# Rye (UK Parliament constituency)

Rye was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Rye in East Sussex. It returned two Members of Parliament to the Parliament of England before 1707, Parliament of Great Britain until 1801 and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until its representation was halved under the Reform Act 1832.
From the 1832 general election, Rye returned one Member of Parliament until its abolition for the 1950 general election, when the town of Rye itself was transferred to the redrawn Hastings constituency.
The constituency was re-created for the 1955 general election, and abolished again for the 1983 general election when it was largely replaced by the Bexhill and Battle parliamentary constituency.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Hastings and Rye, the Sessional Divisions of Battle, Burwash, Frant, Hastings, and Rye, the ancient town of Winchelsea, and the Liberty of the Sluice and Petit Iham.
1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Bexhill and Rye, the Urban District of Battle, the Rural Districts of Battle, Hastings, Rye, and Ticehurst, and in the Rural District of Hailsham the civil parishes of Heathfield, Herstmonceux, Hooe, Ninfield, Warbleton, and Wartling.
1955–1983: The Municipal Boroughs of Bexhill and Rye, the Rural District of Battle, and part of the Rural District of Hailsham.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs 1366–1640

| Parliament | First Member | Second Member |
| 1372 | John Salerne | |
| 1373 | John Salerne | |
| 1381 | Simon Lunceford |
| 1386 | Stephen Elyot | John Baddyng |
| 1388 (Feb) | Stephen Elyot | William Marchaunt |
| 1388 (Sep) | William atte Vawte | John Macop |
| 1390 (Jan) | Laurence Lunceford | Laurence Corboyle |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | John Salerne | Laurence Lunceford |
| 1393 | John Baddyng | John Bertelot |
| 1394 | |
| 1395 | John Baddyng | William Ormed |
| 1397 (Jan) | Richard Tichebourne | John Langeport |
| 1397 (Sep) | |
| 1399 | John Baddyng | William atte Vawte |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | John Baddyng | John Roberd |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | William atte Vawte | Laurence Mersey |
| 1407 | John Baddyng | Thomas Long |
| 1410 | John Shelley | William Long |
| 1411 | |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | William Long | Robert Onewyn |
| 1414 (Apr) | |
| 1414 (Nov) | William Long | Robert Onewyn |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | John Shelley | Richard Posterf |
| 1419 | Robert Onewyn | William Long |
| 1420 | John Shelley | William Long |
| 1421 (May) | Robert Onewyn | Thomas Piers |
| 1421 (Dec) | William Thirlwall | John Shelley |
| 1504 | Richard Berkeley |
| 1510 | Nicholas Sutton | Richard Berkeley |
| 1512 | Nicholas Sutton | Robert Mede |
| 1515 | Robert Mede | Nicholas Sutton |
| 1523 | Thomas Cheseman alias Baker | Thomas Basseden |
| 1529 | Nicholas Sutton, died and replaced by 1534 by Richard Inglet | John Fletcher |
| 1536 | Richard Inglet | John Fletcher |
| 1539 | Thomas Birchet | William Mede |
| 1542 | John Fletcher | William Oxenbridge |
| 1545 | Alexander Welles | Robert Wymond |
| 1547 | Alexander Welles | George Reynolds |
| 1553 (Mar) | Richard Fletcher | John Holmes |
| 1553 (Oct) | Clement Heigham | John Holmes |
| 1554 (Apr) | John Holmes | Richard Fletcher |
| 1554 (Nov) | John Holmes | Thomas Smith |
| 1555 | John Holmes | Reginald Mohun |
| 1558 | Thomas Fletcher | Thomas Cheyne |
| 1559 | Richard Fletcher I | Robert Marche |
| 1562–3 | George Reynolds I | John Bredes |
| 1571 | John Donning | Thomas Fanshawe |
| 1572 | Clement Cobbe, died and replaced July 1575 by Robert Carpenter | Henry Gaymer |
| 1584 | John Hammond | Robert Carpenter |
| 1586 | Henry Gaymer | Robert Carpenter |
| 1588–9 | Audley Dannett | Robert Carpenter |
| 1593 | Henry Gaymer | Robert Carpenter |
| 1597 | Sampson Lennard | Thomas Hamon |
| 1601 | Sir Arthur Gorges | Thomas Colepeper |
| 1604–1611 | Thomas Hamon, died and replaced by Heneage Finch | John Young |
| 1614 | Edward Hendon | Thomas Watson |
| 1621–1622 | Emanuel Gifford | John Angell |
| 1624 | Thomas Conway | Sir Edward Conway, sat for Warwick and replaced by John Angel |
| 1625 | Thomas Fotherley | Sir John Sackville |
| 1626 | Thomas Fotherley | Sir John Sackville |
| 1628 | Richard Tufton | Thomas Fotherley |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### MPs 1640–1832

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | John Culpepper |
| November 1640 | | Sir John Jacob | Royalist | | John White | Royalist |
| 1641 | | William Hay | Parliamentarian | | John White | Royalist |
| February 1644 | | William Hay | Parliamentarian | White disabled from sitting - seat vacant | White disabled from sitting - seat vacant | White disabled from sitting - seat vacant |
| 1645 | | William Hay | Parliamentarian | | John Fagg | |
| 1653 | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | Rye was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Herbert Morley | | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| 1656 | | William Hay | | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Rye had only one seat in the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | William Hay | | | Mark Thomas | |
| 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 Morley | | | William Hay | |
| May 1661 | | Herbert Morley | | | Richard Spencer | |
| November 1661 | | Herbert Morley | | | Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet | |
| 1667 | | Sir John Austen, 2nd Baronet | | | Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet | |
| February 1679 | | Thomas Frewen | | | Sir John Robinson, 1st Baronet | |
| October 1679 | | Thomas Frewen | | | Sir John Darrel | |
| 1685 | | Thomas Frewen | | | Sir Thomas Jenner | |
| January 1689 | | Thomas Frewen | | | Sir John Darrel | |
| April 1689 | | Sir John Austen, 2nd Baronet | | | Sir John Darrel | |
| 1694 | | Sir John Austen, 2nd Baronet | | | Thomas Frewen | |
| 1698 | | Sir John Austen, 2nd Baronet | | | Joseph Offley | Country Whig |
| 1699 | | Sir Robert Austen, 3rd Baronet | | | Joseph Offley | Country Whig |
| 1701 | | Thomas Fagg | | | Joseph Offley | Country Whig |
| 1702 | | Thomas Fagg | | | Edward Southwell | |
| 1705 | | Philip Herbert | | | Edward Southwell | |
| 1707 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Edward Southwell | |
| 1708 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Admiral Sir John Norris | |
| 1722 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | The Lord Aylmer | |
| 1727 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | John Norris | |
| 1733 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Matthew Norris | |
| 1734 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Admiral Sir John Norris | |
| 1749 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Thomas Pelham | |
| 1754 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | George Onslow | |
| 1761 | | Phillips Gybbon | Whig | | Captain John Bentinck | |
| 1762 | | John Norris | | | Captain John Bentinck | |
| 1768 | | John Norris | | | Rose Fuller | |
| 1774 | | Middleton Onslow | | | Rose Fuller | |
| 1775 | | Hon. Thomas Onslow | | | Rose Fuller | |
| 1777 | | Hon. Thomas Onslow | | | William Dickinson | |
| 1784 | | Charles Wolfran Cornwall | | | William Dickinson | |
| 1789 | | Charles Long | Tory | | William Dickinson | |
| 1790 | | Charles Long | Tory | | Hon. Robert Jenkinson | Tory |
| 1796 | | Robert Dundas | Tory | | Hon. Robert Jenkinson | Tory |
| 1801 | | The Lord de Blaquiere | Tory | | Hon. Robert Jenkinson | Tory |
| 1802 | | Thomas Davis Lamb | Tory | | Hon. Robert Jenkinson | Tory |
| 1803 by-election | | Thomas Davis Lamb | Tory | | Sir Charles Talbot | Tory |
| April 1806 by-election | | Major General the Hon. Sir Arthur Wellesley | Tory | | Sir Charles Talbot | Tory |
| November 1806 | | Patrick Craufurd Bruce | Whig | | Michael Angelo Taylor | Whig |
| May 1807 | | Sir John Nicholl | Tory | | The Earl of Clancarty | Tory |
| July 1807 by-election | | Sir William Elford | Tory | | Stephen Rumbold Lushington | Tory |
| 1808 by-election | | William Jacob | Tory | | Stephen Rumbold Lushington | Tory |
| October 1812 | | Thomas Phillipps Lamb | Tory | | Sir Henry Sullivan also elected at Lincoln | Tory |
| December 1812 by-election | | Thomas Phillipps Lamb | Tory | | Charles Wetherell | Tory |
| 1813 by-election | | Thomas Phillipps Lamb | Tory | | Richard Arkwright | Tory |
| 1816 by-election | | John Maberly | Whig | | Richard Arkwright | Tory |
| 1818 | | Charles Arbuthnot | Tory | | Peter Browne | Tory |
| February 1819 by-election | | Thomas Phillipps Lamb | Tory | | Peter Browne | Tory |
| July 1819 | | John Dodson | Tory | | Peter Browne | Tory |
| 1823 by-election | | Robert Knight | Whig | | Peter Browne | Tory |
| 1826 | | Richard Arkwright | Tory | | Henry Bonham | Tory |
| March 1830 by-election | | Richard Arkwright | Tory | | Philip Pusey | Tory |
| May 1830 | | Richard Arkwright | Tory | | De Lacy Evans | Radical |
| August 1830 | | Hugh Duncan Baillie | Whig | | Francis Robert Bonham | Tory |
| 1831 | | Thomas Pemberton | Tory | | De Lacy Evans | Radical |
| 1832 | 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 1832–1950

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1832 | Edward Barrett Curteis | Whig |
| 1837 | Thomas Gybbon Monypenny | Conservative |
| 1841 | Herbert Barrett Curteis | Whig |
| 1847 by-election | Herbert Mascall Curteis | Whig |
| 1852 | William Alexander Mackinnon (younger) | Whig |
| 1853 by-election | William Alexander Mackinnon (elder) | Peelite |
| 1859 | William Alexander Mackinnon (elder) | Liberal |
| 1865 | Lauchlan Bellingham Mackinnon | Liberal |
| 1868 | John Gathorne-Hardy | Conservative |
| 1880 | Frederick Inderwick | Liberal |
| 1885 | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | Conservative |
| 1903 by-election | Charles Frederick Hutchinson | Liberal |
| 1906 | George Courthope | Conservative |
| 1945 | William Cuthbert | Conservative |
| 1950 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

### MPs 1955–1983

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1955 | Godman Irvine | Conservative |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

Bonham resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 1 March 1830: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | Philip Pusey | 10 | 83.3 |
| | Radical | George de Lacy Evans | 2 | 16.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 66.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12 | c. 60.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 20 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | N/A |
* 15 votes for De Lacy Evans were rejected but, after petition, he was declared elected on 17 May 1830 and Pusey's election was declared void.
General election 1830: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Hugh Duncan Baillie | 12 | 33.3 | |
| | Tory | Francis Robert Bonham | 12 | 33.3 | |
| | Radical | George de Lacy Evans | 6 | 16.7 | |
| | Whig | Benjamin Smith | 6 | 16.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18 | c. 90.0 | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 20 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 0 | 0.0 | N/A |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 | 16.6 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | | |
* 200 inhabitants voted for Evans and Smith, but these were rejected
General election 1831: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | George de Lacy Evans | 7 | 41.2 | +24.5 |
| | Tory | Thomas Pemberton | 5 | 29.4 | +12.8 |
| | Tory | Philip Pusey | 3 | 17.6 | +1.0 |
| | Whig | Benjamin Smith | 2 | 11.8 | −21.5 |
| | Whig | Alexander Donovan | 0 | 0.0 | −16.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10 | c. 50.0 | c. −40.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 20 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 29.4 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | +21.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2 | 11.8 | −4.8 |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | +16.0 | |
* A riot broke out during the poll and it was then agreed that Pusey withdrew from the contest on the condition that De Lacy Evan's party would protect the peace of the town. Just three electors polled on the second day.
General election 1832: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Barrett Curteis | 162 | 55.9 | +44.1 |
| | Radical | George de Lacy Evans | 128 | 44.1 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 11.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 290 | 68.7 | c. +18.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 422 | | |
| | Whig gain from Radical | Whig gain from Radical | Swing | +20.6 | |
General election 1835: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Barrett Curteis | 211 | 67.6 | +11.7 |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gybbon Monypenny | 101 | 32.4 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110 | 35.2 | +23.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 312 | 66.2 | −2.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 471 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +11.7 | |
General election 1837: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gybbon Monypenny | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 523 | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Herbert Barrett Curteis | 262 | 70.8 | New |
| | Conservative | Charles Frewen | 108 | 29.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 154 | 41.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 370 | 64.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 572 | | |
| | Whig gain from Conservative | Whig gain from Conservative | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1847: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Herbert Barrett Curteis | 239 | 67.9 | −2.9 |
| | Conservative | Benjamin Bacon Williams | 113 | 32.1 | +2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 126 | 35.8 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 352 | 61.3 | −3.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 574 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −2.9 | |
Curteis' death caused a by-election.
By-election, 23 December 1847: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Herbert Mascall Curteis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Curteis' election was declared void on petition on 27 March 1848, due to insufficient notice being given of the election, causing a by-election.
By-election, 6 April 1848: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Herbert Mascall Curteis | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Alexander Mackinnon (younger) | 240 | 53.6 | −14.3 |
| | Conservative | Richard Curteis Pomfret | 208 | 46.4 | +14.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 7.2 | −28.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 448 | 79.7 | +18.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 562 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | −14.3 | |
Mackinnon was unseated when his election was declared void on petition due to bribery and treating, causing a by-election. £220 was left behind a sofa cushion at the Red Lion to pay for a dinner.
By-election, 23 May 1853: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | William Alexander Mackinnon (elder) | 216 | 54.0 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | Richard Curteis Pomfret | 184 | 46.0 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 32 | 8.0 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 400 | 78.7 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 508 | | |
| | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Swing | +0.4 | |
General election 1857: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | William Alexander Mackinnon (elder) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 462 | | |
| | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig |
General election 1859: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Alexander Mackinnon (elder) | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 470 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Lauchlan Bellingham Mackinnon | 180 | 51.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Macdonald Macdonald | 172 | 48.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 2.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 352 | 94.4 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 373 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1868: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hardy | 513 | 50.7 | +1.8 |
| | Liberal | William Jones-Loyd | 499 | 49.3 | −1.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14 | 1.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,012 | 83.8 | −10.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,208 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.8 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Hardy | 597 | 52.6 | +1.9 |
| | Liberal | Albert Fytche | 539 | 47.4 | −1.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 58 | 5.2 | +3.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,136 | 88.3 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,287 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.9 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Frederick Inderwick | 626 | 50.3 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative | John Gathorne-Hardy | 618 | 49.7 | −2.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 | 0.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,244 | 89.6 | +1.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,389 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.9 | |
General election 1885: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | 4,526 | 51.3 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | Frederick Inderwick | 4,303 | 48.7 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 223 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,829 | 85.7 | −3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,304 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +1.6 | |
General election 1886: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | 4,592 | 59.7 | +8.4 |
| | Liberal | George Julius de Reuter | 3,094 | 40.3 | −8.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,498 | 19.4 | +16.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,686 | 74.6 | −11.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,304 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +8.4 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | 4,699 | 54.1 | −5.6 |
| | Lib-Lab | George M. Ball | 3,988 | 45.9 | +5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 711 | 8.2 | −11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,687 | 77.8 | +3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,159 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -5.6 | |
General election 1895: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Arthur Montagu Brookfield | 5,376 | 65.1 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Frederick Hutchinson | 2,887 | 34.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,489 | 30.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,263 | 69.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,856 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
1903 Rye by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Charles Frederick Hutchinson | 4,910 | 52.9 | +18.0 |
| | Conservative | Edward Boyle | 4,376 | 47.1 | −18.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 534 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,286 | 74.0 | +4.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,543 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +18.0 | |
General election 1906: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Courthope | 6,122 | 55.2 | −9.9 |
| | Liberal | Charles Frederick Hutchinson | 4,964 | 44.8 | +9.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,158 | 10.4 | −19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,086 | 86.3 | +16.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,842 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −9.9 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Courthope | 7,352 | 60.8 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal | St John Hutchinson | 4,750 | 39.2 | −5.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,602 | 21.6 | +11.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,102 | 88.0 | +1.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6 | |
General election December 1910: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Courthope | 6,673 | 59.9 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal | St John Hutchinson | 4,461 | 40.1 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,212 | 19.8 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,134 | 81.0 | −7.0 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1918: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | George Courthope | 10,378 | 72.0 | +12.1 |
| | Liberal | George Ellis | 4,034 | 28.0 | −12.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,344 | 44.0 | +23.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,412 | 53.1 | −27.9 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Courthope | 10,922 | 59.3 | −12.7 |
| | Liberal | George Ellis | 7,488 | 40.7 | +12.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,434 | 18.6 | −25.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,480 | 62.4 | +11.3 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -12.7 | |
General election 1923: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Courthope | 11,167 | 53.6 | −5.7 |
| | Liberal | George Ellis | 9,651 | 46.4 | +5.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,516 | 7.2 | −11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,818 | 69.4 | +7.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -5.7 | |
General election 1924: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Courthope | 14,871 | 67.1 | +13.5 |
| | Liberal | George Ellis | 7,289 | 32.9 | −13.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,582 | 34.2 | +27.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,160 | 71.2 | +1.8 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
General election 1929: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | George Courthope | 18,061 | 56.9 | −10.2 |
| | Liberal | William Stanley Osborn | 10,198 | 32.1 | −0.8 |
| | Labour | George A. Greenwood | 3,505 | 11.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,863 | 24.8 | −9.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,764 | 72.2 | +1.0 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -4.7 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Courthope | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1935: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Courthope | 22,604 | 71.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Dorothy Frances Osborn | 9,162 | 28.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,442 | 42.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,766 | 64.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |

### 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: George Courthope
* Independent Progressive: John Langdon-Davies
General election 1945: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | William Cuthbert | 19,701 | 58.6 | −12.6 |
| | Labour | B Simmons | 7,414 | 22.0 | New |
| | Liberal | Ronald Ogden | 6,530 | 19.4 | −9.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,287 | 36.6 | −5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,645 | 70.8 | +6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1955: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 28,500 | 72.96 |
| | Labour | Trevor L Payne | 10,560 | 27.04 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,940 | 45.92 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,060 | 73.39 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1959: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 27,465 | 64.8 | −8.2 |
| | Liberal | John R Murray | 7,549 | 17.8 | New |
| | Labour | Douglas Sidney Tilbé | 7,359 | 17.4 | −9.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19,916 | 47.0 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,373 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 27,240 | 59.8 | −5.0 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Grenville Wellings | 10,264 | 22.6 | +4.8 |
| | Labour | Anthony Edmund Arblaster | 8,014 | 17.6 | +0.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,976 | 37.2 | −9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,518 | 77.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -4.9 | |
General election 1966: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 27,056 | 58.6 | −1.2 |
| | Liberal | Kenneth Grenville Wellings | 9,957 | 21.6 | −1.0 |
| | Labour | David R Collins | 9,155 | 19.8 | +2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 17,099 | 37.0 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,168 | 75.7 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -0.1 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 32,300 | 64.2 | +5.6 |
| | Labour | Henry Arthur Fountain | 9,031 | 18.0 | −1.8 |
| | Liberal | Robin Kenneth John Frederick Young | 8,947 | 17.8 | −3.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,269 | 46.2 | +9.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 50,278 | 73.0 | −2.7 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.6 | |
General election February 1974: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 33.591 | 57.9 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal | Douglas Roland S Moore | 17,456 | 30.1 | +12.3 |
| | Labour | Robert W Harris | 6,967 | 12.0 | −6.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16,135 | 27.8 | −18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,014 | 80.8 | +7.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election October 1974: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 30,511 | 56.9 | −1.0 |
| | Liberal | Douglas Roland S Moore | 14,828 | 27.6 | −2.5 |
| | Labour | David W Threlfall | 8,303 | 15.5 | +3.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,683 | 29.3 | +1.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,642 | 74.2 | −6.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.7 | |
General election 1979: Rye :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Godman Irvine | 35,516 | 62.7 | +5.8 |
| | Liberal | Douglas Roland S Moore | 12,438 | 22.0 | −5.6 |
| | Labour | Derek Smyth | 6,852 | 12.1 | −3.4 |
| | Ecology | Anne Rix | 1,267 | 2.2 | New |
| | National Front | T. Duesbury | 552 | 1.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 23,078 | 40.7 | +11.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,625 | 77.1 | +2.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +5.9 | |