# Wells (UK Parliament constituency)

Wells was a constituency in Somerset in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. Apart from between 2010–2015, Wells was represented by members of the Conservative Party since 1924.
Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished, with most of it being transferred to the new constituency of Wells and Mendip Hills, to be first contested at the 2024 general election.

## History

The original two-member borough constituency was created in 1295, and abolished by the Reform Act 1867 with effect from the 1868 general election. Its revival saw a more comparable size of electorate across the country and across Somerset, with a large swathe of the county covered by this new seat, under the plans of the third Reform Act and the connected Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 which was enacted the following year.

### Political history

The seat was largely Conservative-held during the 20th century and has never elected a Labour MP. The only other political party to have been represented is the Liberal Democrats or their predecessor, the Liberal Party, who achieved a marginal victory in 2010, see marginal seat.

### Prominent frontbenchers

Sir William Hayter was chief government whip of the Commons under three Liberal Prime Ministers governing from the Lords, (Lord John) Russell, Aberdeen and Palmerston.
So too in this role was Lord Hylton from 1916 to 1922 alongside the Lord Colebrooke in the Conservative-Liberal National coalition.
Robert Sanders was Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons, 1918–1919, and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1922–1924.
Robert Boscawen was a government whip (1988–1989).
David Heathcoat-Amory was Minister for Europe (1993–1994) and later a Shadow Cabinet member (1997–2001).

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Borough of Wells, and the Sessional Divisions of Axbridge and Wells (except the parish of Binegar).
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Glastonbury and Wells, the Urban Districts of Shepton Mallet and Street, the Rural Districts of Shepton Mallet, Wells, and Wincanton, and in the Rural District of Frome the parishes of Cloford, Marston Bigot, Nunney, Wanstrow, Whatley, and Witharn Friary.
1950–1983: The Boroughs of Glastonbury and Wells, the Urban Districts of Frome, Shepton Mallet, and Street, and the Rural Districts of Frome, Shepton Mallet, Wells, and Wincanton.
1983–2010: The District of Mendip wards of Ashwick, Avalon, Chilcompton and Ston Easton, Ebbor, Glastonbury St Benedict's, Glastonbury St Edmund's, Glastonbury St John's, Glastonbury St Mary's, Moor, Nedge, Pylcombe, Rodney, Sheppey, Shepton Mallet, Street North, Street South, Wells Central, Wells St Cuthbert's, and Wells St Thomas, and the District of Sedgemoor wards of Axbridge, Axe Vale, Berrow, Brent, Burnham North, Burnham South, Cheddar, Highbridge, Mark, Shipham, and Wedmore.
2010–2024: The District of Mendip wards of Ashwick and Ston Easton, Avalon, Chilcompton, Glastonbury St Benedict's, Glastonbury St Edmund's, Glastonbury St John's, Glastonbury St Mary's, Knowle, Moor, Nedge, Pylcombe, Rodney and Priddy, St Cuthbert Out North and West, Shepton East, Shepton West, Street North, Street South, Street West, Wells Central, Wells St Cuthbert's, and Wells St Thomas, and the District of Sedgemoor wards of Axbridge, Axe Vale, Berrow, Brent North, Burnham North, Burnham South, Cheddar and Shipham, Highbridge, Knoll, and Wedmore and Mark.

## Constituency profile

Aside from energy, transportation, retail, and distribution which are major sectors, agriculture and tourism are still important areas to this central and quite quintessential part of Somerset which includes the coastal resort of Burnham-on-Sea, the city of Wells with its cathedral, and notable natural landmarks such as the Cheddar Gorge and Glastonbury Tor. The site of the Glastonbury Festival also lies within this seat, causing a major influx of visitors in late June. The founder of the festival, Michael Eavis, stood as the Labour candidate for the 1997 election, receiving 10,204 votes, the highest for Labour since 1974.
Workless claimants who were registered jobseekers were in November 2012 significantly lower than the national average of 3.8%, at 2.1% of the population based on a statistical compilation by The Guardian.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1295–1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1386 | Nicholas Cristesham | Thomas Phelpes |
| February 1388 | Richard Ferrour | Nicholas Cristesham |
| September 1388 | John Blithe | Thomas Hore |
| January 1390 | Nicholas More | Thomas Tanner |
| November 1390 | |
| 1391 | John Newmaster | Roger Chapman |
| 1393 | John Newmaster | John Blithe |
| 1394 | John Newmaster | Thomas Hore |
| 1395 | Nicholas Cristesham | John Comelond |
| January 1397 | Nicholas More | Thomas Wynchester |
| September 1397 | Roger Chapman | William Greynton |
| 1399 | Thomas Tanner | John Blithe |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | John Wycombe | Roger Chapman |
| January 1404 | Roger Chapman | Richard Groos |
| October 1404 | Walter Dyer | John Bowyer |
| 1406 | Thomas Wey | Thomas Jay |
| 1407 | Walter Duddesdon | John Newmaster |
| 1410 | John Russell | Luke Wilton |
| 1411 | |
| February 1413 | John Horewode I | John Podmore |
| May 1413 | John Horewode I | Luke Wilton |
| April 1414 | John Podmore | Thomas Dynt |
| November 1414 | John Hynden | Thomas Dynt |
| 1415 | |
| March 1416 | |
| October 1416 | Simon Bailly | John Cutte |
| 1417 | Richard Setter | Hildebrand Elwell |
| 1419 | Richard Perys | Richard Langford |
| 1420 | Richard Setter | Hildebrand Elwell |
| May 1421 | Hildebrand Elwell | Richard Perys |
| December 1421 | Robert Elwell | John Pedewell |
| 1510 | John Welshot | John Mawdley I |
| 1512 | Walter Sarger | Richard alias Robert Ruynon |
| 1515 | Walter Sarger | Richard alias Robert Ruynon |
| 1523 | Walter Sarger | John Mawdley I |
| 1529 | John Cutte | John Mawdley II |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | John Mawdley II | John Godwin |
| 1542 | John Godwin | James Dyer |
| 1545 | John Mawdley II | Anthony Gilbert |
| 1547 | Thomas Clerke | John Aylworth |
| First Parliament of 1553 | John Aylworth | William Godwin |
| Second Parliament of 1553 | Thomas Lewis | John Godwin |
| Parliament of 1554 | Thomas Lewis | John Mawdley II |
| Parliament of 1554–1555 | Thomas Lewis | William Gedney or Godwin |
| Parliament of 1555 | Thomas Lewis | Maurice Llewellyn |
| Parliament of 1558 | John Aylworth died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Ayshton Aylworth | John Mawdley II |
| Parliament of 1559 | John Aylworth died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Ayshton Aylworth | John Mawdley II |
| Parliament of 1563–1567 | John Aylworth died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Ayshton Aylworth | John Hippisley |
| Parliament of 1571 | John Aylworth died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Ayshton Aylworth | Henry Newton |
| Parliament of 1572–1581 | John Aylworth died during the 1572 Parliament In his place Ayshton Aylworth | William Bowerman |
| Parliament of 1584–1585 | James Bisse | George Upton |
| Parliament of 1586–1587 | Thomas Godwyn | William Smith |
| Parliament of 1588–1589 | Thomas Purfrey | John Ayshe |
| Parliament of 1593 | Richard Goodwin | James Goodwin |
| Parliament of 1597–1598 | Leonard Crosse | William Watkins |
| Parliament of 1601 | James Kirton | George Upton |
| Parliament of 1604–1611 | James Kirton | Sir Robert Stapleton (Edward Forsett) |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | Sidney Montagu | Thomas Southworth |
| Parliament of 1621–1622 | Sir Edward Rodney | Thomas Southworth |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Sir Edward Rodney | Thomas Southworth |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Edward Rodney | Sir Thomas Lake |
| Parliament of 1625–1626 | Sir Edward Rodney | Sir Thomas Lake |
| Parliament of 1628–1629 | Sir Ralph Hopton | John Baber |
| No Parliament summoned 1629–1640 |||

### MPs 1640–1832

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Sir Edward Rodney | Royalist | | John Baber | |
| November 1640 | | Sir Edward Rodney | Royalist | | Sir Ralph Hopton | Royalist |
| August 1642 | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant | Rodney and Hopton disabled from sitting – both seats vacant |
| 1645 | | Lislebone Long | Recruiter | | Clement Walker | |
| December 1648 | | Lislebone Long | Recruiter | Walker excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Walker excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Walker excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant |
| 1653 | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Wells was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Lislebone Long | | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | John Jenkyn | | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Wells had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Sir Lislebone Long | | | Thomas White | |
| May 1659 | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump | Not represented in the restored Rump |
| April 1660 | | Henry Bull | | | Thomas White | |
| 1661 | | Sir Maurice Berkeley | | | Lord Richard Butler | |
| 1673 | | Sir Maurice Berkeley | | | John Hall | |
| 1679 | | Edward Berkeley | | | William Coward | |
| 1680 | | John Hall | | | William Coward | |
| 1685 | | Edward Berkeley | | | Thomas Wyndham (died December 1689) | |
| January 1690 | | Edward Berkeley | | | William Coward | |
| February 1690 | | Edward Berkeley | | | Hopton Wyndham | |
| 1695 | | Edward Berkeley | | | William Coward | |
| 1701 | | Henry Seymour Portman | | | William Coward | |
| 1705 | | Henry Seymour Portman | | | Maurice Berkeley | |
| 1708 | | Edward Colston | | | William Coward | |
| 1710 | | Edward Colston | | | Maurice Berkeley | |
| 1713 | | Sir Thomas Wroth | Tory | | Maurice Berkeley | |
| 1715 | | Thomas Strangways Horner | Tory | | Maurice Berkeley | |
| May 1716 | | William Coward | | | William Piers | Whig |
| June 1716 | | Thomas Strangways Horner | Tory | | William Piers | Whig |
| 1717 | | John Dodd | Whig | | William Piers | Whig |
| 1719 | | Thomas Edwards | | | William Piers | Whig |
| 1722 | | Thomas Edwards | | | Francis Gwyn | |
| 1727 | | Thomas Edwards | | | Edward Prideaux Gwyn | |
| 1729 | | Thomas Edwards | | | William Piers | |
| 1734 | | Thomas Edwards | | | George Hamilton | |
| 1735 | | William Piers | | | George Speke | |
| 1741 | | Francis Gwyn | | | George Speke | |
| 1747 | | Francis Gwyn | | | George Hamilton | |
| 1754 | | Lord Digby | | | Charles Tudway | |
| 1757 | | Captain Robert Digby | | | Charles Tudway | |
| 1761 | | Lord Digby | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1765 | | Peter Taylor | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1766 | | Robert Child | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1782 | | John Curtis | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1784 | | William Beckford | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1790 | | Henry Berkeley Portman | | | Clement Tudway | |
| 1796 | | Sir Charles Taylor | Whig |
| 1815 | | Sir Charles Taylor | Whig | | John Paine Tudway | Tory |
| 1830 | | John Edwards-Vaughan | Tory | | John Lee Lee | Whig |

### MPs 1832–1868

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| 1832 | | Norman Lamont | Whig | | John Lee Lee | Whig |
| 1834 by-election | | Nicholas Ridley-Colborne | Whig | | John Lee Lee | Whig |
| 1837 | | Richard Blakemore | Conservative | | William Hayter | Whig |
| 1852 | | Robert Tudway | Conservative | | William Hayter | Whig |
| 1855 by-election | | Hedworth Jolliffe | Conservative | | William Hayter | Whig |
| 1859 | | Hedworth Jolliffe | Conservative | | William Hayter | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Hedworth Jolliffe | Conservative | | Arthur Hayter | Liberal |
| 1868 | borough constituency abolished | borough constituency abolished | borough constituency abolished | borough constituency abolished | borough constituency abolished | borough constituency abolished |

### MPs 1885–2024

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Sir Richard Paget, Bt. | Conservative |
| 1895 | Hylton Jolliffe | Conservative |
| 1899 by-election | Robert Edmund Dickinson | Conservative |
| 1906 | Thomas Ball Silcock | Liberal |
| January 1910 | George Sandys | Conservative |
| 1918 | Harry Greer | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | Robert Bruford | Conservative |
| 1923 | Arthur Hobhouse | Liberal |
| 1924 | Sir Robert Sanders, Bt. | Conservative |
| 1929 | Anthony Muirhead | Conservative |
| 1939 | Lt. Col. Dennis Boles | Conservative |
| 1951 | Lynch Maydon | Conservative |
| 1970 | Robert Boscawen | Conservative |
| 1983 | David Heathcoat-Amory | Conservative |
| 2010 | Tessa Munt | Liberal Democrats |
| 2015 | James Heappey | Conservative |
| 2024 | constituency abolished: see Wells and Mendip Hills | constituency abolished: see Wells and Mendip Hills |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2010s

General election 2019: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Heappey | 33,336 | 54.1 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tessa Munt | 23,345 | 37.9 | +0.3 |
| | Labour | Kama McKenzie | 4,304 | 7.0 | −4.7 |
| | Independent | Dave Dobbs | 373 | 0.6 | New |
| | Motherworld Party | Susie Quatermass | 270 | 0.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,991 | 16.2 | +3.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,628 | 73.5 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 | |
General election 2017: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Heappey | 30,488 | 50.1 | +4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tessa Munt | 22,906 | 37.6 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Andy Merryfield | 7,129 | 11.7 | +5.1 |
| | CPA | Lorna Corke | 320 | 0.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,582 | 12.5 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,843 | 73.95 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.5 | |
General election 2015: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Heappey | 26,247 | 46.1 | +3.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tessa Munt | 18,662 | 32.8 | −11.2 |
| | UKIP | Helen Hims | 5,644 | 9.9 | +6.8 |
| | Labour | Chris Inchley | 3,780 | 6.6 | −0.9 |
| | Green | Jon Cousins | 2,331 | 4.1 | +3.0 |
| | Independent | Paul Arnold | 83 | 0.1 | New |
| | Birthday | Dave Dobbs | 81 | 0.1 | New |
| | Independent | Gypsy Watkins | 76 | 0.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,585 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,904 | 71.7 | +1.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | +7.4 | |
General election 2010: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tessa Munt | 24,560 | 44.0 | +6.1 |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 23,760 | 42.5 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | Andy Merryfield | 4,198 | 7.5 | −8.1 |
| | UKIP | Jake Baynes | 1,711 | 3.1 | +0.1 |
| | BNP | Richard Boyce | 1,004 | 1.8 | New |
| | Green | Chris Briton | 631 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 800 | 1.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 55,864 | 70.3 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.6 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2005: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 23,071 | 43.6 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Tessa Munt | 20,031 | 37.8 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Dan Whittle | 8,288 | 15.6 | +0.2 |
| | UKIP | Steve Reed | 1,575 | 3.0 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,040 | 5.8 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,965 | 68.0 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.1 | |
General election 2001: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 22,462 | 43.8 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Graham Oakes | 19,666 | 38.3 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | Andy Merryfield | 7,915 | 15.4 | −2.7 |
| | UKIP | Steve Reed | 1,104 | 2.2 | New |
| | Wessex Regionalist | Colin Bex | 167 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,796 | 5.5 | +4.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 51,314 | 69.2 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1997: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 22,208 | 39.4 | −10.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Gold | 21,680 | 38.5 | +0.5 |
| | Labour | Michael Eavis | 10,204 | 18.1 | +7.5 |
| | Referendum | Patricia Phelps | 2,196 | 3.9 | New |
| | Natural Law | Lynn Royse | 92 | 0.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 528 | 0.9 | −10.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,380 | 77.8 | −4.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1992: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 28,620 | 49.6 | −3.9 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Humphrey Temperley | 21,971 | 38.0 | +0.4 |
| | Labour | John Pilgrim | 6,126 | 10.6 | +1.9 |
| | Green | Mike Fenner | 1,042 | 1.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,649 | 11.6 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,759 | 82.7 | +3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 28,624 | 53.5 | +0.9 |
| | Liberal | Alan Butt-Philip | 20,083 | 37.6 | −1.4 |
| | Labour | Peter James | 4,637 | 8.7 | +0.9 |
| | Independent | John Fish | 134 | 0.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,541 | 16.0 | +2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,478 | 79.6 | +2.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.3 | |
General election 1983: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Heathcoat-Amory | 25,385 | 52.6 | +1.2 |
| | Liberal | Alan Butt-Philip | 18,810 | 39.0 | +8.2 |
| | Labour | Andrew Leigh | 3,747 | 7.8 | −9.1 |
| | Independent | G. Livings | 273 | 0.6 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,575 | 13.6 | −7.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,215 | 77.6 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -3.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Boscawen | 30,400 | 51.35 | |
| | Liberal | Alan Butt-Philip | 18,204 | 30.75 | |
| | Labour | Paul Murphy | 10,025 | 16.93 | |
| | Independent | G. Livings | 421 | 0.71 | New |
| | Wessex Regionalist | Viscount Weymouth | 155 | 0.26 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,196 | 20.60 | +6.59 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,205 | 79.24 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Boscawen | 23,979 | 43.64 | |
| | Liberal | Alan Butt-Philip | 16,278 | 29.63 | |
| | Labour | G. Mortimer | 13,909 | 25.31 | |
| | United Democratic Party | P. Howard | 778 | 1.42 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,701 | 14.01 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,944 | 78.88 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election February 1974: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Robert Boscawen | 25,430 | 44.25 |
| | Liberal | Alan Butt-Philip | 17,645 | 30.70 |
| | Labour | D.K. Pearce | 14,399 | 25.05 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,785 | 13.55 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,474 | 83.29 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1970: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Boscawen | 25,106 | 49.6 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Frank R. Thompson | 16,335 | 32.3 | −3.3 |
| | Liberal | William Fedde J Pinching | 9,174 | 18.1 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,771 | 17.3 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,615 | 77.4 | −4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 20,528 | 43.0 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | John G Cousins | 16,989 | 35.6 | +4.1 |
| | Liberal | Howard Fry | 10,224 | 21.4 | −3.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,539 | 7.4 | −4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,741 | 81.5 | −0.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1964: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 20,663 | 43.2 | −5.4 |
| | Labour | Reginald George White | 15,080 | 31.5 | −2.7 |
| | Liberal | Howard Fry | 12,132 | 25.3 | +8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,583 | 11.7 | −2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,875 | 82.4 | −1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 23,357 | 48.6 | −7.8 |
| | Labour | Jon Antony A Evans | 16,452 | 34.2 | −9.3 |
| | Liberal | Paul R Hobhouse | 8,220 | 17.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,905 | 14.4 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,029 | 83.6 | +4.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 25,624 | 56.4 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | Maxwell Bresler | 19,745 | 43.5 | −1.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,879 | 12.9 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,369 | 79.5 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Lynch Maydon | 26,524 | 55.2 | +12.6 |
| | Labour | David Llewellyn | 21,481 | 44.8 | +7.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,043 | 10.4 | +5.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,005 | 84.2 | −3.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1950: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Dennis Boles | 20,613 | 42.6 |
| | Labour | Dorothy Archibald | 17,987 | 37.2 |
| | Liberal | Anthony Marreco | 9,771 | 20.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,626 | 5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,371 | 87.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Election in the 1940s

General election 1945: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dennis Boles | 13,004 | 41.3 | −12.1 |
| | Labour | Cyril Morgan | 10,539 | 33.5 | +13.0 |
| | Liberal | Violet Bonham Carter | 7,910 | 25.2 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,465 | 7.8 | −19.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,453 | 75.0 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

1939 Wells by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Dennis Boles | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
* Conservative: Anthony Muirhead
* Liberal: James A Brown
* Labour:
General election 1935: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Muirhead | 14,898 | 53.4 | −5.3 |
| | Liberal | Arnold Hilward Jones | 7,277 | 26.1 | −15.2 |
| | Labour | William James Waring | 5,716 | 20.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,621 | 27.3 | +9.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,891 | 73.7 | −13.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Anthony Muirhead | 17,711 | 58.7 | +15.1 |
| | Liberal | John Thompson | 12,440 | 41.3 | −0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,271 | 17.4 | +15.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,151 | 87.5 | +5.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Anthony Muirhead | 13,026 | 43.6 | −9.0 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hobhouse | 12,382 | 41.4 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Ruby Davies | 4,472 | 15.0 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 644 | 2.2 | −14.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,880 | 82.5 | +0.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -7.2 | |
General election 1924: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Sanders | 12,642 | 52.6 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hobhouse | 8,668 | 36.1 | +11.9 |
| | Labour | Wilfred Thomas Young | 2,726 | 11.3 | +3.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,974 | 16.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 24,036 | 82.2 | +3.1 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 6 December 1923: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hobhouse | 10,818 | 48.2 | +14.8 |
| | Unionist | Robert Bruford | 9,909 | 44.2 | −3.5 |
| | Labour | Charles Henry Whitlow | 1,713 | 7.6 | −11.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 909 | 4.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,440 | 79.1 | +1.3 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +9.1 | |
General election 1922: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Robert Bruford | 10,210 | 47.7 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hobhouse | 7,156 | 33.4 | −6.2 |
| | Labour | Len Smith | 4,048 | 18.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,054 | 14.3 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,414 | 77.8 | +12.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

## Election results 1885–1918
### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1885: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Paget | 4,200 | 55.7 | |
| | Liberal | Pandeli Ralli | 3,335 | 44.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 865 | 11.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,535 | 79.3 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,501 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
General election 1886: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Paget | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Paget | 4,335 | 56.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Beaumont Morice | 3,395 | 43.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 940 | 12.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,730 | 75.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,230 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1895: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hylton Jolliffe | 4,696 | 58.8 | +2.7 |
| | Liberal | Beaumont Morice | 3,286 | 41.2 | −2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,410 | 17.6 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,982 | 74.1 | −1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,771 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.4 | |
Joliffe's elevation to the peerage, becoming Lord Hylton, caused a by-election.
By-election, 7 Dec 1899: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Edmund Dickinson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Edmund Dickinson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1906: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Ball Silcock | 5,146 | 51.9 | New |
| | Conservative | Robert Edmund Dickinson | 4,761 | 48.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 385 | 3.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,907 | 84.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,725 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Sandys | 6,167 | 55.9 | +7.8 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Ball Silcock | 4,871 | 44.1 | −7.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,296 | 11.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,038 | 87.3 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,642 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +7.8 | |
General election December 1910: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Sandys | 6,178 | 60.1 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Lane Wills | 4,094 | 39.9 | −4.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,084 | 20.2 | +8.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,272 | 81.3 | −6.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,642 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
General Election 1914–15:
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: George Sandys
* Liberal: Charles Conybeare
General election 1918: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Harry Greer | 9,786 | 55.8 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal | John Coleby Morland | 6,935 | 39.6 | −0.3 |
| | National | G.C.S. Hodgson | 804 | 4.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,851 | 16.2 | −4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,525 | 65.0 | −16.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 26,951 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −2.0 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

## Election results 1832–1868
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1832: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Norman Lamont (MP for Wells) | 169 | 30.2 |
| | Whig | John Lee Lee | 167 | 29.9 |
| | Whig | Nicholas Ridley-Colborne | 164 | 29.3 |
| | Tory | John Edwards-Vaughan | 59 | 10.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 318 | 94.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 338 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
* Edwards-Vaughan resigned on the first day of polling
Lamont's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 5 May 1834: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Nicholas Ridley-Colborne | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Nicholas Ridley-Colborne | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Lee Lee | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 377 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Richard Blakemore | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 402 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Blakemore | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 346 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Blakemore | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 375 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Hayter was appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 27 December 1847: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Tudway | 187 | 40.4 | N/A |
| | Whig | William Hayter | 175 | 37.8 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Alexander Kinglake | 101 | 21.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 232 (est) | 71.2 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 325 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 | 2.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74 | 16.0 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
Tudway's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 21 November 1855: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hedworth Jolliffe | 146 | 54.7 | +14.3 |
| | Radical | John Alexander Kinglake | 121 | 45.3 | +23.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 | 9.4 | +6.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 267 | 70.3 | −0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 380 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.6 | |
General election 1857: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Hedworth Jolliffe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 343 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Hedworth Jolliffe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 327 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | Hedworth Jolliffe | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 274 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

## Elections before 1832
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Edwards-Vaughan | 196 | 38.0 |
| | Whig | John Lee Lee | 195 | 37.8 |
| | Tory | Richard Blakemore | 125 | 24.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 308 | c. 88.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 350 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 | 0.2 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 70 | 13.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | |
General election 1831: Wells :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | John Edwards-Vaughan | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Lee Lee | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 350 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |