# 1895 Cardiganshire County Council election

The third election to the Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1895. It was preceded by the 1892 election and followed by the 1898 election

## Overview of the Result

The Liberals were again returned with a large majority. There were a large number of unopposed returns.

## Retiring Aldermen

The following aldermen, all of whom were Liberals, retired at the election.
* C.M. Williams
* David Jenkins, Maesteg, Glandovey
* Levi James
* William Davies
* J.T. Morgan
* David Lloyd
* John Davies
* Rev John Owen
Only C.M. Williams in Aberystwyth and David Lloyd in Aberbanc sought election. Levi James (Cardigan), William Davies (New Quay), J.T. Morgan (Talybont) and David Jenkins, Glandovey (elected from outside the Council) all stood down and did not seek re-election. John Davies, Tanycoed and John Owen, Blaenpennal, who had filled aldermanic vacancies since 1889 did likewise. All those who stood down retired from county politics apart from J.T. Morgan who was re-elected as an alderman despite not facing the electorate.

## Contested Elections

There were fewer contested elections than on the previous two occasions as the politics of the county seems to settle down after the initial contests. In Aberystwyth it was said that the Town Council elections the previous November had elicited much greater interest.
Those seats that were contested witnessed a swing towards the Conservative candidates, who captured a total of seven seats. These included significant victories at Cardigan and Llandysul. The contest in Bow Street could also be regarded as a Conservative gain.
It was said that a plough belonging to a farmer in Borth was destroyed due to his support for the Conservative candidate.

## The New Council

The Liberals once again had a comfortable majority. Morgan Evans of Llanarth was elected chairman for 1895/96.

### Elected Members

Cardiganshire County Council 1895 : elected members :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss |
| Liberal | 35 | 2 | 8 | -6 |
| Conservative | 12 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| Liberal Unionist | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Ind. Conservative | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Council following the election of aldermen and by-elections

Cardiganshire County Council 1895 : following the election of aldermen :
| Party | Seats |
| Liberal | 44 |
| Conservative | 14 |
| Liberal Unionist | 1 |
| Ind. Conservative | 1 |
| Independent | |
Cardiganshire County Council 1895 : following by-elections :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss |
| Liberal | 48 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Conservative | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Liberal Unionist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ind. Conservative | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | | | | |

## Results
### Aberaeron

Aberaeron 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Morgan Howell* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberarth

Two Liberals faced each other although the sitting member was described as a Conservative in some quarters.
Aberarth 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Evan Lima Jones | 147 |
| | Liberal | John Timothy Evans* | 72 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Aberbanc

Dr David Lloyd, whose aldermanic term had come to an end, was elected unopposed in place of Evan Davies.
Aberbanc 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Lloyd** | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberporth

Aberporth 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joshua Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 1

Aberystwyth Division 1 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Unionist | William Hughes Jones | 148 |
| | Liberal | J.P. Thomas | 116 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Aberystwyth Division 2

The sitting member was returned unopposed after E.V. Wynne, chemist, withdrew.
Aberystwyth Division 2 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | D.C. Roberts* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Aberystwyth Division 3

Aberystwyth Division 3 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Robert Ellis | 148 |
| | Conservative | Dr T.P. Beddoes | 141 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Aberystwyth Division 4

Aberystwyth Division 4 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | C.M. Williams** | 165 |
| | Conservative | Capt. Thomas Doughton | 90 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 75 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Borth

Borth 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | John Morgan Williams | 188 |
| | Liberal | Capt. John Francis | 84 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 104 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Bow Street

Bow Street 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ind. Conservative | Henry Bonsall | 75 |
| | Conservative | Richard Thomas | 74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1 |
| | Ind. Conservative gain from Liberal | Ind. Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Cardigan North

Cardigan North 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev John Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cardigan South

Cardigan South 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | C.E.D. Morgan-Richardson | 200 |
| | Liberal | James Stephens* | 126 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 74 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Cilcennin

Cilcennin 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Jones* | 136 |
| | Conservative | Evan Felix | 95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 41 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Cwmrheidol

Nicholas Bray regained the seat he lost in 1892 after winning the initial election in 1889.
Cwmrheidol 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Capt. Nicholas Bray | 72 |
| | Liberal | John Morgan | 65 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Devil's Bridge

Devil's Bridge :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Felinfach

This ward was now commonly described as Felinfach rather than Llanfihangel Ystrad.
Felinfach 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Walter Thomas Davies* | | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Goginan

Goginan 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Parry | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Lampeter Borough

Harford, elected in a close contest in 1889, did not initially seek re-election in 1892, but was returned unopposed after David Lloyd was made an alderman.
Lampeter Borough 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Charles Harford | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarth

Llanarth 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Morgan Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanbadarn Fawr

Llanbadarn Fawr 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hugh Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanddewi Brefi

David Davies had lost his seat at the previous election in 1892 and narrowly lost the by-election following the successful candidate's election as alderman.
Llanddewi Brefi 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Davies | 139 |
| | Conservative | Rees Price | 99 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 40 |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing |

### Llandygwydd

Llandygwydd 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Col. John Richard Howell* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llandysiliogogo

Llansysiliogogo 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Evan Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandysul North

Llandysul North 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Jones | 80 |
| | Liberal | Daniel Evans | 47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 |

### Llandysul South

The sitting member, Enoch Davies, was returned for the neighbouring Penbryn Ward, leading to the loss of this ward to the Conservatives.
Llandysul South 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Charles Lloyd | 198 |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Jones | 176 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanfair Clydogau

The sitting member held on against the most prominent Liberal Unionist in Cardiganshire.
Llanfair Clydogau 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Watkin Davies* | 129 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Henry Tobit Evans | 124 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanfarian

Llanfarian 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Vaughan Davies* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel y Creuddyn

Llanfihangel y Creuddyn 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Evans* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangoedmor

Llangoedmor 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Samuel Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeitho

Robert J. Davies of Cwrt Mawr had died shortly after the 1892 election.
Llangeitho 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Rowlands | 142 |
| | Liberal | John Humphreys Davies | 130 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing |

### Llangrannog

Llangrannog :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanilar

Llanilar 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Benjamin Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanrhystyd

Llanrhystyd 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Llanllwchaiarn

Llanllwchaiarn 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Rev William Griffiths | 86 |
| | Liberal | Enoch Thomas | 65 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 21 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llansantffraed

Llansantffraed 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Evan Morgan | 113 |
| | Liberal | Capt. Daniel Jones* | 95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llanwnen

Llanwnen :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Hugh Rice Hughes* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwenog

Llanwenog 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Bowen Jones | 149 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Jones | 115 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Lledrod

Lledrod :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Jenkins | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Nantcwnlle

Having captured the seat in 1892, Jenkin Howells held on by a mere three votes over David Jones of Station Road, Lampeter.
Nantcwnlle 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Jenkin Howells | 121 |
| | Liberal | David Jones | 118 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing |

### New Quay

New Quay 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir Marteine Lloyd* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Penbryn

Penbryn 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Enoch Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Strata Florida

Strata Florida 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Richards | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Taliesin

John Jones, elected unopposed in 1892, was returned by a small majority over another Liberal
Taliesin 1895 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | John Jones* | 94 |
| Liberal | Richard Jenkins | 86 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Talybont

Talybont 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Jones* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trefeurig

This was the first time Llewelyn Edwards had won a contested election, having been defeated at Llanbadarn Fawr in 1889 and 1892. On the former occasion he was made an alderman despite his defeat and on the latter elected unopposed for Trefeurig following Peter Jones's elevation to the aldermanic bench.
Trefeurig 1895 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Llewelyn Edwards* | 63 |
| Conservative | Henry William Francis | 47 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Tregaron

D.J. Williams had previously represented Tregaron as a Liberal Unionist from a by-election in 1889 until 1892 when he did not stand. He was elected for Llanddewi Brefi at a by-election in 1892
Tregaron 1895 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Daniel Jenkin Williams* | 195 |
| Conservative | William Rees | 82 |
| Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Troedyraur

Troedyraur 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Ysbyty Ystwyth

Ysbyty Ystwyth 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev T.M. Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

## Election of Aldermen

The overhaul of the aldermanic bench saw the election of key figures from the liberal ranks. Having avoided the principle of electing from outside the Council four years previously this practice was now adopted once again, leading to criticism, most notably from the Liberal-supporting Cambrian News. It was noted in particular that three defeated candidates were elected, namely James Stevens at Cardigan, Daniel Jones of Llanon and Davies of Cwrtmawr. J.T. Morgan of Talybont was also re-elected although he had not contested the election.
* T. H. R. Hughes, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanwnen)
* C. M. Williams, Liberal (retiring alderman; elected councillor at Aberystywth Ward 4)
* Morgan Evans, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanarth)
* James Stephens, Liberal (defeated candidate at Cardigan South)
* John Humphreys Davies, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llangeitho)
* Enoch Davies, Liberal (elected councillor at Penbryn )
* J.T. Morgan, Liberal (retiring alderman, from outside Council - did not seek election)
* Daniel Jones, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llansanffraed )

## Aldermanic Vacancies 1895-1901

Daniel Jones died a few months after the election. In August 1895, James James of Ffynonhowell, from outside of the Council, was appointed to succeed him.
Therefore, the following appointment was made for the remainder of the six-year term.
* James Jones, Liberal (from outside the Council)

## 1895 by-elections following the election of aldermen
### Aberystwyth Division 4 by-election

The Liberals comfortably retained the seat although the Aberystwyth Observer complained that the Conservatives 'made no special effort' to support their candidate.
Aberystwyth Division 4 by-election 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | E.H. James | 181 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Salmon | 97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanarth by-election

Following the appointment of Morgan Evans as alderman, James Evans of Esgerwenfawr was selected as a candidate by the local Liberals, and was returned unopposed.
Llanarth by-election 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Evans | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanwnen by-election

The Liberals narrowly held the seat following the election of T.H.R. Hughes as alderman.
Llanwnen by-election 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Edward Owen Jones | 104 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Price | 91 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Penbryn by-election

Following the appointment of Dr Enoch Davies as alderman, the previous member, Peter R. Beynon won the by-election.
Penbryn by-election 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Peter R. Beynon | 121 |
| | Liberal | D. Griffiths | 96 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 25 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |