +12.00
Conservative Jeffrey Gordon 2,756 18.06 -10.10
Independent Brian McDermott 398 2.61 New
Majority 9,352 61.27
Turnout 15,262
Labour hold Swing

References
  1. "Southwark", in The Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World (1952), New York: Columbia University Press.
  2. F.W.S. Craig (ed.), British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1977)
  3. "The public general acts : Great Britain, Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  6. "History of Parliament". History of Parliament Trust. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  7. Died January 1645; the writ to fill both vacancies was issued in August 1645
  8. On petition, Halsey was found not to have been duly elected, and a new election was held
  9. Created a baronet, August 1715
  10. The by-election in January 1724 was caused by death of George Meggott
  11. The by-election in January 1730 was caused by death of Edmund Halsey
  12. The by-election in June 1743 was caused by death of Thomas Inwen
  13. Mawbey was created a baronet in July 1765
  14. The by-election in December 1765 was caused by death of William Hammond
  15. The by-election in December 1782 was caused by death of Nathaniel Polhill
  16. Stooks Smith, Henry (1845). The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I., to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive. London: Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. pp. 70–72.
  17. The by-election in June 1784 was caused by death of Sir Barnard Turner
  18. Thellusson's election in May 1796 was declared void in November 1796; a by-election was held at which he was re-elected but he was found to be ineligible to sit and Tierney was declared elected in his place
  19. The by-election in February 1815 was caused by death of Henry Thornton
  20. The by-election in November 1830 was caused by death of John Rawlinson Harris
  21. Spencer, Howard (2009). "BROUGHAM, William (1795–1886), of 12 Old Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, Mdx". The History of Parliament.
  22. Spencer, Howard. "Southwark". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  23. Fisher, David R. (2009). "HARVEY, Daniel Whittle (1786–1863), of Feering House, Kelvedon, Essex and 7 Great George Street, Mdx". The History of Parliament.
  24. The by-election in January 1840 was caused by the resignation of Daniel Whittle Harvey
  25. "Southwark". Dublin Morning Register. 27 January 1840. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. "Southwark Election". Cambridge Independent Press. 25 January 1840. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. The by-election in September 1845 was caused by the death of Benjamin Wood
  28. "Newcastle Journal". 6 September 1845. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. "The Elections—Sunderland and Southwark". Coventry Herald. 5 September 1845. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. Steele, E. D. (1991). "At home". Palmerston and Liberalism, 1855–1865. Cambridge University Press. pp. 72, 118. ISBN 9780521400459.
  31. Weinstein, Benjamin (2011). Liberalism and Local Government in Early Victorian London. Boydell and Brewer. p. 91. ISBN 9780861933129.
  32. Hicks, Geoff; Charmley, John; Grosvenor, Bendor, eds. (2012). "The Second Derby Government". Documents on Conservative Foreign Policy, 1852–1878. Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN 9781107035928.
  33. Hawkins, Angus (2015). "Shooting Niagara". Victorian Political Culture: 'habits of Heart and Mind' (Illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 259. ISBN 9780198728481.
  34. The by-election in December 1860 was caused by the death of Sir Charles Napier
  35. The by-election in February 1870 was caused by the resignation of Austen Henry Layard
  36. The by-election in December 1880 was caused by the death of John Locke
  37. Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. pp. 16–17. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  38. "London and Suburbs Elections". Cobbett's Weekly Political Register. 15 December 1832 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. "Southwark". Morning Post. 10 December 1832. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. "Southwark Election". Evening Mail. 20 January 1840. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. "Southwark Election". Globe. 2 September 1845. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. "Belfast Commercial Chronicle". 15 September 1845. pp. 2–3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  43. "Election Intelligence". Reynold's Weekly Newspaper. 4 July 1852. p. 14 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. "Scovell". Morning Advertiser. 20 November 1860. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. "Southwark Election". Daily Telegraph & Courier. 28 January 1874. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. "For the representation of Southwark". Illustrated London News. 14 February 1880. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. "General Election". John Bull. 20 March 1880. p. 5.

Sources
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