# Chelmsford (UK Parliament constituency)

Chelmsford is a constituency in Essex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats.

## History

Formally named as the Mid or Chelmsford Division of Essex, the seat was one of eight single-member divisions of Essex (later classified as county constituencies) created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, replacing the three two member divisions of East, South and West Essex. Historically, the constituency was on occasion referred to as 'Mid Essex', especially in the early part of the 20th Century. It continued in existence, gradually being reduced in geographic size as additional seats were created in Essex, until it was briefly abolished for the 1997 general election following the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster Constituencies and replaced by parts of two new constituencies: Maldon and East Chelmsford and West Chelmsford. It was re-established for the 2010 general election as a Borough Constituency by the Fifth Periodic Review.
During its latter years, the old seat was narrowly won by a Conservative over strong Liberal Democrat performances, including their predecessor party the Liberal Party. At its first contest in 2010, the re-established seat was closely fought by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, who finished less than 10% apart, with Conservative candidate Simon Burns (the former MP for West Chelmsford) being elected. Labour polled 11%, despite having been only around 100 votes behind the Liberal Democrats in West Chelmsford in 2005, and even taking second place in 2001. Labour regained second place for the 2015 and 2017 elections but were overtaken again by the Liberal Democrats in 2019.
At the 2024 general election, following the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies which resulted in the constituency reducing in size, Marie Goldman of the Liberal Democrats was returned as MP for Chelmsford. Prior to Goldman's election, Chelmsford had been held by the Conservatives for 74 years, since the 1950 general election.

## Boundaries and boundary changes
### 1885–1918

* The Sessional Divisions of Brentwood (except the parishes of Rainham and Wennington) and Chelmsford.
Formed from parts of the abolished West (Chelmsford), and South Divisions, (Brentwood and Billericay).

### 1918–1945

* The Borough of Chelmsford;
* The Urban District of Brentwood
* The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar: and
* The Rural District of Billericay parishes of Hutton, Ingrave, Mountnessing, Shenfield, and South Weald.
Gained eastern part of the Epping Division, including Chipping Ongar. The south-western corner, including Upminster, was transferred to Romford and southernmost parts, including the town of Billericay, to the South-Eastern Division.

### 1945–1950

* The Borough of Chelmsford;
* The Urban District of Brentwood; and
* The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.
Minor changes following the reorganisation of local authorities, involving the abolition of the Rural District of Billericay and the expansion of the Urban District of Brentwood.

### 1950–1955

* The Borough of Chelmsford; and
* The Rural Districts of Chelmsford and Ongar.
Brentwood transferred to Romford.

### 1955–1974

* The Borough of Chelmsford; and
* The Rural District of Chelmsford.
The Rural District of Ongar included in the new constituency of Chigwell.

### 1974–1983

* The Borough of Chelmsford; and
* The Rural District of Chelmsford parishes of Danbury, East Hanningfield, Great Baddow, Highwood, Ingatestone and Fryerning, Little Baddow, Margaretting, Mountnessing, Rettendon, Runwell, Sandon, South Hanningfield, Stock, West Hanningfield, and Woodham Ferrers.
Northern parts of the Rural District of Chelmsford transferred to the new constituency of Braintree.

### 1983–1997

* The Borough of Chelmsford wards of All Saints, Baddow Road, Boreham and Springfield, Cathedral, Danbury and Sandon, East and West Hanningfield, Galleywood, Goat Hall, Great Baddow Village, Highwood and Margaretting, Little Baddow, Mildmays, Moulsham Lodge, Oaklands, Patching Hall, Rothmans, St Andrew's, Stock, The Lawns, and Waterhouse Farm.
Gained the Boreham and Springfield ward from Braintree. Two parishes (Ingatestone and Fryerning, and Mountnessing), included in the District of Brentwood under the Local Government Act 1972, were transferred to Brentwood and Ongar. South-eastern areas, including South Woodham Ferrers, were included in the new constituency of Rochford.
For the 1997 general election the constituency was abolished. Northern and western areas forming the majority of the new constituency of West Chelmsford; eastern areas included in the new constituency of Maldon and East Chelmsford; and a small area in the south included in the constituency of Rayleigh.

### 2010–2024

* The City of Chelmsford wards of Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park, Galleywood, Goat Hall, Great Baddow East, Great Baddow West, Marconi, Moulsham and Central, Moulsham Lodge, Patching Hall, St Andrew's, Springfield North, The Lawns, Trinity, and Waterhouse Farm.
Following the Boundary Commission's Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies in 2007, Parliament re-established Chelmsford as a borough constituency for the 2010 general election. For the previous three elections the constituency had been split in two halves and included more surrounding rural settlements. A majority of the electorate for this new constituency came from the previous West Chelmsford constituency. A smaller element (Great Baddow and Galleywood) came from the Maldon & East Chelmsford constituency.
The new constituency coincides with the built-up area which comprises the City of Chelmsford.

### Current

Further to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which came into effect for the 2024 general election, the composition of the constituency was reduced to meet the electorate size requirements, with the transfer to Maldon of the Galleywood ward in the south of the city.
The revised constituency is made up of 78.9% by area and 95.1% by population of the previous (2010-2024) version of the seat, the remaining part going to Maldon.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1885–1997

West Chelmsford, Maldon & East Chelmsford and Rayleigh prior to 1885
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1885 | William Beadel | Conservative |
| 1892 by-election | Thomas Usborne | Conservative |
| 1900 | Sir Carne Rasch, Bt | Conservative |
| 1908 by-election | E. G. Pretyman | Conservative |
| 1918 | E. G. Pretyman | Coalition Conservative |
| 1922 | E. G. Pretyman | Conservative |
| 1923 | Sydney Robinson | Liberal |
| 1924 | Henry Curtis-Bennett | Conservative |
| 1926 by-election | Charles Howard-Bury | Conservative |
| 1931 | Sir Vivian Henderson | Conservative |
| 1935 | John Macnamara | Conservative |
| 1945 by-election | Ernest Millington | Common Wealth |
| 1946 | Ernest Millington | Labour |
| 1950 | Sir Hubert Ashton | Conservative |
| 1964 | Norman St John-Stevas | Conservative |
| 1987 | Simon Burns | Conservative |
| 1997 | Constituency abolished – see West Chelmsford, Maldon and Chelmsford East, Rayleigh | Constituency abolished – see West Chelmsford, Maldon and Chelmsford East, Rayleigh |

### MPs since 2010

West Chelmsford and Maldon & East Chelmsford prior to 2010
| Election | Member | Party |
| 2010 | Sir Simon Burns | Conservative |
| 2017 | Vicky Ford | Conservative |
| 2024 | Marie Goldman | Liberal Democrats |

## Elections
### Elections in the 2020s

General election 2024: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marie Goldman | 20,214 | 39.9 | +13.8 |
| | Conservative | Vicky Ford | 15,461 | 30.5 | −24.2 |
| | Reform UK | Darren Ingrouille | 6,754 | 13.3 | N/A |
| | Labour | Richard Parry | 6,108 | 12.0 | −6.1 |
| | Green | Reza Hossain | 1,588 | 3.1 | N/A |
| | Ind. Network | Richard Hyland | 230 | 0.5 | N/A |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mark CitiZen Lawrence | 187 | 0.4 | −0.7 |
| | Workers Party | Mark Kenlen | 105 | 0.2 | N/A |
| | Independent | Kamla Sangha | 69 | 0.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,753 | 9.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,716 | 65.9 | −4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 76,972 | | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | +19.0 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2019 notional result :
| Party | Party | Vote | % |
| | Conservative | 29,447 | 54.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | 14,031 | 26.1 |
| | Labour | 9,768 | 18.1 |
| | Others | 580 | 1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | 53,826 | 70.4 |
| Electorate | Electorate | 76,454 |
General election 2019: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Vicky Ford | 31,934 | 55.9 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Marie Goldman | 14,313 | 25.1 | +12.9 |
| | Labour | Penny Richards | 10,295 | 18.0 | −11.8 |
| | Monster Raving Loony | Mark Lawrence | 580 | 1.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,621 | 30.8 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,122 | 71.0 | +0.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.3 | |
General election 2017: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Vicky Ford | 30,525 | 53.7 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | Chris Vince | 16,953 | 29.8 | +12.2 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Robinson | 6,916 | 12.2 | +0.3 |
| | UKIP | Nigel Carter | 1,645 | 2.9 | −11.3 |
| | Green | Reza Hossain | 821 | 1.4 | −2.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,572 | 23.9 | −10.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,860 | 70.2 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.0 | |
General election 2015: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Burns | 27,732 | 51.5 | +5.3 |
| | Labour | Chris Vince | 9,482 | 17.6 | +6.6 |
| | UKIP | Mark Gough | 7,652 | 14.2 | +11.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Robinson | 6,394 | 11.9 | −24.9 |
| | Green | Angela Thomson | 1,892 | 3.5 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal | Henry Boyle | 665 | 1.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,250 | 33.9 | +24.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,817 | 68.5 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 2010: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Burns* | 25,207 | 46.2 | +6.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Robinson | 20,097 | 36.8 | +6.6 |
| | Labour | Peter Dixon | 5,980 | 11.0 | −16.0 |
| | UKIP | Ken Wedon | 1,527 | 2.8 | −0.6 |
| | BNP | Michael Bateman | 899 | 1.6 | N/A |
| | Green | Angela Thomson | 476 | 0.9 | N/A |
| | English Democrat | Claire Breed | 254 | 0.5 | +0.3 |
| | Reduce Tax On Beer | Ben Sherman | 153 | 0.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,110 | 9.4 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 54,593 | 70.4 | −14.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
    * Served in the 2005–2010 Parliament as MP for West Chelmsford

### Elections in the 1990s

General election 1992: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Burns | 39,043 | 55.3 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Hugh Nicholson | 20,783 | 29.4 | −11.1 |
| | Labour | Roy Chad | 10,010 | 14.2 | +7.4 |
| | Green | Eleanor Burgess | 769 | 1.1 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,260 | 25.9 | +14.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 70,605 | 84.6 | +2.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +7.2 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

General election 1987: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Simon Burns | 35,231 | 51.9 | +4.3 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Mole | 27,470 | 40.5 | −6.5 |
| | Labour | Clive Playford | 4,642 | 6.8 | +1.7 |
| | Green | Anthony Slade | 486 | 0.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,761 | 11.4 | +10.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 67,829 | 82.2 | +2.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.4 | |
General election 1983: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 29,824 | 47.6 | −2.0 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Mole | 29,446 | 47.0 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | Clive Playford | 3,208 | 5.1 | −3.8 |
| | Independent | Philip Waite | 127 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 378 | 0.6 | −9.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,605 | 79.4 | −4.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −4.7 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 33,808 | 49.6 | +8.0 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Mole | 28,337 | 41.5 | +6.3 |
| | Labour | Susan Ann Reeves | 6,041 | 8.9 | −14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,471 | 8.1 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 68,186 | 81.0 | +1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.9 | |
General election October 1974: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 26,334 | 41.6 | −1.3 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Mole | 22,332 | 35.2 | +2.2 |
| | Labour | John Thomas Acklaw | 14,711 | 23.2 | −0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,002 | 6.4 | −3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,377 | 79.2 | −4.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.8 | |
General election February 1974: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 28,560 | 42.9 | −11.1 |
| | Liberal | Stuart Mole | 21,929 | 33.0 | +24.3 |
| | Labour | Frances Morrell | 16,063 | 24.1 | −12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,631 | 9.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,552 | 83.9 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1970: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 36,821 | 55.2 | +8.0 |
| | Labour | Gavin Kennedy | 23,780 | 35.6 | −3.4 |
| | Liberal | Jessie Hunt | 5,811 | 8.7 | −5.2 |
| | Independent | Joseph D. Steel | 350 | 0.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,041 | 19.5 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 66,762 | 75.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.3 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 28,600 | 47.2 |
| | Labour | Colin George | 23,625 | 39.0 |
| | Liberal | W Peter Longhurst | 8,419 | 13.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,975 | 8.20 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,644 | 82.47 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.00 |
General election 1964: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Norman St John-Stevas | 27,849 | 47.95 |
| | Labour | E Gordon Lawrence | 20,816 | 35.84 |
| | Liberal | W Peter Longhurst | 9,414 | 16.21 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,033 | 12.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,105 | 82.78 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hubert Ashton | 29,992 | 59.85 |
| | Labour | Brian Ralph Clapham | 20,124 | 40.15 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,868 | 19.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,116 | 81.32 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1955: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hubert Ashton | 25,450 | 55.63 |
| | Labour | Bernard Floud | 20,301 | 44.37 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,149 | 11.26 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,751 | 81.82 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1951: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Hubert Ashton | 29,069 | 55.01 |
| | Labour | James Haworth | 23,775 | 44.99 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,294 | 10.02 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,844 | 83.31 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1950: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Hubert Ashton | 28,541 | 54.65 | |
| | Labour | Ernest Millington | 23,682 | 45.35 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,859 | 9.30 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,223 | 84.33 | |
| | Conservative gain from Common Wealth | Conservative gain from Common Wealth | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Common Wealth | Ernest Millington | 27,309 | 46.7 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Hubert Ashton | 25,229 | 43.2 | −27.6 |
| | Liberal | Hilda Buckmaster | 5,909 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,080 | 3.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,447 | 73.4 | +8.0 |
| | Common Wealth hold | Common Wealth hold | Swing | | |
1945 Chelmsford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Common Wealth | Ernest Millington | 24,548 | 57.5 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Brian Batsford | 18,117 | 42.5 | −28.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,431 | 15.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,665 | 54.1 | −11.3 |
| | Common Wealth gain from Conservative | Common Wealth gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
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: John Macnamara
* Labour: Mary Day

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Macnamara | 28,314 | 70.8 | −9.7 |
| | Labour | Fred Hughes | 11,690 | 29.2 | +9.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,624 | 41.6 | −19.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,004 | 65.4 | −5.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1931: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Vivian Henderson | 31,961 | 80.5 | +36.7 |
| | Labour | Joseph Sparks | 7,755 | 19.5 | −3.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 24,206 | 61.0 | +50.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,716 | 70.9 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Howard-Bury | 17,094 | 43.8 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Robinson | 13,034 | 33.4 | +3.2 |
| | Labour | Nils Henry Moller | 8,910 | 22.8 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,060 | 10.4 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,038 | 75.1 | +4.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −3.6 | |
1926 Chelmsford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Charles Howard-Bury | 13,395 | 47.8 | −6.9 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Robinson | 8,435 | 30.2 | −5.1 |
| | Labour | Nils Henry Moller | 6,140 | 22.0 | +12.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,960 | 17.6 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,970 | 70.5 | −6.6 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −0.9 | |
General election 1924: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Henry Curtis-Bennett | 15,875 | 54.7 | +10.5 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Robinson | 10,244 | 35.3 | −20.5 |
| | Labour | Nils Henry Moller | 2,904 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,631 | 19.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,023 | 77.1 | +13.6 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +15.5 | |
General election 1923: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Sydney Robinson | 12,877 | 55.8 | +26.0 |
| | Unionist | E. G. Pretyman | 10,185 | 44.2 | −8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,692 | 11.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,062 | 63.5 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +17.2 | |
General election 1922: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | E. G. Pretyman | 11,267 | 52.6 | −14.3 |
| | Liberal | Sydney Robinson | 6,380 | 29.8 | N/A |
| | Labour | Clara Rackham | 3,767 | 17.6 | −15.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,887 | 22.8 | −11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,414 | 61.0 | +10.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | E. G. Pretyman | 11,217 | 66.9 | N/A |
| | Labour | William Frederick Toynbee | 5,551 | 33.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,666 | 33.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,768 | 50.2 | N/A |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | N/A | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. G. Pretyman | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election January 1910: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. G. Pretyman | 6,816 | 61.5 | +9.1 |
| | Liberal | T.Cuthbertson | 4,271 | 38.5 | −9.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,545 | 23.0 | +18.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,087 | 83.3 | +3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,314 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1908 Chelmsford by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | E. G. Pretyman | 6,152 | 63.2 | +10.8 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Henry Dence | 3,587 | 36.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,565 | 26.4 | +21.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,739 | 77.7 | −2.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,539 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +10.8 | |
General election January 1906: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carne Rasch | 4,915 | 52.4 | −20.5 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Henry Dence | 4,461 | 47.6 | +20.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 454 | 4.8 | −41.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,376 | 79.7 | +13.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,767 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +20.5 | |
General election October 1900: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Carne Rasch | 4,978 | 72.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Henry | 1,849 | 27.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,129 | 45.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,827 | 66.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,341 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1895: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Usborne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1892: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Usborne | 4,168 | 59.8 | N/A |
| | Liberal | William Ebenezer Grigsby | 2,799 | 40.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,369 | 19.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,967 | 74.6 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,333 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
By-election, 1892 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Usborne | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Beadel | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1885: Chelmsford :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Beadel | 4,321 | 58.4 | |
| | Liberal | Richard Martin | 3,079 | 41.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,242 | 16.8 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,400 | 79.8 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,277 | | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

## Boundary changes

| Preceded byConstituency created | UK Parliament constituency Chelmsford (West), Writtle 1885–1997 | Succeeded byChelmsford West |
| Preceded byConstituency created | UK Parliament constituency Chelmsford (East), Great Baddow, Danbury 1885–1997 | Succeeded byMaldon and Chelmsford East |
| Preceded byConstituency created | UK Parliament constituency Ingatestone 1885–1974 | Succeeded byBrentwood and Ongar |
| Preceded byConstituency created | UK Parliament constituency Ongar 1885–1955 | Succeeded byChigwell |
| Preceded byConstituency created | UK Parliament constituency Brentwood 1885–1950 | Succeeded byRomford |