# Worcestershire (UK Parliament constituency)

Worcestershire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented until 1832 by two Members of Parliament traditionally referred to as Knights of the Shire. It was split then into two two-member divisions, for Parliamentary purposes, Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western constituencies.

## Boundaries

Worcestershire was one of the historic counties of England. The constituency comprised the whole county, except for the boroughs of Bewdley, Droitwich, Evesham and Worcester.

## Members of Parliament
### 1294–1478

| Year | Location | First Member | Second Member |
| 23 Edward I | Westminster | William de Senescal | Simon de Crombe |
| 25 Edward I | Westminster | William de Senescal | William de Fokerham |
| 26 Edward I | York | William de Senescal | Simon de Crombe |
| 28 Edward I | London | Roger de Tracy | Thomas de Botteley |
| 29 Edward I | | Robert Bracy | |
| 33 Edward I | Westminster | William de Fokerham | |
| 34 Edward I | Great Council at Westminster | William de Fokerham | Peter Salcomb |
| 35 Edward I | Carlisle | Peter de Salso Marisco | Walter Haket |
| 2 Edward II | Westminster | Robert Sturmy | Robert de Somery |
| 5 Edward II | Westminster | John de Washbourne | Edmund de Grafton |
| 6 Edward II | Westminster | William de Galeys | William de Senescal |
| 6 Edward II | Westminster | Edmund de Grafton | Alexander de Besford |
| 6 Edward II | Westminster | Robert Somery | John le Rous |
| 7 Edward II | Westminster | Edmund de Grafton | Alexander de Besford |
| 8 Edward II | Westminster | Robert de Sturmy | Alexander de Besford |
| 8 Edward II | Westminster | Edmund de Grafton | John de Bishopsden |
| 9 Edward II | Lincoln | Richard de Clebury | |
| 9 Edward II | Great Council at Westminster | Robert Somery | Thomas de Lyttelton |
| 12 Edward II | York | Walter de Beauchamp | Walter de Blount |
| 12 Edward II | York | Roger Mael | John Fitz Simon le Brun |
| 15 Edward II | York | William de Bradewell | Hugh de Hawleslowe |
| 16 Edward II | York | John de Stone | John de Offley |
| 17 Edward II | Westminster | William de Bradewell | Alexander de Besford |
| 19 Edward II | Westminster | Robert de Somery | Henry de Wenlond |
| 20 Edward II | Westminster | Richard de Hawkeslowe | Robert Attwode |
| 1 Edward III | Lincoln | John de Stone | Robert Attwode |
| 1 Edward III | York | Richard de Hawkeslowe | John de Stone |
| 1 Edward III | Westminster | Richard de Hawkeslowe | Robert Attwode |
| 2 Edward III | New Sarum | Peter de Grete | Richard Bertram |
| 2 Edward III | Northampton | Richard de Hawkeslowe | John de Stone |
| 3 Edward III | New Sarum | Peter de Grete | |
| 4 Edward III | Westminster | Henry de Hanbury | Robert de Graas |
| 4 Edward III | Westminster | John de Stone | Edmund de Dunclent |
| 5 Edward III | Westminster | William le Blount | Richard Hawkeslowe |
| 6 Edward III | Westminster | Richard Hawkeslowe | William de Bradewell |
| 6 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Somery | John le Rous |
| 7 Edward III | Westminster | Peter de Grete | John de la More |
| 7 Edward III | Westminster | William de Bradewell | Peter de Grete |
| 8 Edward III | Westminster | Peter de Grete | John de Stone |
| 8 Edward III | York | Peter de Grete | John de la More |
| 9 Edward III | York | Peter de Grete | John de la More |
| 10 Edward III | Westminster | Walter be Newington | Peter de Grete |
| 10 Edward III | Westminster | John de Bruning | John Aleyn |
| 11 Edward III | Westminster | John Golafre | William D'Abetot |
| 11 Edward III | Council at Westminster | William Corbet | John de Stone |
| 11 Edward III | Westminster | Peter de Grete | John Golafre |
| 11 Edward III | Westminster | Peter de Grete | John Golafre |
| 12 Edward III | Northampton (Council) | Peter de Grete | John Golafre |
| 12 Edward III | Westminster | Walter de Berathorpe | Walter de Blount |
| 13 Edward III | Westminster | John Sapey | John de Stone |
| 13 Edward III | Westminster | Walter de Shekerhurst | Thomas de Loughtre |
| 14 Edward III | Westminster | John de Lee | Walter de Newington |
| 14 Edward III | Westminster | Badw. Frevell | John de Hull |
| 14 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Corbet | William de Bracy |
| 14 Edward III | Westminster | John de Evelen | John de Stone |
| 15 Edward III | Westminster | John de Hull | Richard de Eastham |
| 15 Edward III | Westminster | Richard de Hawkeslowe | John de Stone |
| 17 Edward III | Westminster | Richard de Hawkeslowe | John de Stone |
| 17 Edward III | Westminster | John le Brugh | Thomas de Slaughtre |
| 18 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Attwode | John le Brugh |
| 18 Edward III | Sarum | William de Bradewell | Alexander Besford |
| 20 Edward III | Westminster | Thomas de Slaughtre | William de Norton |
| 21 Edward III | Westminster | John de Hull | John de Brugh (Brayne) |
| 22 Edward III | Westminster | John de Lokynton | William de Norton |
| 22 Edward III | Westminster | John de Hull | John de Brugh |
| 24 Edward III | Westminster | Walter de Shekerhurst | Thomas Cassy |
| 25 Edward III | Westminster | Walter de Shekerhurst | Edward le Brugge |
| 26 Edward III | Westminster | John de Beauchamp of Holt | John de Harley |
| 26 & 27 Edward III | Council at Westminster | Gilbert Chasteleyn | |
| 28 Edward III | Westminster | Gilbert Chasteleyn | William de Shakenhrust |
| 29 Edward III | Westminster | John de Beauchamp | John Musard |
| 31 Edward III | Westminster | Robert de Bracy | John de Lokynton |
| 32 Edward III | Westminster | Robert de Bracy | William le Spencer |
| 34 Edward III | Westminster | William de Shakenhurst | Roger le Brugge |
| 34 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Bracy | Roger de Brugge |
| 35 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Bracy | Roger de Brugge |
| 36 Edward III | Westminster | Lionius de Perton | Edward Kerdiffe |
| 37 Edward III | Westminster | Thomas Foliot | Reginald de Hanbury |
| 38 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Bracy | Robert Russel |
| 39 Edward III | Westminster | Robert Bracy | Robert Russel |
| 40 Edward III | Westminster | Robert de la More | Nicholas Bottham |
| 42 Edward III | Westminster | Henry Sturmy | Thomas de la Rivere |
| 42 Edward III | Westminster | John Horsley | Nicholas Moxhall |
| 45 Edward III | Westminster | Richard Fyton | John Meyn |
| 45 Edward III | Council at Westminster | Richard Fyton | John Meyn |
| 46 Edward III | Westminster | John Atte Wode | Richard Fyton |
| 47 Edward III | Westminster | John Atte Wode | Edmund de Brugge |
| 50 Edward III | Westminster | Sir John Atte Wode | Sir Richard Fyton |
| 51 Edward III | Westminster | John de Sapy | John Beauchamp |
| 1 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Richard Fyton | John Beauchamp |
| 2 Richard II | Gloucester | Sir William Cokesey | Sir John Russell |
| 2 Richard II | Westminster | Sir William Wasteneys | Sir John Russell |
| 2 Richard II | Westminster | Sir John Atte Wode | John Beauchamp of Holt |
| 2 Richard II | Northampton | Sir John Atte Wode | John Beauchamp of Holt |
| 5 Richard II | Westminster | Henry de Arden | John de Sapy |
| 5 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Richard Fyton | John de Sapy |
| 6 Richard II | Westminster | Alexander de Besford | |
| 6 Richard II | Westminster | Ralf Stafford | Roger de Hanbury |
| 7 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng | Henry Bruyn |
| 7 Richard II | Sarum | Sir John Herle | --- de Stafford |
| 8 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Walter Cokesey | Sir John Herle |
| 9 Richard II | Westminster | Sir John de Sapy | Henry Bruyn |
| 10 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | Henry Bruyn |
| 11 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | Sir Hugh Cheyne |
| 12 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | Alexander de Besford |
| 13 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | Sir Hugh Cheyne |
| 14 Richard II | Westminster | Sir Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | Sir Hugh Cheyne |
| 15 Richard II | Westminster | Alexander Besford | Henry Bruyn |
| 16 Richard II | Winchester | Nicholas Sellyng (Lilling) | William Spernore |
| 17 Richard II | Westminster | Richard Thurgrym | William Spernore |
| 18 Richard II | Westminster | Alexander Besford | Robert Russell |
| 20 Richard II | Westminster | William Spernore | Richard Ruyhall |
| 21 Richard II | Westminster | Sir John Russell | Richard Ruyhall |
| 1 Henry IV | Westminster | John Blount | William Spernore |
| 2 Henry IV | Westminster | Sir John Beauchamp | Ralf Stafford |
| 3 Henry IV | Westminster | Thomas Throgmorton | John Brace |
| 4 Henry IV | Westminster | Thomas Throgmorton | John Bracy |
| 5 Henry IV | Westminster | Sir Simon Blount | John Washbourne |
| 6 Henry IV | Coventry | John Beauchamp | Ralf Stafford |
| 8 Henry IV | Westminster | Ralph Ardern | Thomas Hodyngton |
| 9 Henry IV | Gloucester | Sir William Beauchamp | Richard Ruyhall |
| 1 Henry V | Westminster | William Beauchamp of Powick | Sir John Phelip |
| 2 Henry V (Apr) | Leicester | William Beauchamp of Powick | John Beauchamp |
| 1414 (Nov) | | John Throckmorton | John Wood |
| 3 Henry V | Westminster | Humphrey Stafford | John Brace |
| 3 Henry V | Westminster | William Beauchamp of Powick | William Russel |
| 5 Henry V | Westminster | William Wollashall | Thomas Morant |
| 1419 | | John Brace | Thomas Morant |
| 8 Henry V | Westminster | John Throckmorton | John Weston |
| 8 Henry V | Westminster | William Beauchamp | Richard Ruyhall |
| 1421 (Apr) | Westminster | William Wollashall | John Wood |
| 1421 (Dec) | Westminster | Walter Corbet | John Brace |
| 1422 | Westminster | John Throckmorton | John Vampage |
| 2 Henry VI | Westminster | William Wollashall | John Wood |
| 4 Henry VI | Westminster | Sir William Lichfield | Thomas Heuster |
| 5 Henry VI | Leicester | Humphrey Stafford of Grafton | John Vampage |
| 8 Henry VI | Westminster | John Huband | John Vampage |
| 9 Henry VI | Westminster | William Wollashall | John Wood |
| 13 Henry VI | Westminster | John Wood | Robert Russel |
| 20 Henry VI | Westminster | Hugh Cokesey | Walter Skull |
| 25 Henry VI | Cambridge | Humphrey Stafford | Walter Skull |
| 27 Henry VI | Westminster | Humphrey Stafford | Thomas Throckmorton |
| 28 Henry VI | Westminster | Humphrey Stafford | Thomas Windeslawe |
| 29 Henry VI | Westminster | Humphrey Stafford | Thomas Throckmorton |
| 31 Henry VI | Reading | Sir Walter Skull | Humphrey Stafford |
| 33 Henry VI | Westminster | Humphrey Stafford | Fulk Stafford |
| 35 Henry VI | Westminster | John Stafford | Fulk Stafford |
| 6 Edward IV | Westminster | Renefred Arundel | Thomas Lygon |
| 12 Edward IV | Westminster | Richard Hyde | Thomas Lygon |
| 17 Edward IV | Westminster | William Berkley | John Acton |
Source: Treadway Russell Nash.

### 1479–1552

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1510-1532 | Not known | Not known |
| 1529 | Sir Gilbert Talbot | John Russell |
| 1536 | Not known | Not known |
| 1539 (30 Henry VIII) | Sir John Russell | Sir John Pakington |
| 1542 (33 Henry VIII) | Sir Gilbert Talbot, died and replaced by Thomas Russell | William Sheldon |
| 1547 | Thomas Russell | William Sheldon |

### 1553–1649

| Year | Location | First Member | Second Member |
| 7 Edward VI 1553 | Westminster | Walter Blount | Francis Savage |
| 1 Mary 1553 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Russell | John Lyttelton |
| 1 Mary 1554 | Westminster | John Bourne | William Sheldon |
| 1 Mary 1554 | Westminster | Sir John Bourne | Walter Blount |
| 2&3 Ph & Mary | Westminster | Sir John Bourne | William Sheldon |
| 4&5 Ph & Mary | Westminster | Sir John Bourne | Sir Thomas Baskerville |
| 1559 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Russell | Thomas Blount of Kidderminster |
| 1562 | Westminster | Thomas Blount of Kidderminster | Ralph Sheldon |
| 1571 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Russell | Gilbert Lyttelton |
| 1572 | Westminster | Gilbert Lyttelton | John Talbot |
| 1584 | Westminster | John Russell | John Lyttelton (II) |
| 1586 | Westminster | John Russell | John Lyttelton (II) |
| 1588 | Westminster | Sir John Russell | William Lygon |
| 1593 | Westminster | Sir Henry Bromley | William Walsh |
| 1597 | Westminster | John Lyttelton (II) | Edmund Colles |
| 1601 | Westminster | Thomas Leighton | Thomas Russell |
| 1604 | Westminster | Sir Henry Bromley | Sir William Lygon (died 1609) repl Sir Samuel Sandys |
| 1614 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Bromley | Sir Samuel Sandys |
| 1621 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Lyttelton | Sir Samuel Sandys |
| 1624 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Lyttelton | Sir Walter Devereux, Bt |
| 1625 | Westminster and Oxford | Sir Thomas Lyttelton | William Russell |
| 1626 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Lyttelton | Sir John Rouse |
| 1628 | Westminster | Thomas Coventry | Sir Thomas Bromley |
| April 1640 | Westminster | Sir Thomas Lyttelton | Sir John Pakington, 2nd Baronet |
| November 1640 | Westminster | John Wilde | Humphrey Salwey |
Source: TR Nash

### Commonwealth Parliaments

| !Year | First Member | Second Member | Third Member | Fourth Member | Fifth Member |
| 1653 | Richard Salwey | John James |
| 1654 | Sir Thomas Rouse, Bt | Edward Pytts | Nicholas Lechmere | John Bridges | Talbot Badger |
| 1656 | Col. James Berry | Edward Pytts | Nicholas Lechmere | Sir Thomas Rouse, Bt | John Nanfan |
| 1658-9 | Nicholas Lechmere | Thomas Foley |
Source: T. R. Nash, Collections for a History of Worcestershire (1783)

### MPs 1660–1832

| Election | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| 1660 | | Henry Bromley | | | John Talbot | |
| 1661 | | Sir John Pakington, 2nd Bt | Royalist | | Samuel Sandys | |
| 1679 | | Thomas Foley | | | Samuel Sandys | |
| 1681 | | Thomas Foley | | | Bridges Nanfan | |
| 1685 | | Sir John Pakington, 3rd Bt | Tory | | James Pytts | |
| 1689 | | Sir James Rushout, Bt | | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1690 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1695 | | Edwin Sandys | | | Thomas Foley | |
| 1698 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | William Walsh | |
| 1701 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | William Bromley | Whig |
| 1702 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | William Walsh | |
| 1705 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | William Bromley | Whig |
| 1707 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | Sir Thomas Winford, Bt | |
| 1710 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | Samuel Pytts | |
| 1715 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | Thomas Vernon | |
| 1720 | | Sir John Pakington, 4th Bt | Tory | | Sir Thomas Lyttelton, Bt | |
| 1727 | | Sir Herbert Pakington, Bt | Tory | | Sir Thomas Lyttelton, Bt | |
| 1734 | | Sir Herbert Pakington, Bt | Tory | | Edmund Lechmere | Tory |
| 1741 | | Edmund Pytts (I) | Tory | | Edmund Lechmere | Tory |
| 1747 | | Edmund Pytts (I) | Tory | | Viscount Deerhurst | |
| 1751 by-election | | Edmund Pytts (I) | Tory | | John Bulkeley Coventry | |
| 1753 by-election | | Edmund Pytts (II) | Tory | | John Bulkeley Coventry | |
| 1761 | | John Ward | | | William Dowdeswell | Whig |
| 1774 | | Edward Foley | | | William Dowdeswell | Whig |
| 1775 by-election | | Edward Foley | | | William Lygon | |
| 1803 by-election | | John Ward | Tory | | William Lygon | |
| 1806 by-election | | John Ward | Tory | | William Lygon | |
| 1806 | | William Lyttelton | | | William Lygon | |
| 1816 by-election | | William Lyttelton | | | Henry Lygon | |
| 1820 | | Sir Thomas Winnington, Bt | | | Henry Lygon | |
| 1830 | | Thomas Foley | Whig | | Henry Lygon | |
| 1831 | | Thomas Foley | Whig | | Frederick Spencer | Whig |
| 1832 | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western | constituency divided. See Worcestershire Eastern and Worcestershire Western |

## Elections

The county franchise, from 1430, was held by the owners of freehold land valued at 40 shillings or more. Each voter had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings, which took place in the county town of Worcester. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of voters, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system.
The expense, to candidates, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual.