# Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)

Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.
The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1832. The borough's representation was reduced to one MP by the Reform Act 1832.
The parliamentary borough was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and the name transferred to a new county division with effect from the 1885 general election. The county division returned one MP until it was abolished for the 1983 general election. It was then largely replaced by the new Ribble Valley constituency.

## Boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Clitheroe and Burnley, the Sessional Division of Colne, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Clitheroe and Burnley.
1918–1950: The Borough of Clitheroe, the Urban Districts of Great Harwood and Padiham, the Rural District of Clitheroe, and part of the Rural District of Burnley.
1950–1983: The Borough of Clitheroe, the Urban Districts of Great Harwood, Longridge, and Padiham, the Rural Districts of Burnley and Clitheroe, and in the Rural District of Preston the parishes of Dutton, Hothersall, and Ribchester.

## Members of Parliament
### Borough of Clitheroe
#### MPs 1559–1660

| Parliament | First member | Second member |
| 1559 (Jan) | Thomas Greenacres | Walter Horton |
| 1563 (Jan) | Thomas Greenacres | John Jeffrey |
| 1571 | Richard Greenacres | George Horsey |
| 1572 | William Wynter | Thomas Docwray |
| 1584 | Michael Purefoy | Alexander Fisher |
| 1586 | Edmund Poley | John Walmesley |
| 1588 (Oct) | Robert Pilkington | John White |
| 1593 | William Twysden | John Chamberlain |
| 1597 (Oct) | William Holte | George Rotheram |
| 1601 (Oct) | John Osbaldestone | Anthony Dering |
| 1604 | Sir John Dormer | Martin Lister |
| 1614 | Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd Baronet | Clement Coke |
| 1621–1622 | Sir Thomas Walmsley | William Fanshawe |
| 1624 | William Fanshawe | Ralph Whitfield |
| 1625 | Ralph Assheton | William Fanshawe |
| Jan 1626 | Ralph Assheton | George Kirke |
| Apr 1626 | Ralph Assheton | Christopher Hatton |
| 1628 | Thomas Jermyn | William Newell |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliament summoned | No Parliament summoned |
| 1640 (Apr) | Sir Ralph Assheton | Richard Shuttleworth, jnr |
| 1640 (Nov) | Sir Ralph Assheton | Richard Shuttleworth, jnr |
| 1645 | Sir Ralph Assheton | Richard Shuttleworth, jnr |
| 1648 | Richard Shuttleworth, jnr |
| 1653–1660 | Clitheroe not represented in Barebones or Protectorate Parliaments | Clitheroe not represented in Barebones or Protectorate Parliaments |

#### MPs 1660–1832

Two members returned to Parliament
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party |
| Apr 1660 | Sir Ralph Assheton | | William White | |
| Jul 1660 | Sir Ralph Assheton | | William Hulton | |
| Apr 1661 | Sir Ralph Assheton | | John Heath | |
| 1662 | Ambrose Pudsay | | John Heath | |
| 1675 | Sir Thomas Stringer | | John Heath | |
| 1679 | Sir Thomas Stringer | | Sir Ralph Assheton | |
| 1680 | Sir Thomas Stringer | | Henry Marsden | |
| 1685 | Lord Strange | | Edmund Assheton | |
| 1689 | Anthony Parker | | Christopher Wilkinson | |
| 1690 | Anthony Parker | | Roger Kenyon | |
| 1693 | Fitton Gerard | | Roger Kenyon | |
| 1695 | Christopher Lister | | Ambrose Pudsay | |
| 1698 | Christopher Lister | | Thomas Stringer | |
| 1701 | Ambrose Pudsay | | Thomas Stringer | |
| 1705 | Edward Harvey | | Thomas Stringer | |
| 1707 | Edward Harvey | | Daniel Harvey | |
| 1708 | Edward Harvey | | Christopher Parker | |
| Apr 1713 | Thomas Lister I | | Christopher Parker | |
| Sep 1713 | Thomas Lister I | | Charles Zedenno Stanley | |
| 1715 | Thomas Lister I | | Edward Harvey | |
| 1722 | Thomas Lister I | | Nathaniel Curzon | |
| 1727 | Thomas Lister I | | The Viscount Galway | |
| 1734 | Thomas Lister I | | William Curzon | |
| 1745 | Thomas Lister II | | William Curzon | |
| 1747 | Thomas Lister II | | Nathaniel Curzon | |
| 1754 | Thomas Lister II | Tory | Assheton Curzon | Tory |
| Dec 1761 by-election | Nathaniel Lister | Tory | Assheton Curzon | Tory |
| 1773 by-election | Thomas Lister III | Tory | Assheton Curzon | Tory |
| 1780 | Thomas Lister III | Tory | John Parker | Tory |
| 1782 by-election | Thomas Lister III | Tory | John Lee | Tory |
| 1790 | Sir John Aubrey, Bt | Tory | Penn Curzon | Tory |
| 1792 by-election | Sir John Aubrey, Bt | Tory | Assheton Curzon | Tory |
| 1795 by-election | Sir John Aubrey, Bt | Tory | Richard Erle-Drax-Grosvenor | Tory |
| 1796 | Lord Edward Bentinck | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1802 | Hon. John Cust | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1808 by-election | James Gordon | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| Oct 1812 | Viscount Castlereagh | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| Dec 1812 by-election | Edward Wilbraham-Bootle | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1818 | Hon. William Cust | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1822 by-election | Henry Porcher | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1826 | Hon. Peregrine Cust | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |
| 1831 | Hon. Peregrine Cust | Tory | Hon. Robert Curzon | Tory |

#### MPs 1832–1885

| Election | Election | Member | Party |
| 1832 | 1832 | representation reduced to one member | representation reduced to one member |
| | 1832 | John Fort | Whig |
| | 1841 | Mathew Wilson | Whig |
| | 1842 | Edward Cardwell | Conservative |
| | 1847 | Mathew Wilson | Whig |
| | May 1853 by-election | John Aspinall | Conservative |
| | Aug 1853 by-election | Le Gendre Starkie | Peelite |
| | 1857 | John Turner Hopwood | Conservative |
| | 1865 | Richard Fort | Liberal |
| | 1868 by-election | Ralph Assheton | Conservative |
| | 1880 | Richard Fort | Liberal |
| | 1885 | Parliamentary borough abolished. Name transferred to new county division | Parliamentary borough abolished. Name transferred to new county division |

### Clitheroe division of Lancashire
#### MPs 1885–1983

| Election | Election | Member | Party | Notes |
| | 1885 | Sir Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | Liberal |
| | 1902 by-election | David Shackleton | Labour |
| | 1910 | Albert Smith | Labour |
| | 1918 | Alfred Davies | Labour |
| | 1922 | Sir William Brass | Conservative |
| | 1945 | Harry Randall | Labour |
| | 1950 | Richard Fort | Conservative |
| | 1959 | Sir Francis Pearson | Conservative |
| | 1970 | David Walder | Conservative | Died October 1978 |
| | 1979 by-election | David Waddington | Conservative |
| 1983 | 1983 | constituency abolished: see Ribble Valley | constituency abolished: see Ribble Valley |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1970s

General election 1979: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Waddington | 25,081 | 57.1 | +9.1 |
| | Labour | Lindsay R. Sutton | 13,502 | 30.7 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | Frank Wilson | 5,362 | 12.2 | −8.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11,579 | 26.4 | +9.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,945 | 80.7 | +2.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
1979 Clitheroe by-election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Waddington | 22,185 | 65.0 | +17.0 |
| | Labour | Lindsay R. Sutton | 9,685 | 28.4 | −2.8 |
| | Liberal | Frank Wilson | 2,242 | 6.6 | −14.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12,500 | 36.6 | +19.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,112 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +9.9 | |
General election October 1974: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Walder | 19,643 | 48.0 | +0.2 |
| | Labour | Barry McColgan | 12,775 | 31.2 | +3.2 |
| | Liberal | C. William Roberts | 8,503 | 20.8 | −3.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,868 | 16.8 | −3.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,921 | 78.6 | −5.1 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −1.5 | |
General election February 1974: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Walder | 20,613 | 47.8 | −3.8 |
| | Labour | Michael Walsh | 12,085 | 28.0 | −7.8 |
| | Liberal | C. William Roberts | 10,438 | 24.2 | +11.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,528 | 19.8 | +4.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 43,136 | 83.7 | +4.4 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.0 | |
General election 1970: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | David Walder | 20,430 | 51.6 | +5.5 |
| | Labour | Kenneth C Bodfish | 14,158 | 35.8 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal | Vera Ida Macmillan | 4,965 | 12.6 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,272 | 15.8 | +9.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,553 | 79.3 | −4.2 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +4.9 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

General election 1966: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Pearson | 17,244 | 46.1 | −2.7 |
| | Labour | Robert Hodge | 15,014 | 40.1 | +2.6 |
| | Liberal | Vera Ida Macmillan | 5,168 | 13.8 | +0.1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,230 | 6.0 | −5.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,426 | 83.5 | −1.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.7 | |
General election 1964: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Pearson | 18,559 | 48.8 | −9.3 |
| | Labour | Doug Hoyle | 14,278 | 37.5 | −4.4 |
| | Liberal | Martin Strange | 5,209 | 13.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,281 | 11.3 | −4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,046 | 85.3 | −1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | −2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1950s

General election 1959: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Francis Pearson | 22,314 | 58.1 | +1.6 |
| | Labour | William Rutter | 16,103 | 41.9 | −1.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,211 | 16.2 | +3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,417 | 86.6 | +1.3 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.6 | |
General election 1955: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Fort | 21,615 | 56.5 | +1.2 |
| | Labour | William Rutter | 16,671 | 43.5 | −1.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,944 | 13.0 | +2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,286 | 85.3 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +1.2 | |
General election 1951: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Fort | 23,007 | 55.3 | +5.7 |
| | Labour | Harold Bradley | 18,582 | 44.7 | +0.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,425 | 10.6 | +4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,589 | 90.1 | −1.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +2.4 | |
General election 1950: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Richard Fort | 20,814 | 49.6 | +3.6 |
| | Labour | Harry Randall | 18,359 | 43.8 | −9.8 |
| | Liberal | James Willie Wyers | 2,765 | 6.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,455 | 5.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,938 | 91.7 | +8.3 |
| | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1940s

General election 1945: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Harry Randall | 19,443 | 53.65 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Fort | 16,796 | 46.35 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,647 | 7.30 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 36,239 | 83.41 | |
| | Labour gain from Conservative | Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1930s

General election 1935: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | William Brass | 21,163 | 54.86 |
| | Labour | Stan Awbery | 17,411 | 45.14 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,752 | 9.72 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 38,574 | 87.68 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
General election 1931: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | William Brass | 24,361 | 62.02 |
| | Labour | Stan Awbery | 14,920 | 37.98 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9,441 | 24.04 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,281 | 83.40 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

General election 1929: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Brass | 16,035 | 40.7 | −13.5 |
| | Labour | William Dobbie | 15,592 | 39.5 | −6.3 |
| | Liberal | Charles Norman Glidewell | 7,826 | 19.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 443 | 1.2 | −7.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,453 | 91.5 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43,113 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −3.6 | |
General election 1924: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Brass | 16,637 | 54.2 | +11.3 |
| | Labour | Derwent Hall Caine | 14,041 | 45.8 | +7.9 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,596 | 8.4 | +3.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,678 | 88.6 | +0.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 34,617 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | +1.7 | |
General election 1923: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Brass | 12,998 | 42.9 | −11.8 |
| | Labour | Alfred Davies | 11,469 | 37.9 | −7.4 |
| | Liberal | Harold Derbyshire | 5,810 | 19.2 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,529 | 5.0 | −4.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,277 | 88.2 | +2.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 34,329 | | |
| | Unionist hold | Unionist hold | Swing | −2.2 | |
General election 1922: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Unionist | William Brass | 15,586 | 54.7 | +15.4 |
| | Labour | Alfred Davies | 12,911 | 45.3 | +0.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,675 | 9.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,497 | 85.3 | +18.8 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 33,393 | | |
| | Unionist gain from Labour | Unionist gain from Labour | Swing | +7.4 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

General election 1918: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Alfred Davies | 9,578 | 44.6 | −23.1 |
| | Unionist | Edwin Leach Hartley | 8,419 | 39.3 | +7.0 |
| C | Liberal | James Henley Batty | 3,443 | 16.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,159 | 5.3 | −30.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,440 | 66.5 | −13.5 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 32,222 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | −15.1 | |
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. ||||||
General election December 1910: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Albert Smith | 12,107 | 67.7 | +0.4 |
| | Conservative | J.J. Blayney | 5,783 | 32.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,324 | 35.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,890 | 80.0 | −12.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,368 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | +0.4 | |
General election January 1910: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | David Shackleton | 13,873 | 67.3 | −8.6 |
| | Conservative | T. Smith | 6,727 | 32.7 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7,146 | 34.6 | −17.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,600 | 92.1 | +15.1 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 22,368 | | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1900s

1906 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | David Shackleton | 12,035 | 75.9 | N/A |
| | Ind. Conservative | B.J. Belton | 3,828 | 24.1 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,207 | 51.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,863 | 77.0 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,613 | | |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Swing | N/A | |
Clitheroe by-election, 1 August 1902 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. | David Shackleton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal | Labour Repr. Cmte. gain from Liberal |
1900 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Elections in the 1890s

1895 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
1892 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | 7,657 | 58.2 | N/A |
| | Liberal Unionist | William Briggs | 5,506 | 41.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,151 | 16.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,163 | 86.5 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 15,212 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1880s

General election 1886: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
By-election, 19 Apr 1886: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
* Caused by Kay-Shuttleworth's appointment as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
1885 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth | 6,821 | 60.5 | +5.5 |
| | Conservative | John Thursby | 4,462 | 39.5 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,359 | 21.0 | +11.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,283 | 88.9 | −5.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 12,698 | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | +5.5 | |
1880 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Fort | 1,078 | 55.0 | +7.7 |
| | Conservative | Ralph Assheton | 882 | 45.0 | −7.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 196 | 10.0 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,960 | 94.8 | −0.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 2,068 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.7 | |

### Elections in the 1870s

1874 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph Assheton | 896 | 52.7 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal | Edward Ebenezer Kay | 804 | 47.3 | −0.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 92 | 5.4 | +0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,700 | 95.0 | +3.9 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,790 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |

### Elections in the 1860s

1868 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph Assheton | 760 | 52.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal | Charles Savile Roundell | 693 | 47.7 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 67 | 4.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,453 | 91.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,595 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal |
By-election, 13 Jul 1868: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Ralph Assheton | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal |
* Caused by Fort's death.
1865 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Fort | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 438 | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative |

### Elections in the 1850s

1859 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Turner Hopwood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 469 | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |
1857 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Turner Hopwood | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 457 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig |
By-election, 23 August 1853: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Peelite | Le Gendre Starkie | 216 | 51.3 | +5.5 |
| | Whig | Jonathan Peel | 205 | 48.7 | −5.5 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 | 2.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 421 | 92.3 | +1.2 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 456 | | |
| | Peelite gain from Whig | Peelite gain from Whig | Swing | +5.5 | |
* Caused by the previous by-election being declared void on petition, due to treating.
By-election, 28 May 1853: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | John Aspinall | 215 | 50.8 | +5.0 |
| | Whig | Richard Fort | 208 | 49.2 | −5.0 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 | 1.6 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 423 | 92.8 | +1.7 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 456 | | |
| | Conservative gain from Whig | Conservative gain from Whig | Swing | +5.0 | |
* Caused by the previous election being declared void on petition, due to bribery, corruption and intimidation.
1852 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Mathew Wilson | 221 | 54.2 | N/A |
| | Conservative | John Aspinall | 187 | 45.8 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 | 8.4 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 408 | 91.1 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 448 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |

### Elections in the 1840s

1847 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Mathew Wilson | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 504 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
Wilson's election at the 1841 general election was declared void and Cardwell was declared elected on 21 March 1842.
1841 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | Mathew Wilson | 175 | 50.7 | −0.6 |
| | Conservative | Edward Cardwell | 170 | 49.3 | +0.6 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5 | 1.4 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 345 | 89.1 | +2.4 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 387 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | | |

### Elections in the 1830s

1837 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Fort | 164 | 51.4 | N/A |
| | Conservative | William Whalley | 155 | 48.6 | New |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 9 | 2.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 319 | 86.7 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 368 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Swing | N/A | |
1835 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Fort | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 351 | | |
| | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold | Whig hold |
1832 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Whig | John Fort | 157 | 55.9 | New |
| | Tory | John Irving | 124 | 44.1 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 | 11.8 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 281 | 91.8 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 306 | | |
| | Whig gain from Tory | Whig gain from Tory | Swing | N/A | |
1831 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Peregrine Cust | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Robert Curzon | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 36 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
1830 general election: Clitheroe :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Tory | Peregrine Cust | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Tory | Robert Curzon | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | c. 36 | | |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |
| | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold | Tory hold |