# Hereford (UK Parliament constituency)

Hereford was, until 2010, a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1918, it had elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system.
Previously, Hereford had been a parliamentary borough which from 1295 to 1885 had elected two MPs, using the bloc vote system in contested elections. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 the borough's representation had been reduced to one seat at the 1885 general election, and for the 1918 general election the borough was abolished and replaced with a county division which carried the same name but covered a wider geographical area.

## History

Hereford sent two representatives to Parliament from the beginning of the reign of Edward I. Although a county town, the early elections were always held at a different location from those of the shire, the former taking place at the Guildhall, the latter in the castle.
In 1885, representation was reduced to one Member.
Journalist Robin Day stood as the Liberal candidate in the 1959 general election.
From 1931 until 1997, Hereford was held by the Conservative Party, before being taken by Paul Keetch of the Liberal Democrats at the 1997 general election. Keetch served as the Liberal Democrats' spokesman for defence from October 1999 until May 2005, and announced on 17 November 2006 that he would not be standing at the next election.
Following the review by the Boundary Commission for England of parliamentary representation in Herefordshire, taking effect at the 2010 general election, two parliamentary constituencies were allocated to the county. The Hereford seat was abolished and replaced by the Hereford and South Herefordshire seat, while the remainder of the county is covered by the North Herefordshire seat.

### Boundaries

1918–1950: The Borough of Hereford, the Urban Districts of Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye, the Rural Districts of Dore, Ross, and Whitchurch, and parts of the Rural Districts of Hereford and Ledbury.
1950–1983: The Borough of Hereford, the Urban District of Ross-on-Wye, the Rural Districts of Dore and Bredwardine, and Ross and Whitchurch, and part of the Rural District of Hereford.
1983–1997: The City of Hereford, and the District of South Herefordshire wards of Backbury, Broad Oak, Dinedor Hill, Doward, Fownhope, Garron, Golden Valley, Gorsley, Gorsty, Harewood End, Hollington, Kingsthorne, Merbach, Olchon, Old Gore, Penyard, Pontrilas, Ross-on-Wye East, Ross-on-Wye West, Stoney Street, Tram Inn, Walford, Whitfield, and Wilton.
1997–2010: The City of Hereford, and the District of South Herefordshire wards of Broad Oak, Clehonger East, Clehonger West, Dinedor Hill, Doward, Fownhope, Garron, Golden Valley, Gorsley, Harewood End, Hollington, Kingsthorne, Merbach, Olchon, Old Gore, Penyard, Pontrilas, Ross-on-Wye East, Ross-on-Wye West, Stoney Street, Tram Inn, Walford, Whitfield, and Wilton.
In its final form, the Hereford constituency contained the city of Hereford and most of South Herefordshire, including Ross-on-Wye, but excluding Ledbury and Much Marcle, both of which were in the Leominster constituency.

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

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| Jan. 1377 | Richard Nash | |
| 1378 | Thomas Whitefield | |
| 1379 | Richard Nash | |
| Jan.1380 | Richard Nash | |
| 1381 | Richard Nash | |
| Oct. 1383 | Richard Nash | |
| 1386 | John Wych | Henry Catchpole I |
| 1388 (Feb) | William Jonet | Thomas Chippenham I |
| 1388 (Sep) | William Jonet | William Breinton |
| 1390 (Jan) | John Wych | James Nash |
| 1390 (Nov) | Henry Catchpole II | James Nash |
| 1391 | Thomas Buryton | John Prophet |
| 1393 | Thomas Buryton | John Wych |
| 1394 | |
| 1395 | Hugh Wigan | William Speed |
| 1397 (Jan) | Hugh Wigan | James Nash |
| 1397 (Sep) | Hugh Wigan | Thomas Buryton |
| 1399 | James Nash | Thomas Buryton |
| 1401 | Hugh Wigan | Thomas Whitefield |
| 1402 | Thomas Chippenham I | John Troney |
| 1404 (Jan) | | |
| 1404 (Oct) | | |
| 1406 | Henry Chippenham | Hugh Wigan |
| 1407 | Hugh Wigan | Roger ...feld or Roger ...felde |
| 1410 | | |
| 1411 | | |
| 1413 (Feb) | | |
| 1413 (May) | Henry Chippenham | George Breinton |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Wilton | Richard Strange |
| 1414 (Nov) | Henry Chippenham | George Breinton |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | Henry Chippenham | George Breinton |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | John Wilton | John Orchard |
| 1419 | Richard Strange | John Abrahall |
| 1420 | Thomas Chippenham II | John Falk |
| 1421 (May) | William Buryton | Richard Strange |
| 1421 (Dec) | Henry Chippenham | Nicholas Chippenham |
| 1426 | Thomas Chippenham |
| 1429 | Thomas Chippenham | William Buryton |
| 1431 | Thomas Chippenham | William Buryton |
| 1432 | William Buryton | |
| 1437 | William Buryton | |
| 1510 | |
| 1512 | Roland Brydges | Reginald Mynors |
| 1515 | Roland Brydges | Reginald Mynors |
| 1523 | ? |
| 1529 | Richard Warnecombe | Thomas Havard |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | ? |
| 1542 | Richard Warnecombe | Thomas Havard |
| 1545 | ? |
| 1547 | Thomas Havard | William Berkeley, died and replaced Jan 1552 by John Warnecombe |
| 1553 (Mar) | Hugh Welshe | ? |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir John Price | Thomas Havard |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Havard | Thomas Bromwich |
| 1554 (Nov) | William Smothye | Leonard Boldyng |
| 1555 | Hugh Gebons | Morgan Owgan |
| 1558 | Henry Dudeston | John Gibbs |
| 1558–1559 | John Kerry | Thomas Church |
| 1562–1563 | Thomas Webbe, died and replaced 1566 by John Hyde | Henry Green |
| 1571 | James Warnecombe | Thomas Church |
| 1572 (Apr) | James Warnecombe | Gregory Price |
| 1584 | Gregory Price | James Boyle |
| 1586 (Sep) | Gregory Price | Thomas Jones |
| 1588 | Gregory Price | Nicholas Garnons |
| 1593 | Gregory Price | Thomas Mallard |
| 1597 | Gregory Price | Anthony Pembridge |
| 1601 | Walter Hurdman | Thomas Jones |
| 1604 | Walter Hurdman | John Hoskins |
| 1605 | Anthony Pembrugge | John Hoskins |
| 1610 | John Warden | John Hoskins |
| 1614 | John Hoskins | John Warden |
| 1621–1622 | James Rodd | Richard Weaver |
| 1624 | Sir James Clerke | Richard Weaver |
| 1625 | Sir James Clerke | Richard Weaver |
| 1626 | Sir James Clerke | Richard Weaver |
| 1628 | The Viscount Scudamore | John Hoskins |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### MPs 1640–1885

| Event | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Richard Weaver | | | Richard Seaborne | |
| November 1640 | | Richard Weaver | Parliamentarian | | Richard Seaborne | Royalist |
| 1642 | | James Scudamore | Royalist | | Richard Seaborne | Royalist |
| May 1643 | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | | | | Richard Seaborne | Royalist |
| January 1644 | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Scudamore disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Seaborne disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Seaborne disabled from sitting – seat vacant | Seaborne disabled from sitting – seat vacant |
| 1646 | | Bennet Hoskyns | | | Edmund Weaver | |
| December 1648 | Hoskyns excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Hoskyns excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | Hoskyns excluded in Pride's Purge – seat vacant | | | | Edmund Weaver | |
| 1653 | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament | Hereford was unrepresented in Barebone's Parliament |
| 1654 | | Bennet Hoskyns | | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | Colonel Wroth Rogers | | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Hereford had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Nathan Rogers | | | Roger Bosworth | |
| 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 | | Herbert Westfaling | | | Roger Bosworth | |
| November 1660 | | Herbert Westfaling | | | Sir Henry Lingen | |
| April 1661 | | Sir Edward Hopton | | | Sir Henry Lingen | |
| September 1661 | | Herbert Westfaling | | | Sir Henry Lingen | |
| 1662 | | Herbert Westfaling | | | Roger Vaughan | |
| 1673 | | Herbert Westfaling | | | The Viscount Scudamore | |
| 1679 | | Bridstock Harford | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| 1681 | | Herbert Aubrey | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| 1685 | | Herbert Aubrey | | | Thomas Geers | |
| January 1689 | | Sir William Gregory | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| June 1689 | | Henry Cornewall | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| 1695 | | James Morgan | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| 1698 | | Hon. James Brydges | | | Paul Foley | Country Whig |
| 1699 | | Hon. James Brydges | | | Samuel Pytts | |
| 1701 | | Hon. James Brydges | | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1715 | | The Viscount Scudamore | | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1717 | | Herbert Rudhale Westfaling | | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1722 | | Herbert Rudhale Westfaling | | | William Mayo | |
| 1723 | | Herbert Rudhale Westfaling | | | James Wallwyn | |
| 1727 | | Marquess of Carnarvon | | | Thomas Geers | |
| 1734 | | Thomas Foley | | | Sir John Morgan | |
| 1741 | | Edward Cope Hopton | | | Thomas Geers Winford | |
| 1747 | | Lieutenant General Henry Cornewall | | | Daniel Leighton | |
| 1754 | | Charles Fitzroy Scudamore | | | John Symons | Tory |
| 1764 | | Charles Fitzroy Scudamore | | | John Scudamore | Whig |
| 1768 | | (Sir) Richard Symons | Tory | | John Scudamore | Whig |
| April 1784 | | Earl of Surrey | Whig | | John Scudamore | Whig |
| July 1784 | | Robert Philipps | Whig | | John Scudamore | Whig |
| 1785 | | James Walwyn | Whig | | John Scudamore | Whig |
| 1796 | | James Walwyn | Whig | | John Scudamore, junior | Whig |
| 1800 | | Thomas Powell Symonds | Whig | | John Scudamore, junior | Whig |
| 1805 | | Thomas Powell Symonds | Whig | | Richard Philip Scudamore | Whig |
| 1818 | | Thomas Powell Symonds | Whig | | Viscount Eastnor | Tory |
| 1819 | | Richard Philip Scudamore | Whig | | Viscount Eastnor | Tory |
| 1826 | | Edward Clive | Whig | | Viscount Eastnor | Tory |
| 1832 | | Edward Clive | Whig | | Robert Biddulph | Whig |
| 1837 | | Edward Clive | Whig | | Daniel Higford Davall Burr | Conservative |
| July 1841 | | Edward Clive | Whig | | Henry William Hobhouse | Whig |
| October 1841 | | Edward Clive | Whig | | Robert Pulsford | Whig |
| 1845 | | Sir Robert Price, Bt | Whig | | Robert Pulsford | Whig |
| 1847 | | Sir Robert Price, Bt | Whig | | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Whig |
| 1857 | | George Clive | Whig | | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Whig |
| 1859 | | George Clive | Liberal | | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Liberal |
| 1865 | | George Clive | Liberal | | Richard Baggallay | Conservative |
| 1868 | | George Clive | Liberal | | John Wyllie | Liberal |
| 1869 | | Edward Clive | Liberal | | Chandos Wren-Hoskyns | Liberal |
| 1871 | | George Arbuthnot | Conservative | | Chandos Wren-Hoskyns | Liberal |
| 1874 | | Evan Pateshall | Conservative | | George Clive | Liberal |
| 1878 | | George Arbuthnot | Conservative | | George Clive | Liberal |
| 1880 | | Joseph Pulley | Liberal | | Robert Reid | Liberal |
| 1885 | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member | Representation reduced to one member |

### MPs 1885–2010

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1885 | Joseph Pulley | Liberal |
| 1886 | Sir Joseph Bailey | Conservative |
| 1892 | William Grenfell | Liberal |
| 1893 | Charles Cooke | Conservative |
| 1900 | John Arkwright | Conservative |
| 1912 | William Hewins | Unionist |
| 1918 | Charles Pulley | Unionist |
| 1921 | Samuel Roberts | Unionist |
| 1929 | Frank Owen | Liberal |
| 1931 | James Thomas | Conservative |
| 1956 | David Gibson-Watt | Conservative |
| 1974 | Colin Shepherd | Conservative |
| 1997 | Paul Keetch | Liberal Democrat |
| 2010 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | John Somers-Cocks | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,110 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1831: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | John Somers-Cocks | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 1,110 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1832: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | 392 | 38.5 |
| | Whig | Robert Biddulph | 380 | 37.4 |
| | Tory | Richard Blakemore | 245 | 24.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 135 | 13.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 610 | 66.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 920 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1835: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | 457 | 34.7 | −3.8 |
| | Whig | Robert Biddulph | 435 | 33.0 | −4.4 |
| | Conservative | Richard Blakemore | 426 | 32.3 | +8.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 0.7 | −12.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 813 | 91.2 | +24.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 891 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.0 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −4.3 | |
General election 1837: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | 444 | 34.3 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Higford Davall Burr | 430 | 33.2 | +0.9 |
| | Whig | Robert Biddulph | 420 | 32.5 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 816 | 89.8 | −1.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 909 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 1.1 | +0.4 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −0.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +0.9 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Clive | 531 | 39.7 | +5.4 |
| | Whig | Henry William Hobhouse | 500 | 37.3 | +4.8 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Higford Davall Burr | 308 | 23.0 | −10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 192 | 14.3 | +13.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 787 | 81.9 | −7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 961 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +5.3 | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.0 | |
Hobhouse resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 5 October 1841: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Pulsford | 442 | 59.8 | 17.2 |
| | Conservative | Edward Griffiths | 297 | 40.2 | 17.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 145 | 19.6 | 5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 739 | 76.9 | 5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 961 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | 17.2 | |
Clive's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 31 July 1845: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Price | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1847: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Price | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,061 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Robert Price | 458 | 38.1 | N/A |
| | Whig | Henry Morgan-Clifford | 452 | 37.6 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Augustus William Henry Meyrick | 292 | 24.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 160 | 13.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 747 (est) | 73.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,013 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
Price resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 February 1857: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Clive | 399 | 63.4 | 12.3 |
| | Conservative | William Kevill Davies | 230 | 36.6 | 12.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 26.8 | 13.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 629 | 75.6 | 1.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 832 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | 12.3 | |
General election 1857: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Clive | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 832 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1859: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Clive | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Henry Morgan-Clifford | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 971 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Baggallay | 510 | 34.2 | New |
| | Liberal | George Clive | 499 | 33.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Henry Morgan-Clifford | 483 | 32.4 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,001 (est) | 82.4 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,215 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1868: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | George Clive | 1,055 | 26.9 | 6.5 |
| | Liberal | John Wyllie | 1,015 | 25.9 | 6.5 |
| | Conservative | Richard Baggallay | 983 | 25.0 | 7.9 |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 872 | 22.2 | 5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 0.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,963 (est) | 82.5 (est) | 0.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,380 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 5.8 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | 7.2 | |
The election was declared void on petition, after the Liberal agent was found to have "given breakfast to Liberal electors", and therefore was guilty of treating.
By-election, 30 March 1869: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Clive | 1,064 | 28.0 | 1.1 |
| | Liberal | Chandos Wren-Hoskyns | 1,033 | 27.2 | 1.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Baggallay | 871 | 23.0 | 2.0 |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 826 | 21.8 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 144 | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,897 (est) | 79.7 (est) | 2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,380 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 1.6 | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 0.9 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

Clive resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 28 Feb 1871: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 946 | 58.3 | 11.1 |
| | Liberal | Arthur Hayter | 678 | 41.7 | 11.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 268 | 16.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,624 | 70.7 | 11.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,298 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 11.1 | |
General election 1874: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Evan Pateshall | 978 | 26.4 | 1.4 |
| | Liberal | George Clive | 921 | 24.9 | 2.0 |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 903 | 24.4 | 2.2 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 902 | 24.4 | 1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,852 (est) | 79.1 (est) | 3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,340 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 76 | 2.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 1.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 2.1 | |
Pateshall resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 14 Mar 1878: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 1,110 | 51.0 | 0.2 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 1,066 | 49.0 | 0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,176 | 82.7 | 3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,631 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.2 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 1,505 | 30.3 | 5.9 |
| | Liberal | Robert Reid | 1,321 | 26.6 | 1.7 |
| | Conservative | George Arbuthnot | 1,099 | 22.1 | 2.3 |
| | Conservative | Frederick Dixon-Hartland | 1,041 | 21.0 | 5.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 222 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,483 (est) | 87.5 (est) | 8.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,837 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 4.9 | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | 2.8 | |
General election 1885: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 1,360 | 51.2 | 5.7 |
| | Conservative | William Henry Barneby | 1,296 | 48.8 | 5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,656 | 88.5 | 1.0 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,002 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | 5.7 | |
General election 1886: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Joseph Bailey | 1,401 | 55.2 | 6.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 1,136 | 44.8 | 6.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 265 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,537 | 84.5 | 4.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,002 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 6.4 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Grenfell | 1,507 | 52.2 | 7.4 |
| | Conservative | Joseph Bailey | 1,380 | 47.8 | 7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 127 | 4.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,887 | 88.4 | 3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,267 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | 7.4 | |
Grenfell resigned, causing a by-election.
1893 Hereford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Cooke | 1,504 | 50.7 | 2.9 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Pulley | 1,460 | 49.3 | 2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,964 | 86.8 | 1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,415 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 2.9 | |
General election 1895: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Charles Cooke | 1,669 | 55.2 | 7.4 |
| | Liberal | Robert Pearce Edgcumbe | 1,356 | 44.8 | 7.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,025 | 90.9 | 2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,328 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | 7.4 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Arkwright | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1906: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Arkwright | 1,934 | 53.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Edward Lucas-Scudamore | 1,692 | 46.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 242 | 6.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,626 | 94.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,852 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Arkwright | 2,320 | 60.2 | 6.9 |
| | Liberal | Evan Lewis Thomas | 1,533 | 39.8 | 6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 787 | 20.4 | 13.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,853 | 94.8 | 0.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,066 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 6.9 | |
General election December 1910: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Arkwright | 2,200 | 60.6 | 0.4 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Davies | 1,430 | 39.4 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 770 | 21.2 | 0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,630 | 89.3 | 5.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 4,066 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 0.4 | |
1912 Hereford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Hewins | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold | Liberal Unionist hold |
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: William Hewins
* Liberal:
General election 1918: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Charles Pulley | 11,680 | 75.8 | 15.2 |
| | Labour | Sidney Box | 3,730 | 24.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,950 | 51.6 | 30.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,410 | 54.6 | 24.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,246 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

1921 Hereford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Samuel Roberts | 9,670 | 56.6 | 19.2 |
| | Liberal | Ernest Wilfred Langford | 7,411 | 43.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,259 | 13.2 | 38.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,081 | 62.5 | 7.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,316 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | 19.2 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election 1922: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Samuel Roberts | 13,138 | 76.2 | 0.4 |
| | Labour | James Jonas Dodd | 4,094 | 23.8 | 0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,044 | 52.4 | 0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,232 | 62.0 | 7.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,774 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | 0.4 | |
General election 1923: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Samuel Roberts | 11,448 | 55.3 | 20.9 |
| | Liberal | J. Howard Whitehouse | 8,280 | 40.0 | New |
| | Labour | Sidney Box | 981 | 4.7 | 19.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,168 | 15.3 | 37.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,709 | 72.6 | 10.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 28,538 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | 0.9 | |
General election 1924: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Samuel Roberts | 13,210 | 60.6 | 5.3 |
| | Liberal | J. Howard Whitehouse | 8,604 | 39.4 | 0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,606 | 21.2 | 5.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,814 | 75.0 | 2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 29,083 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | 3.0 | |
General election 30 May 1929: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frank Owen | 14,208 | 48.7 | 9.3 |
| | Unionist | Frederic Carnegie Romilly | 13,087 | 44.8 | 15.8 |
| | Labour | Henry Cooper | 1,901 | 6.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,121 | 3.9 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,196 | 78.9 | 3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,984 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | 12.6 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 27 October 1931: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 19,418 | 60.90 | |
| | Liberal | Frank Owen | 12,465 | 39.10 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,953 | 21.80 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,883 | 83.85 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
General election 14 November 1935: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 18,234 | 61.84 | |
| | Liberal | Walter Dingley | 8,853 | 30.03 | |
| | Labour | George Clarke | 2,397 | 8.13 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,381 | 31.81 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,484 | 74.67 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### 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: James Thomas
* Liberal: Archie Marshall
General election 1945: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 17,439 | 51.8 | −10.0 |
| | Labour | William Pigott | 8,359 | 24.8 | +16.7 |
| | Liberal | Archie Marshall | 7,871 | 23.4 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,080 | 27.0 | −4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,669 | 69.3 | −5.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 18,314 | 51.6 | −0.2 |
| | Labour | William Pigott | 11,185 | 31.5 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal | Albert Edward Farr | 5,965 | 16.8 | −6.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,129 | 20.1 | −6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,464 | 80.5 | +11.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 21,204 | 61.3 | +9.7 |
| | Labour | William Pigott | 13,396 | 38.7 | +7.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,808 | 22.6 | +2.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,600 | 77.6 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Thomas | 18,058 | 51.8 | −9.5 |
| | Liberal | Frank Owen | 8,658 | 24.8 | New |
| | Labour | E.L. Patricia Seers | 8,154 | 23.4 | −15.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,400 | 27.0 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,870 | 78.8 | +1.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1956 Hereford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 12,129 | 44.3 | 7.5 |
| | Liberal | Frank Owen | 9,979 | 36.4 | 11.6 |
| | Labour | Bryan Stanley | 5,277 | 19.3 | 4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,150 | 7.9 | 19.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,385 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 17,763 | 49.3 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal | Robin Day | 10,185 | 28.3 | +3.5 |
| | Labour | John W Wardle | 8,097 | 22.4 | −1.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,578 | 21.0 | −6.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,045 | 79.5 | +0.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 17,780 | 45.45 |
| | Labour | Thomas J. H. Bishop | 12,020 | 30.72 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Vaus | 9,322 | 23.83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,760 | 14.73 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,122 | 79.10 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1966: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 17,529 | 44.60 |
| | Labour | Michael Prendergast | 14,782 | 37.61 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Vaus | 6,996 | 17.80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,747 | 6.99 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,307 | 77.30 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 22,011 | 53.20 |
| | Labour | Gerard D Purnell | 14,410 | 34.83 |
| | Liberal | Thomas R Crowther | 4,953 | 11.97 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,601 | 18.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,374 | 73.37 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election February 1974: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | David Gibson-Watt | 18,676 | 41.31 |
| | Liberal | CB Tannant Nash | 15,238 | 33.70 |
| | Labour | IE Geffen | 11,299 | 24.99 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,438 | 7.61 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,213 | 78.89 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election October 1974: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 17,060 | 38.9 | −2.4 |
| | Liberal | CB Tannant Nash | 15,948 | 36.4 | +2.7 |
| | Labour | Michael K Prendergast | 10,820 | 24.7 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,112 | 2.5 | −5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,828 | 75.8 | −3.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1979: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 23,012 | 47.7 | +8.8 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Green | 18,042 | 37.4 | +1.0 |
| | Labour | IR Adshead | 7,150 | 14.8 | −9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,970 | 10.3 | +7.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,204 | 78.5 | +2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1983: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 23,334 | 48.1 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Green | 21,057 | 43.4 | +6.0 |
| | Labour | John Evans | 3,690 | 7.6 | −7.2 |
| | Ecology | Victoria Murray | 463 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,277 | 4.7 | −5.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,544 | 75.8 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1987: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 24,865 | 47.5 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Green | 23,452 | 44.8 | +1.4 |
| | Labour | Vivian Woodell | 4,031 | 7.7 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,413 | 2.7 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,348 | 78.0 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 26,727 | 47.2 | 0.3 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Gwynoro Jones | 23,314 | 41.2 | 3.6 |
| | Labour | JE Kelly | 6,005 | 10.6 | 2.9 |
| | Green | CT Mattingly | 596 | 1.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,413 | 6.0 | 3.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,642 | 81.3 | 3.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | 1.7 | |
General election 1997: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Keetch | 25,198 | 47.9 | 6.7 |
| | Conservative | Colin Shepherd | 18,550 | 35.3 | 11.9 |
| | Labour | Chris Chappell | 6,596 | 12.6 | 2.0 |
| | Referendum | Clive Easton | 2,209 | 4.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,648 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,553 | 75.2 | 6.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | 9.3 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

General election 2001: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Keetch | 18,244 | 40.9 | 7.0 |
| | Conservative | Virginia Taylor | 17,276 | 38.7 | 3.4 |
| | Labour | David Hallam | 6,739 | 15.1 | 2.5 |
| | UKIP | Clive Easton | 1,184 | 2.7 | New |
| | Green | David Gillett | 1,181 | 2.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 968 | 2.2 | 10.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,624 | 63.6 | 11.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 5.2 | |
General election 2005: Hereford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Paul Keetch | 20,285 | 43.3 | 2.4 |
| | Conservative | Virginia Taylor | 19,323 | 41.2 | 2.5 |
| | Labour | Thomas Calver | 4,800 | 10.2 | 4.9 |
| | Green | Brian Lunt | 1,052 | 2.2 | 0.4 |
| | UKIP | Christopher Kingsley | 1,030 | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| | Independent | Peter Morton | 404 | 0.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 962 | 2.1 | 0.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,894 | 66.2 | 2.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 0.06 | |