# King's Lynn (UK Parliament constituency)

King's Lynn was a constituency in Norfolk which was represented continuously in the House of Commons of England from 1298 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until it was abolished for the February 1974 general election.

## History

The Parliamentary Borough of King's Lynn, which was known as Lynn or Bishop's Lynn prior to 1537, returned two Members of Parliament until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. It was abolished as a Borough under the Representation of the People Act 1918 and was reconstituted as a Division of the Parliamentary County of Norfolk (from 1950, a County Constituency), absorbing the bulk of the abolished North Western Division. It was abolished for the February 1974 general election, being replaced by the re-established constituency of North West Norfolk.
Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister, was an MP for the constituency for almost the entirety of his parliamentary career, from 1702 to 1742.

## Boundaries and boundary changes

1885–1918
* The existing parliamentary borough, and so much of the municipal borough of King's Lynn as was not already included in the parliamentary borough.
1918–1950
* The Borough of King's Lynn;
* The Urban Districts of New Hunstanton and Walsoken;
* The Rural Districts of Docking, Freebridge Lynn, King's Lynn, and Marshland (except the parishes of Outwell and Upwell); and
* The Rural District of Downham parishes of Wiggenhall St Germans, Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen, and Wiggenhall St Peter.
1950–1974
* The Municipal Borough of King's Lynn;
* The Urban District of New Hunstanton; and
* The Rural Districts of Docking, Freebridge Lynn, and Marshland.
Minor changes to the boundary with South West Norfolk to align with boundaries of local authorities, which had been rationalised. Also marginal changes to county boundaries with Isle of Ely and Parts of Holland.

## Members of Parliament
### MPs before 1640

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1328 | John de Swerdeston | Roger de Buttele |
| 1335 | William de Brinton |
| 1337 | John de Swerdeston | William de Secheford |
| 1338 | Roger de Buttele | Geoffrey Drewe |
| 1339 | Thomas de Melcheburne |
| 1375 | Robert Bathe | John Waryn |
| 1377 | John Dockyngg | Thomas ... |
| 1378 | Nicholas de Swerdeston | Hugh de Ellyngham |
| 1379 | John Brunham | Thomas de Morton |
| 1380 | Richard de Honton | Henry de Betele |
| 1381 | Thomas Drewe | Thomas de Morton |
| 1382 | John Brunham | John Waryn |
| 1385 | John de Brandon | Thomas de Morton |
| 1386 | Edmund Beleyeter | Thomas Morton |
| 1388 (Feb) | Henry Betley | Thomas Morton |
| 1388 (Sep) | Edmund Beleyeter | Thomas Drew |
| 1390 (Jan) | Robert Waterden | John Wace |
| 1390 (Nov) | John Wentworth | Thomas Waterden |
| 1391 | Robert Botkesham | John Kepe |
| 1393 | Thomas Morton | Thomas Brigge |
| 1394 | Thomas Morton | Thomas Drew |
| 1395 | Thomas Waterden | John Brandon |
| 1397 (Jan) | Thomas Drew | John Brandon |
| 1397 (Sep) | John Wentworth | Roger Rawlin |
| 1399 | Robert Botkesham | Thomas Waterden |
| 1401 | Robert Botkesham | Thomas Waterden |
| 1402 | Thomas Fawkes | Robert Brunham |
| 1404 (Jan) | Thomas Drew | John Wentworth |
| 1404 (Oct) | John Brandon | Thomas Drew |
| 1406 | Thomas Brigge | Thomas Derham |
| 1407 | William Lok | John Wesenham |
| 1410 | John Spicer | John Brown |
| 1411 | Bartholomew Sistern | Philip Frank |
| 1413 (Feb) | William Halyate | John Tilney |
| 1413 (May) | William Halyate | John Tilney |
| 1414 (Apr) | John Bilney | John Tilney |
| 1414 (Nov) | John Spicer | Andrew Swanton |
| 1415 | Thomas Brigge | John Tilney |
| 1416 (Mar) | John Spicer | Thomas Brigge |
| 1416 (Oct) | William Herford | John Warner |
| 1417 | Robert Brunham | Thomas Hunt |
| 1419 | Philip Frank | Walter Curson |
| 1420 | Thomas Brigge | Andrew Swanton |
| 1421 (May) | Bartholomew Sistern | John Parmenter |
| 1421 (Dec) | John Waterden | Robert Brandon |
| 1510 | Thomas Gibbon | Francis Monford |
| 1512 | Francis Monford | Thomas Wythe |
| 1515 | Robert Soome | Thomas Wythe |
| 1523 | Thomas Miller | Richard Bewcher |
| 1529 | Thomas Miller | Richard Bewcher replaced Oct 1535 by Robert Southwell |
| 1536 | Robert Southwell | William Coningsby |
| 1539 | Thomas Waters | Robert Southwell |
| 1542 | Thomas Waters | Thomas Miller |
| 1545 | Edmund Grey | Thomas Miller |
| 1547 | Thomas Gawdy | William Overend replaced Jan 1549 by George Amyas |
| 1553 (Mar) | Sir Richard Corbet | John Walpole |
| 1553 (Oct) | John Walpole | Thomas Waters |
| 1554 (Apr) | Thomas Waters | William Overend |
| 1554 (Nov) | Sir Thomas Moyle | Thomas Waters |
| 1555 | Sir Nicholas L'Estrange | Thomas Waters |
| 1558 | Ambrose Gilberd, died and replaced Sep 1558 by William Telverton | Thomas Waters |
| 1558/9 | Thomas Hogan | Thomas Waters |
| 1562/3 | (Sir) Robert Bell | Richard L'Estrange |
| 1571 | (Sir) Robert Bell | John Kynne |
| 1572 | (Sir) Robert Bell, died and replaced Jan 1580 by John Peyton | John Pell |
| 1584 (Mar) | John Peyton | Richard Clarke |
| 1586 (Oct) | Richard Clarke | Thomas Oxborough |
| 1588/9 | Richard Clarke | Thomas Boston |
| 1593 | Sir John Peyton | William Lewis |
| 1597 (Sep) | Thomas Oxborough | Nathaniel Bacon |
| 1601 | Sir Robert Mansell | Thomas Oxborough |
| 1604 | Thomas Oxborough | Robert Hitcham |
| 1614 | Matthew Clerke | Thomas Oxborough |
| 1621–1622 | Matthew Clerke | John Wallis |
| 1624 | John Wallis | William Doughty |
| 1625 | Thomas Gurling | John Cooke |
| 1626 | Thomas Gurling | John Cooke |
| 1628 | William Doughty | Sir John Hare |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | No Parliaments summoned |

### MPs 1640–1885

| Year | | First member | First party | | Second member | Second party |
| 1640 (Apr) | | William Doughty | | | Thomas Gurling |
| 1640 (Nov) | | John Perceval | Parliamentarian | | Thomas Toll | Parliamentarian |
| 1644 | Perceval died – seat vacant | Perceval died – seat vacant | Perceval died – seat vacant | | | | Thomas Toll | Parliamentarian |
| 1646 | | Edmund Hudson | | | Thomas Toll | Parliamentarian |
| July 1647 | Hudson expelled – seat vacant | Hudson expelled – seat vacant | Hudson expelled – seat vacant | | | | Thomas Toll | Parliamentarian |
| 1649 | | William Cecil (The Earl of Salisbury) | | | Thomas Toll | Parliamentarian |
| 1653 | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament | King's Lynn was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament |
| 1654 | | Major-General Philip Skippon | | | Guybon Goddard | |
| 1656 | | Major-General Philip Skippon | | | Major-General John Desborough | |
| January 1659 | | Griffith Lloyd | | | Thomas Toll | |
| May 1659 | | William Cecil (The Earl of Salisbury) | | One seat vacant | One seat vacant | One seat vacant |
| April 1660 | | Sir Ralph Hare | | | Edward Walpole | |
| 1661 | | Sir William Hovell | | | Edward Walpole | |
| 1668 | | Sir William Hovell | | | Robert Wright | |
| 1670 | | John Coke | | | Robert Wright | |
| 1673 | | Sir Francis North | | | Robert Wright | |
| 1675 | | Robert Coke | | | Robert Wright | |
| 1679 | | John Turner | | | Sir Simon Taylor | |
| 1681 | | Sir Henry Hobart | Whig | | Sir Simon Taylor | |
| 1685 | | Sir John Turner | | | Sir Simon Taylor | |
| 1689 | | Sir John Turner | | | Sigismund Trafford | |
| 1690 | | Sir John Turner | | | Daniel Bedingfeld | |
| 1695 | | Sir John Turner | | | Sir Charles Turner | |
| 1702 | | Sir Robert Walpole | Whig | | Sir Charles Turner | |
| 1712 | | John Turner | | | Sir Charles Turner | |
| 1713 | | Sir Robert Walpole | Whig | | Sir Charles Turner | |
| 1738 | | Sir Robert Walpole | Whig | | Sir John Turner | |
| 1742 | | Edward Bacon | | | Sir John Turner | |
| 1747 | | Horatio Walpole, junior | Whig | | Sir John Turner | |
| 1757 | | Hon. Horace Walpole | Whig | | Sir John Turner | |
| 1768 | | Hon. Thomas Walpole | | | Sir John Turner | |
| 1774 | | Hon. Thomas Walpole | | | Crisp Molineux | |
| 1784 | | Hon. Horatio Walpole | | | Crisp Molineux | |
| 1790 | | Hon. Horatio Walpole | | | Sir Martin ffolkes | Whig |
| 1809 | | Horatio Walpole | Tory | | Sir Martin ffolkes | Whig |
| January 1822 | | Horatio Walpole | Tory | | William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck | Tory |
| June 1822 | | John Walpole | Tory | | William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck | Tory |
| 1824 | | John Walpole | Tory | | William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck | Tory |
| 1826 | | John Walpole | Tory | | Lord William Bentinck | Tory |
| 1828 | | John Walpole | Tory | | Lord George Bentinck | Whig |
| 1831 | | Lord William Lennox | Whig | | Lord George Bentinck | Whig |
| 1834 | | Lord William Lennox | Whig | | Lord George Bentinck | Conservative |
| 1835 | | Sir Stratford Canning | Conservative | | Lord George Bentinck | Conservative |
| 1842 by-election | | Robert Jocelyn | Conservative | | Lord George Bentinck | Conservative |
| 1847 | | Robert Jocelyn | Peelite | | Lord George Bentinck | Conservative |
| 1848 by-election | | Robert Jocelyn | Peelite | | Hon. Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1854 by-election | | John Henry Gurney | Whig | | Hon. Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1859 | | John Henry Gurney | Liberal | | Hon. Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1865 | | Sir Thomas Buxton | Liberal | | Hon. Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1868 | | Hon. Robert Bourke | Conservative | | Hon. Edward Stanley | Conservative |
| 1869 by-election | | Hon. Robert Bourke | Conservative | | Lord Claud Hamilton | Conservative |
| 1880 | | Hon. Robert Bourke | Conservative | | Sir William ffolkes | Liberal |
| 1885 | 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 1885–1974

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| | 1885 | Hon. Robert Bourke, later Baron Connemara | Conservative |
| | 1886 by-election | Weston Jarvis | Conservative |
| | 1892 | Thomas Gibson Bowles | Conservative |
| | 1906 | Carlyon Bellairs | Liberal |
| | 1906 | Carlyon Bellairs | Liberal Unionist |
| | January 1910 | Thomas Gibson Bowles | Liberal |
| | December 1910 | Holcombe Ingleby | Conservative |
| | 1918 | Sir Neville Jodrell | Conservative |
| | 1923 | Graham Woodwark | Liberal |
| | 1924 | Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy | Conservative |
| | 1935 | Somerset Maxwell | Conservative |
| | 1943 | Maurice Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy | Conservative |
| | 1945 | Frederick Wise | Labour |
| | 1951 | Ronald Scott-Miller | Conservative |
| | 1959 | Denys Bullard | Conservative |
| | 1964 | Derek Page | Labour |
| | 1970 | Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler | Conservative |
| 1974 | 1974 | constituency abolished | constituency abolished |

## Elections
### Elections in the 1830s

General election 1830: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Bentinck | 78 | 49.1 |
| | Tory | John Walpole | 73 | 45.9 |
| | Whig | William ffolkes | 8 | 5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 65 | 40.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | c. 80 | c. 20.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 400 | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Swing | |
General election 1831: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Bentinck | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Lennox | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 400 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory |
General election 1832: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Bentinck | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | William Lennox | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 836 | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
General election 1835: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Whig | George Bentinck | 531 | 44.8 |
| | Conservative | Stratford Canning | 416 | 35.1 |
| | Radical | John Scott Lillie | 238 | 20.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 178 | 15.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 674 | 77.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 865 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
General election 1837: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Bentinck | 468 | 38.4 | −6.4 |
| | Conservative | Stratford Canning | 382 | 31.3 | −3.8 |
| | Whig | George Keppel | 369 | 30.3 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13 | 1.0 | −14.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 756 | 85.4 | +7.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 885 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −6.4 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −3.8 | |

### Elections in the 1840s

General election 1841: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Stratford Canning | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative | George Bentinck | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,144 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Canning resigned after being appointed the United Kingdom's ambassador to Turkey, causing a by-election.
By-election, 10 February 1842: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Jocelyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1847: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | George Bentinck | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Peelite | Robert Jocelyn | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,157 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative | Peelite gain from Conservative |
Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 22 December 1848: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Elections in the 1850s

General election 1852: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Robert Jocelyn | 641 | 40.3 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | 559 | 35.2 | N/A |
| | Radical | Robert Pashley | 390 | 24.5 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 169 | 10.7 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 990 (est) | 84.2 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,176 | | |
| | Peelite hold | Peelite hold | Swing | N/A | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
Jocelyn's death caused a by-election.
By-election, 16 September 1854: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Henry Gurney | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite |
General election 1857: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Whig | John Henry Gurney | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,055 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite | Whig gain from Peelite |
Stanley was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 4 March 1858: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
Stanley was appointed President of the Board of Control for the Affairs of India, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 5 June 1858: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1859: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal | John Henry Gurney | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,019 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1860s

General election 1865: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | 445 | 37.6 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Thomas Buxton | 401 | 33.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Frederick Walpole | 339 | 28.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 793 (est) | 93.1 (est) | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 852 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 44 | 3.8 | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 62 | 5.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
Stanley was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, requiring a by-election.
By-election, 11 July 1866: King's Lynn (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
General election 1868: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edward Stanley | 1,265 | 37.2 | −0.4 |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourke | 1,125 | 33.1 | +4.5 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Buxton | 1,012 | 29.7 | −4.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 113 | 3.4 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,207 (est) | 87.8 (est) | −5.3 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,514 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.8 | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.3 | |
Stanley succeed to the peerage, becoming 15th Earl of Derby and causing a by-election.
By-election, 9 December 1869: King's Lynn (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 1,051 | 50.5 | −15.8 |
| | Liberal | Richard Young | 1,032 | 49.5 | +15.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 19 | 1.0 | −2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,083 | 82.9 (est) | −4.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,514 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −15.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

General election 1874: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourke | 1,163 | 28.0 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 1,093 | 26.3 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal | William ffolkes | 999 | 24.1 | +9.2 |
| | Liberal | Edmond Wodehouse | 895 | 21.6 | +6.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 94 | 2.2 | −1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,075 (est) | 84.7 (est) | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,450 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −7.2 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −8.8 | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1880: King's Lynn (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William ffolkes | 1,286 | 26.3 | +2.2 |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourke | 1,257 | 25.7 | −2.3 |
| | Conservative | Claud Hamilton | 1,192 | 24.4 | −1.9 |
| | Liberal | Frank Lockwood | 1,151 | 23.6 | +2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,443 (est) | 87.9 (est) | +3.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,779 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 84 | 1.9 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 106 | 2.1 | −0.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.2 | |
* representation reduced to one member
General election 1885: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourke | 1,472 | 53.1 | +3.0 |
| | Liberal | William ffolkes | 1,302 | 46.9 | −3.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 170 | 6.2 | +4.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,774 | 89.7 | +1.8 (est) |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,094 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +3.0 | |
General election 1886: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Robert Bourke | 1,417 | 55.3 | +2.2 |
| | Liberal | John Briscoe | 1,146 | 44.7 | −2.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 271 | 10.6 | +4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,563 | 82.8 | −6.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,094 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.2 | |
Bourke's resignation on appointment as Governor of Madras caused a by-election.
By-election, 25 Aug 1886: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Weston Jarvis | 1,423 | 54.9 | −0.4 |
| | Liberal | James Harris Sanders | 1,168 | 45.1 | +0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 255 | 9.8 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,591 | 83.7 | +0.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,094 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1890s

General election 1892: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,319 | 50.2 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal | Thomas R. Kemp | 1,308 | 49.8 | +5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 0.4 | −10.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,627 | 88.5 | +5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,970 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −5.1 | |
General election 1895: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,395 | 51.3 | +1.1 |
| | Liberal | Hubert Beaumont | 1,326 | 48.7 | −1.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 69 | 2.6 | +2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,721 | 91.3 | +2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,979 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.1 | |

### Elections in the 1900s

General election 1900: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,499 | 52.9 | +1.6 |
| | Liberal | Handel Booth | 1,332 | 47.1 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 167 | 5.8 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,831 | 88.2 | −3.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,209 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
General election 1906: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Carlyon Bellairs | 1,506 | 43.8 | −3.3 |
| | Ind. Conservative | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,164 | 33.8 | New |
| | Conservative | Alan Burgoyne | 772 | 22.4 | −30.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 342 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,442 | 93.2 | +5.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,692 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +13.6 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election January 1910: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,900 | 53.7 | +9.9 |
| | Conservative | Edward Cadogan | 1,638 | 46.3 | +23.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 262 | 7.4 | −2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,538 | 94.2 | +1.0 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,755 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | −7.0 | |
General election December 1910: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Holcombe Ingleby | 1,765 | 51.4 | +5.1 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Gibson Bowles | 1,668 | 48.6 | −5.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 97 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,433 | 91.4 | −2.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,755 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.1 | |
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 from 1914 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;
* Unionist: Holcombe Ingleby
* Liberal:
General election 1918: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| C | Unionist | Neville Jodrell | 10,146 | 50.9 | −0.5 |
| | Labour | Robert Barrie Walker | 9,780 | 49.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 366 | 1.8 | −1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,926 | 59.7 | −31.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,349 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1922: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Neville Jodrell | 9,862 | 37.2 | −13.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Barrie Walker | 8,683 | 32.7 | −16.4 |
| | Liberal | Graham Woodwark | 7,970 | 30.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,179 | 4.5 | +2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,515 | 75.5 | +15.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 35,131 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +1.4 | |
General election 1923: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Graham Woodwark | 9,943 | 38.7 | +8.6 |
| | Unionist | Neville Jodrell | 9,266 | 36.1 | −1.1 |
| | Labour | John Stevenson | 6,488 | 25.2 | −6.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 677 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,697 | 71.9 | −3.6 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 35,754 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Unionist | Liberal gain from Unionist | Swing | +4.9 | |
General election 1924: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Maurice Roche | 11,710 | 41.6 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal | Graham Woodwark | 9,184 | 32.6 | −6.1 |
| | Labour | John Stevenson | 7,280 | 25.8 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,526 | 9.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,714 | 77.6 | +5.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 36,289 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Liberal | Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +5.8 | |
General election 1929: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | Maurice Roche | 14,501 | 40.7 | −0.9 |
| | Liberal | William Bertram Mitford | 10,806 | 30.3 | −2.3 |
| | Labour | John Maynard | 10,356 | 29.0 | +3.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,695 | 10.4 | +1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,663 | 79.1 | +1.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 45,103 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +0.7 | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1931: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Maurice Roche | 23,687 | 70.2 | +29.5 |
| | Labour | David Freeman | 10,054 | 29.8 | +0.8 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 13,633 | 40.4 | +30.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,741 | 72.6 | −6.5 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1935: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Somerset Maxwell | 17,492 | 50.0 | −20.2 |
| | Labour | F Emerson | 12,062 | 34.5 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal | Frank Ongley Darvall | 5,418 | 15.5 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,430 | 15.5 | −24.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,972 | 71.7 | −0.9 |
| | 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: Somerset Maxwell
* Labour: Frederick Wise
* Liberal: Robert Hugh Kerkham
* British Union: A E Ilett
1943 King's Lynn by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Edmund Roche | 10,696 | 54.2 | +4.2 |
| | Independent Labour | Frederick Wise | 9,027 | 45.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,669 | 8.4 | −7.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,723 | 39.8 | −31.9 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
General election 1945: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Wise | 18,202 | 48.7 | +14.2 |
| | Conservative | Donald McCullough | 14,928 | 39.9 | −10.1 |
| | Liberal | Alexander Peckover Doyle Penrose | 3,796 | 10.2 | −5.3 |
| | Independent | Geoffrey Bowles | 444 | 1.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,274 | 8.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,370 | 73.3 | +1.6 |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1950: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Frederick Wise | 19,399 | 45.33 | −3.37 |
| | Conservative | Ronald Scott-Miller | 19,129 | 44.70 | +4.80 |
| | Liberal | Richard Arden Winch | 4,266 | 9.97 | −0.23 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 270 | 0.63 | −8.17 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,794 | 83.84 | +10.54 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,043 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −4.09 | |
General election 1951: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald Scott-Miller | 21,954 | 51.09 | +6.39 |
| | Labour | Frederick Wise | 21,017 | 48.91 | +3.58 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 937 | 2.18 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,791 | 82.77 | −1.07 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,914 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.41 | |
General election 1955: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ronald Scott-Miller | 20,949 | 51.65 | +0.56 |
| | Labour | Hugh Lawson | 19,611 | 48.35 | −0.56 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,338 | 3.30 | +1.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,560 | 78.20 | −4.57 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 51,867 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.56 | |
General election 1959: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Denys Bullard | 21,671 | 52.12 | +0.47 |
| | Labour | Colin Jackson | 19,906 | 47.88 | −0.47 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,765 | 4.24 | +0.94 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,577 | 79.76 | +1.56 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 52,125 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.47 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1964: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Derek Page | 21,460 | 50.12 | +2.24 |
| | Conservative | Denys Bullard | 21,356 | 49.88 | −2.24 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 104 | 0.24 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,816 | 80.50 | +0.74 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 53,186 | | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +2.24 | |
General election 1966: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Derek Page | 23,324 | 52.26 | +2.14 |
| | Conservative | Denys Bullard | 21,305 | 47.74 | −2.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,019 | 4.52 | +4.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,629 | 82.90 | +2.40 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 53,832 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +2.14 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1970: King's Lynn :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Christopher Brocklebank-Fowler | 23,822 | 50.03 | +2.29 |
| | Labour | Derek Page | 23,789 | 49.97 | −2.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 0.06 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,611 | 78.23 | −4.67 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 60.857 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +2.29 | |