# Tavistock (UK Parliament constituency)

Tavistock was a parliamentary constituency in Devon between 1330 and 1974. Until 1885 it was a parliamentary borough, consisting solely of the town of Tavistock; it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, when its representation was reduced to one member. From 1885, the name was transferred to a single-member county constituency covering a much larger area. (Between 1885 and 1918, the constituency had the alternative name of West Devon.)
The constituency was abolished for the February 1974 general election, when it was largely replaced by the new West Devon constituency.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Devonport and Plymouth, and the Sessional Divisions of Hatherleigh, Holsworthy, Lifton, Midland Roborough, and Tavistock.
1918–1950: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy, Ivybridge, and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Plympton St Mary, and Tavistock, and part of the Rural District of Holsworthy.
1950–1951: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Holsworthy, and Tavistock, and the Rural District of Plympton St Mary except the parishes of Bickleigh and Tamerton Foliot.
1951–1974: The Urban Districts of Holsworthy and Tavistock, the Rural Districts of Broadwoodwidger, Holsworthy, and Tavistock, and the Rural District of Plympton St Mary less the parts of the parishes of Bickleigh and Tamerton Foliot added to the county borough of Plymouth by the Plymouth Extension Act 1950.
In 1965 Tavistock was one of the largest seats in England, in terms of land area. It included the towns of Plympton and Plymstock (effectively eastern suburbs of Plymouth). It also included a great deal of rural land, including two-thirds of Dartmoor.

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

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1335 | Richard Crocker |
| Oct. 1377 | Thomas Raymond |
| 1381 | Peter Hadley |
| 1384 | | Thomas Raymond |
| 1386 | John Wyndout | John Tryll |
| 1388 (Feb) | Ranulph Hunt | John atte Pole |
| 1388 (Sep) | John Ford | William Walreddon |
| 1390 (Jan) | Walter Milemead | John Bithewater |
| 1390 (Nov) | |
| 1391 | Ranulph Hunt | John Whitham |
| 1393 | Ranulph Hunt | Matthew Row |
| 1394 | Ranulph Hunt | John Crocker |
| 1395 | Ranulph Hunt | Walter Dimmock |
| 1397 (Jan) | William Whitham | John Plenty |
| 1397 (Sep) | |
| 1399 | |
| 1401 | |
| 1402 | Ranulph Hunt | John Kene |
| 1404 (Jan) | |
| 1404 (Oct) | |
| 1406 | John Plenty | Roger Baker |
| 1407 | John Godfrey | William Brit |
| 1410 | |
| 1411 | John Lopynford | Richard Secheville |
| 1413 (Feb) | |
| 1413 (May) | William May | John Julkin |
| 1414 (Apr) | |
| 1414 (Nov) | William May | John Julkin |
| 1415 | |
| 1416 (Mar) | |
| 1416 (Oct) | |
| 1417 | |
| 1419 | Richard Secheville | ? |
| 1420 | Richard Secheville | William Bentley |
| 1421 (May) | John Fortescue | William May |
| 1421 (Dec) | John Fortescue | Nicholas Fitzherbert |
| 1467–1468 | Richard Edgcumbe |
| 1472 | John Say |
| 1485 | Richard Edgcumbe |
| 1510-1512 | No names known |
| 1515 | Richard Lybbe | John Amadas |
| 1523 | ? |
| 1529 | William Honychurch | John Dynham |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | ? |
| 1542 | ? |
| 1545 | Sir Peter Carew | Richard Fortescue |
| 1547 | Sir Edward Rogers | John Gale |
| 1553 (Mar) | Edward Underhill | Anthony Lyte |
| 1553 (Nov) | Richard Wilbraham | Thomas Smyth |
| Parliament of 1554 | Richard Mayo | John Fitz, junior |
| Parliament of 1554-1555 | John Onebyche | John Fitz, junior |
| Parliament of 1555 | Richard Mayo | Thomas Southcote |
| Parliament of 1558 | Thomas Browne | George Southcote |
| Parliament of 1559 | Unknown: the return has been lost | Unknown: the return has been lost |
| Parliament of 1563-1567 | Sir Nicholas Throckmorton | Richard Cooke |
| Parliament of 1571 | Nathaniel Bacon | Robert Ferrers died after 1572 In his place Charles Morison |
| Parliament of 1572-1581 | Nathaniel Bacon | Robert Ferrers died after 1572 In his place Charles Morison |
| Parliament of 1584-1585 | Edward Bacon | Valentine Knightley |
| Parliament of 1586-1587 | John Glanville | Valentine Knightley |
| Parliament of 1588-1589 | Michael Heneage | Anthony Ashley |
| Parliament of 1593 | Hugh Vaughan | Richard Codrington |
| Parliament of 1597-1598 | Edward Montagu | Valentine Knightley |
| Parliament of 1601 | Henry Grey | Walter Wentworth |
| Parliament of 1604-1611 | Sir George Fleetwood | Edward Duncombe |
| Addled Parliament (1614) | (Sir) Francis Glanville | Edward Duncombe |
| Parliament of 1621-1622 | (Sir) Francis Glanville | Sir Baptist Hicks, Bt |
| Happy Parliament (1624–1625) | Sampson Hele | John Pym |
| Useless Parliament (1625) | Sir Francis Glanville | John Pym |
| Parliament of 1625-1626 | Sir John Ratcliffe | John Pym |
| Parliament of 1628-1629 | Sir Francis Glanville | John Pym |
| No Parliament summoned 1629-1640 |||

### MPs 1640–1868

| Year | First member | First member | First party | Second member | Second member | Second party |
| April 1640 | | Lord Russell | Royalist | | John Pym | Parliamentarian |
| November 1640 | | Lord Russell | Royalist | | John Pym | Parliamentarian |
| 1641 | | Hon. John Russell | Royalist | | John Pym | Parliamentarian |
| December 1643 | | Hon. John Russell | Royalist | Pym died - seat vacant | Pym died - seat vacant | Pym died - seat vacant |
| January 1644 | Russell disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Russell disabled from sitting - seat vacant | Russell disabled from sitting - seat vacant | | | Pym died - seat vacant | Pym died - seat vacant | Pym died - seat vacant |
| 1646 | | Elisha Crimes | | | Edward Fowell | |
| December 1648 | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant | Crimes and Fowell excluded in Pride's Purge - both seats vacant |
| 1653 | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate | Tavistock was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the Protectorate |
| January 1659 | | Henry Hatsell | | | Edmund Fowell | |
| 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 | | William Russell | Whig | | George Howard | |
| April 1661 | | Sir John Davie, 2nd Baronet | | | George Howard | |
| December 1661 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | George Howard | |
| 1673 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | Sir Francis Drake, 3rd Baronet | |
| 1679 | | Edward Russell | Whig | | Sir Francis Drake, 3rd Baronet | |
| 1685 | | Sir James Butler | | | John Beare | |
| 1689 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Sir Francis Drake, Bt | |
| 1695 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Lord James Russell | |
| March 1696 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Ambrose Manaton | |
| November 1696 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Sir Francis Drake, Bt | |
| 1701 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Lord Edward Russell | Whig |
| 1702 | | Lord Robert Russell | | | Lord James Russell | |
| November 1703 | | James Bulteel | | | Lord James Russell | |
| December 1703 | | James Bulteel | | | Henry Manaton | |
| 1708 | | Sir John Cope, Bt | Whig | | Henry Manaton | |
| 1711 | | Sir John Cope, Bt | Whig | | James Bulteel | |
| 1715 | | Sir John Cope, Bt | Whig | | Sir Francis Henry Drake, Bt | |
| 1728 | | Sir Humphrey Monoux, Bt | Tory | | Sir Francis Henry Drake, Bt | |
| 1734 | | Hon. Charles Fane | Whig | | Sidney Meadows | |
| 1741 | | Hon. Charles Fane | Whig | | Lord Sherard Manners | |
| 1742 | | Hon. Charles Fane | Whig | | The Viscount of Limerick | |
| July 1747 | | Richard Leveson-Gower | | | Thomas Brand | |
| December 1747 | | Sir Richard Wrottesley, Bt | | | Thomas Brand | |
| April 1754 | | Richard Rigby | Whig | | Jeffrey French | |
| December 1754 | | Richard Rigby | Whig | | Richard Vernon | |
| 1761 | | Richard Rigby | Whig | | Richard Neville Aldworth | |
| 1774 | | Richard Rigby | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| 1788 | | Lord John Russell | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| June 1790 | | Hon. Charles Wyndham | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| December 1790 | | Lord John Russell | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| 1802 | | Lord Robert Spencer | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| May 1807 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Hon. Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| July 1807 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Viscount Howick | Whig |
| 1808 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | George Ponsonby | Whig |
| 1812 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Richard FitzPatrick | Whig |
| 1813 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Lord John Russell | Whig |
| 1817 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Lord Robert Spencer | Whig |
| 1818 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Lord John Russell | Whig |
| 1819 | | John Peter Grant | Whig | | Lord John Russell | Whig |
| March 1820 | | John Peter Grant | Whig | | John Nicholas Fazakerly | Whig |
| May 1820 | | John Peter Grant | Whig | | Viscount Ebrington | Whig |
| 1826 | | Lord William Russell | Whig | | Viscount Ebrington | Whig |
| August 1830 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | Viscount Ebrington | Whig |
| November 1830 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | Lord John Russell | Whig |
| July 1831 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | John Heywood Hawkins | Whig |
| October 1831 | | Lieutenant Colonel Francis Russell | Whig | | John Heywood Hawkins | Whig |
| 1832 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | Charles Richard Fox | Whig |
| 1835 | | Lord Russell | Whig | | John Rundle | Whig |
| 1841 | | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | | John Rundle | Whig |
| 1843 | | Lord Edward Russell | Whig | | John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical |
| 1847 | | Hon. Edward Russell | Whig | | John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical |
| April 1852 | | Hon. Edward Russell | Whig | | Samuel Carter | Radical |
| July 1852 | | Hon. George Byng | Whig | | Samuel Carter | Radical |
| 1853 | | Hon. George Byng | Whig | | Robert Phillimore | Peelite |
| March 1857 | | Hon. George Byng | Whig | | Sir John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical |
| September 1857 | | Arthur Russell | Whig | | Sir John Salusbury Trelawny | Radical |
| 1859 | | Arthur Russell | Liberal | | Sir John Salusbury Trelawny | Liberal |
| 1865 | | Arthur Russell | Liberal | | Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda | Liberal |
| 1868 | 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 1868–1974

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1868 | Arthur Russell | Liberal |
| | 1885 | Viscount Ebrington | Liberal |
| | 1886 | Viscount Ebrington | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1892 | Hugh Luttrell | Liberal |
| | 1900 | John Spear | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1906 | Hugh Luttrell | Liberal |
| | Dec. 1910 | Sir John Spear | Liberal Unionist |
| | 1918 | Charles Williams | Conservative |
| | 1922 | Maxwell Ruthven Thornton | Liberal |
| | 1924 | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | Unionist |
| | 1928 by-election | Wallace Duffield Wright | Conservative |
| | 1931 | Colin Patrick | Conservative |
| | 1942 by-election | Sir Henry Studholme, Bt | Conservative |
| | 1966 | Michael Heseltine | Conservative |
| Feb 1974 | Feb 1974 | constituency abolished: see West Devon | constituency abolished: see West Devon |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Hugh Fortescue | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 30 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Fortescue chose to sit for Devon where he had also been elected, causing a by-election.
By-election, 27 November 1830: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 30 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 30 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
John Russell was also elected for Devon and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.
By-election, 13 July 1831: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | John Heywood Hawkins | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 30 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
William Russell resigned, causing a by-election.
By-election, 25 October 1831: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | Francis Russell (British Army officer) | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 30 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Russell | 159 | 45.2 |
| | Whig | Charles Richard Fox | 129 | 36.6 |
| | Whig | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet | 64 | 18.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 18.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 193 | 78.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 247 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | William Russell | 167 | 52.7 | +7.5 |
| | Whig | John Rundle | 145 | 45.7 | +9.1 |
| | Whig | Sir Francis Charles Knowles, 3rd Baronet | 5 | 1.6 | −16.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 140 | 44.1 | +25.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 178 | 61.6 | −16.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 289 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1837: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | William Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Rundle | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 329 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Rundle | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Edward Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 275 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Rundle resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
By-election, 16 March 1843: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 113 | 62.1 | N/A |
| | Chartist | Henry Vincent | 69 | 37.9 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 24.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 182 | 68.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 264 | | |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1847: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Edward Russell | 153 | 34.4 | N/A |
| | Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 150 | 33.7 | N/A |
| | Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 86 | 19.3 | New |
| | Radical | Samuel Carter | 56 | 12.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 223 (est) | 70.6 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 315 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3 | 0.7 | N/A |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 64 | 14.4 | N/A |
| | Radical gain from Whig | Radical gain from Whig | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1850s

Trelawny resigned to seek re-election after voting against the disestablishment of the Church of England when he had promised his constituents he would vote for it.
By-election, 28 April 1852: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Radical | Samuel Carter | 115 | 40.5 | +27.9 |
| | Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 89 | 31.3 | −2.4 |
| | Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 80 | 28.2 | +8.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 26 | 9.2 | −5.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 284 | 81.4 | +10.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 349 | | |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | +15.2 | |
General election 1852: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Byng | 220 | 44.6 | +10.2 |
| | Radical | Samuel Carter | 169 | 34.3 | −12.0 |
| | Peelite | Robert Phillimore | 104 | 21.1 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 247 (est) | 70.6 (est) | — |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 349 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 | 10.3 | +9.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +8.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 13.2 | −1.2 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −8.6 | |
On petition, Carter was unseated in 1853 and Phillimore was declared elected in his place.
General election 1857: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | George Byng | 242 | 42.5 | −2.1 |
| | Radical | John Salusbury-Trelawny | 198 | 34.7 | N/A |
| | Radical | Samuel Carter | 130 | 22.8 | −11.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 285 (est) | 72.2 (est) | +1.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 395 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 7.7 | −2.6 |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +4.7 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 | 11.9 | −1.3 |
| | Radical hold | Radical hold | Swing | −4.7 | |
Byng resigned in order to contest a by-election in Middlesex, causing a by-election.
By-election, 4 September 1857: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Arthur Russell | 164 | 57.7 | +15.2 |
| | Radical | Edward Miall | 120 | 42.3 | −15.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 15.4 | +7.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 284 | 71.9 | −0.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 395 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | +15.2 | |
General election 1859: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | John Salusbury-Trelawny | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 414 | | |
| | 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: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Russell | 330 | 45.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Joseph d'Aguilar Samuda | 179 | 24.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Samuel Carter | 119 | 16.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Francis Rummens | 93 | 12.8 | New |
| | Liberal | Theophilus Alexander Blakely | 8 | 1.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 60 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 411 (est) | 96.5 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 426 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
Seat reduced to one member
General election 1868: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Arthur Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 802 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Lord Arthur Russell | 362 | 57.0 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Russell Hugh Worthington Biggs | 273 | 43.0 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 89 | 14.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 635 | 78.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 805 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Lord Arthur Russell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 847 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
General election 1885: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Viscount Ebrington | 5,390 | 63.0 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Henry Imbert-Terry | 3,172 | 37.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,218 | 26.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,562 | 78.9 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,851 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
General election 1886: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | Viscount Ebrington | 3,917 | 59.0 | +22.0 |
| | Liberal | John Budd Phear | 2,722 | 41.0 | −22.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,195 | 18.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,639 | 61.2 | −17.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 10,851 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +22.0 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 4,458 | 51.2 | +10.2 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Robert Thomas White-Thomson | 4,241 | 48.8 | −10.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 217 | 2.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,699 | 74.2 | +13.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 11,720 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +10.2 | |
General election 1895: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 4,970 | 51.9 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal Unionist | Robert Thomas White-Thomson | 4,597 | 48.1 | −0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 373 | 3.8 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,567 | 78.7 | +4.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,154 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 4,746 | 50.1 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | John Fellowes Wallop, 7th Earl of Portsmouth | 4,731 | 49.9 | −2.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 | 0.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,477 | 77.7 | −1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,202 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election 1906: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,405 | 55.2 | +5.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 5,196 | 44.8 | −5.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,209 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,601 | 82.9 | +5.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 13,989 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +5.3 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,570 | 50.9 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 6,343 | 49.1 | +4.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 227 | 1.8 | −8.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,913 | 83.9 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,395 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −4.3 | |
General election December 1910: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | John Spear | 6,409 | 51.6 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal | Hugh Luttrell | 6,019 | 48.4 | −2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 390 | 3.2 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,428 | 80.7 | −3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,395 | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.5 | |
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: John Spear
* Liberal: Oliver Brett
General election 1918: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Charles Williams | 9,157 | 56.7 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal | Harry Geen | 7,005 | 43.3 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,152 | 13.4 | +10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,162 | 62.2 | −18.5 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +5.1 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 11,708 | 54.5 | +11.2 |
| | Unionist | Charles Williams | 9,757 | 45.5 | −11.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,951 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,465 | 77.6 | +14.4 |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | | |
General election 1923: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 11,883 | 54.1 | −0.4 |
| | Unionist | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | 10,072 | 45.9 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,811 | 8.2 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,955 | 77.7 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -0.4 | |
1924 general election: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Philip Kenyon-Slaney | 12,058 | 52.8 | +6.9 |
| | Liberal | Maxwell Thornton | 10,786 | 47.2 | −6.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,272 | 5.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,844 | 77.7 | 0.0 |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | | |
1928 Tavistock by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Wallace Wright | 10,745 | 45.2 | −7.6 |
| | Liberal | Reginald Fletcher | 10,572 | 44.5 | −2.7 |
| | Labour | Richard Davies | 2,449 | 10.3 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 173 | 0.7 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,317 | 77.3 | −4.4 |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | -2.5 | |
1929 general election: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Wallace Wright | 14,192 | 44.7 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | Hilda Runciman | 14,040 | 44.1 | −0.4 |
| | Labour | Richard Davies | 3,574 | 11.2 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 152 | 0.6 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,716 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Patrick | 17,310 | 52.4 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal | John Adam Day | 13,592 | 41.2 | −2.9 |
| | Labour | Richard Davies | 2,124 | 6.4 | −4.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,718 | 11.2 | +10.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,026 | 83.3 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1935: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colin Patrick | 17,475 | 52.8 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | John Adam Day | 13,422 | 40.5 | −0.7 |
| | Labour | Charles Henry Townsend | 2,236 | 6.7 | +0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,053 | 12.3 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,133 | 77.9 | −3.4 |
| | 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: Colin Patrick
* Liberal: Frank Milton
* Labour: J Finnigan
1942 Tavistock by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1945 general election: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,730 | 46.9 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | Isaac Foot | 13,764 | 32.8 | −7.7 |
| | Labour | James Finnigan | 8,539 | 20.3 | +13.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,966 | 14.1 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,033 | 75.8 | −2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 18,682 | 50.3 | +3.4 |
| | Labour | Frank W Harcourt-Munning | 10,189 | 27.4 | +7.1 |
| | Liberal | JD Wyatt | 8,281 | 22.3 | +10.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,493 | 22.9 | +8.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,152 | 84.7 | +8.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1951: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 22,683 | 63.87 | |
| | Labour | Frank W Harcourt-Munning | 12,833 | 36.13 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,850 | 27.8 | +4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,516 | 78.8 | −5.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1955: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 18,991 | 54.8 | −9.1 |
| | Labour | Harold Lawrance | 8,755 | 25.2 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal | Richard Moore | 6,937 | 20.0 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,236 | 29.6 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,683 | 76.9 | −1.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1959: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,778 | 53.7 | −1.1 |
| | Liberal | Richard Moore | 9,008 | 24.5 | +4.5 |
| | Labour | Bryan R Weston | 8,022 | 21.8 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 10,770 | 29.2 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,808 | 78.5 | +1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Henry Studholme | 19,493 | 47.8 | −5.9 |
| | Liberal | Grenville Jones | 14,093 | 34.5 | +10.0 |
| | Labour | John A Elswood | 7,226 | 17.7 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,400 | 13.2 | −16.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,812 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1966: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Heseltine | 21,644 | 49.2 | +1.4 |
| | Liberal | Christopher Trethewey | 13,461 | 30.6 | −3.9 |
| | Labour | Peggy Middleton | 8,902 | 20.2 | +2.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,183 | 18.6 | +5.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,007 | 81.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: Tavistock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Michael Heseltine | 25,846 | 57.1 | +7.9 |
| | Liberal | Michael E B Banks | 10,397 | 23.0 | −7.6 |
| | Labour | Harold M Luscombe | 8,982 | 19.9 | −0.3 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15,449 | 34.1 | +15.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,225 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |