# (Much) Wenlock (UK Parliament constituency)

Much Wenlock, often called simply Wenlock, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and finally of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885, when it was abolished. It was named after the town of that name in Shropshire.
The seat was founded in 1468 as a borough constituency and was represented throughout its history by two burgesses.

## Boundaries

Much Wenlock's constituency boundaries ran from Leighton to just west of Dawley, to Ironbridge, and finally to just east of Madeley along the northern border; travelling eastwards, the boundaries ran from just east of Madeley to the bend in the River Severn, following the river thereafter. The far southern border, commencing in the east, travelled along the southern part of the Severn across to Easthope; the western border, running northwards, going from Easthope through to Benthall, and onwards back to Leighton.

## Members of Parliament

* Constituency created (1468)
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
| 1529 | John Foster | Edward Hall |
| 1536 | ? |
| 1539 | ? |
| 1542 | William Blount | Reginald Corbet |
| 1545 | Richard Cornwall | Richard Lawley |
| 1547 | Richard Lawley | Thomas Lawley |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Herbert | Thomas Lawley |
| 1553 (Oct) | Richard Lee | Robert Eyton |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Foster | Edward Lacon |
| 1554 (Nov) | Sir George Blount | John Evans |
| 1555 | Sir George Blount | Thomas Ridley |
| 1558 | Sir George Blount | George Bromley |
| 1558–9 | Roland Lacon | George Bromley |
| 1562–3 | Sir George Blount | Charles Foxe |
| 1571 | William Lacon | Thomas Eyton |
| 1572 | Sir George Blount | Thomas Lawley |
| 1584 | Thomas Lawley | William Baynham |
| 1586 | Thomas Lawley | William Baynham |
| 1588 | William Baynham | Robert Lawley |
| 1593 | William Baynham | Sir John Poole |
| 1597 | William Baynham, died and replaced by Thomas Fanshawe | William Lacon |
| 1601 | John Brett | William Leighton |
| 1604 | Robert Lawley | George Lawley |
| 1614 | Rowland Lacon | Edward Lawley |
| 1621 | Sir Edward Lawley | Thomas Wolryche |
| 1624 | Henry Mytton | Thomas Wolryche |
| 1625 | Thomas Lawley | Thomas Wolryche |
| 1626 | Thomas Lawley | Francis Smallman |
| 1628 | Thomas Lawley | George Bridgmant |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| 1640 (Apr) | Sir Thomas Littleton | | Richard Cresset | |
| 1640 (Nov) | William Pierrepont | | Sir Thomas Littleton | |
| 1645 | William Pierrepont | | Humphrey Bridges | |
| 1653, 1654, 1656 | Much Wenlock excluded from Barebones and 1st & 2nd Protectorate Parliaments | Much Wenlock excluded from Barebones and 1st & 2nd Protectorate Parliaments | Much Wenlock excluded from Barebones and 1st & 2nd Protectorate Parliaments | |
| 1659 | Thomas Whitmore | | Sir Francis Lawley | |
| 1660 | Sir Francis Lawley | | Thomas Whitmore | |
| 1661 | Sir Thomas Littleton, Bt | | George Weld | |
| Feb 1679 | Sir John Weld | | William Forester | |
| Aug 1679 | John Wolryche | | William Forester | |
| 1685 | Thomas Lawley | | George Weld | |
| 1689 | Sir William Forester | | George Weld | |
| 1701 | Sir William Forester | | George Weld | |
| 1708 | Sir William Forester | | Thomas Weld | |
| 1710 | Sir William Forester | | George Weld | |
| 1713 | Sir William Forester | | William Whitmore | |
| 1714 | Sir William Forester | | Richard Newport | |
| 1715 | Thomas Newport | | William Forester II | |
| 1716 | Sir Humphrey Briggs | | William Forester II | |
| 1722 | Sir Humphrey Briggs | | Samuel Edwards | |
| 1727 | John Sambrooke | | Samuel Edwards | |
| 1734 | William Forester II | | Samuel Edwards | |
| 1739 | William Forester II | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1741 | Sir Brian Broughton-Delves, Bt | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1744 | Isaac Hawkins Browne | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1754 | William Forester II | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1758 | George Forester | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1761 | Cecil Forester | | Brooke Forester | |
| 1768 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | George Forester | Tory |
| Sept. 1780 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | Thomas Whitmore | Tory |
| Dec. 1780 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | George Forester | Tory |
| 1784 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | John Bridgeman (later Simpson) | Tory |
| 1785 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | George Forester | Tory |
| 1790 | Sir Henry Bridgeman | Tory | Cecil Forester (from 1811 Weld-Forester) | Tory |
| 1794 | John Simpson | Tory | Cecil Forester (from 1811 Weld-Forester) | Tory |
| 1820 | Francis Forester | Tory | William Lacon Childe | Tory |
| 1826 | John Weld-Forester | Tory | Paul Thompson | Whig |
| 1828 | George Weld-Forester | Tory | Paul Thompson | Whig |
| 1832 | George Weld-Forester | Tory | James Milnes Gaskell | Tory |
| 1834 | George Weld-Forester | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Conservative |
| 1868 | George Weld-Forester | Conservative | Alexander Brown | Liberal |
| 1874 | Cecil Weld-Forester | Conservative | Alexander Brown | Liberal |
* Constituency abolished (1885)

## Election results
### Elections in the 1830s

Weld-Forester was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber to William IV, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 20 February 1830: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
General election 1830: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Paul Thompson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1831: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | Paul Thompson | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 500 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1832: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Tory | George Weld-Forester | 448 | 41.3 |
| | Tory | James Milnes Gaskell | 330 | 30.4 |
| | Radical | Matthew Bridges | 308 | 28.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 635 | 91.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 691 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig | Tory gain from Whig |
General election 1835: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | 519 | 41.1 | −0.2 |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | 422 | 33.4 | +3.0 |
| | Whig | William Somerville | 323 | 25.6 | −2.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 99 | 7.8 | +5.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 632 | c. 78.1 | c. −13.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 809 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.6 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
General election 1837: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 906 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 961 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Gaskell was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 14 September 1841: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 949 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 857 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

Weld-Forester was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 3 March 1852: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1852: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 905 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1857: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 871 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Gaskell was appointed Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 3 March 1858: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 881 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | James Milnes Gaskell | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 961 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | Alexander Brown | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,445 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Weld-Forester | 1,708 | 41.4 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Alexander Brown | 1,575 | 38.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Charles Milnes Gaskell | 846 | 20.5 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,283 (est) | 92.7 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,541 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 133 | 3.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 729 | 17.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Forester succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Forester and causing a by-election.
1874 Wenlock by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Cecil Weld-Forester | 1,720 | 55.1 | −6.8 |
| | Liberal | Beilby Lawley | 1,401 | 44.9 | +6.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 10.2 | +6.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,121 | 88.1 | −4.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,541 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | -6.8 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: Wenlock :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Brown | 2,058 | 46.5 | +8.4 |
| | Conservative | Cecil Weld-Forester | 1,358 | 30.7 | −10.7 |
| | Conservative | Ralph Augustus Benson | 1,013 | 22.9 | +2.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 700 | 15.8 | −1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,244 (est) | 93.2 (est) | +0.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,481 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +1.5 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.5 | |