# 1889 Merionethshire County Council election

The first election to the Merionethshire County Council was held on 18 January 1889. It was followed by the 1892 election. The county was divided into numerous single member wards with two councillors elected to represent some of the urban areas.

## Overview of the result

1889 was a landmark year in the history of Welsh Liberalism, a coming of age symbolized by the triumph across Wales of Liberal candidates in the inaugural county council elections. The outcome was very similar to that in Cardiganshire.

## Unopposed Returns

There were some unopposed returns.

## Contested Elections

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. In most cases there were contests between Liberal and Conservative candidates.

## The New Council

The first meeting of the council was held in Dolgellau.

## Summary of Results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. One councillor was described as an Independent candidate but was also grouped in some reports with the Conservatives.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 42 councillors were elected.
Merionethshire County Council 1889: elected members :
| Party | Seats |
| Liberal | 33 |
| Conservative | 8 |
| Independent | 1 |
This table summarises the position following the election of aldermen. Eight were elected from among the elected members and eight from outside the council. This brought the total number of councillors and aldermen to 56.
Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Net gain/loss |
| Liberal | 43 | 10 | +11 |
| Conservative | 9 | 1 | +1 |
| Independent | 1 | | 0 |
This table summarises the position following the by-elections for the three seats vacated following the election of aldermen. Technically these were new seats, taking the total number of councillors to 56. However, the Liberals defended three seats.
Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following by-elections :
| Party | Seats | Gains | Losses | Net gain/loss |
| Liberal | 46 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Conservative | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Independent | 1 | | | |

## Results
### Abercorris and Talyllyn (two seats)

Abercorris and Talyllyn 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Morris Thomas | 226 |
| Liberal | William Caradog Jones | 192 |
| Conservative | Edward Williams | 169 |

### Aberdovey District

Aberdovey District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | James Webster | 95 |
| | Liberal | John Hughes Jones | 89 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6 |

### Bala District

Richard Jones was a prominent figure in the public life of Bala, serving on many bodies. He was elected alderman at the first meeting of the Council but died suddenly in February, aged 65.
Bala District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Richard Jones | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Barmouth Urban District

Lewis Lewis, gentleman, of Hillside, Barmouth, defeated John Robert Davies, gentleman, of Compton House, Barmouth.
Barmouth Urban District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Lewis Lewis | 160 |
| | Conservative | John Robert Davies | 109 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 |

### Conglywal District

Robert Roberts, physician and surgeon, of Isallt, Blaenau Festiniog defeated Joseph Rhydwen Parry, Independent minister, of Manod Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Conglywal District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Robert Roberts | 163 |
| | Liberal | Joseph Rhydwen Parry | 129 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 34 |

### Cynfal and Teigl District (two seats)

William Davies, farmer, of Caerblaidd, Ffestiniog and John Hughes, farmer, of Hafodfawrisaf, Maentwrog, were elected at the expense of George Henry Ellis, solicitor, of Penymount, Ffestiniog and Edward Henry Jonathan, draper, of Paris House, Four Crosses.
Dolgelley Combined District 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Conservative | William Davies | 159 |
| Liberal | John Hughes | 105 |
| Independent | George Henry Ellis | 95 |
| Liberal | Edward Henry Jonathan | 89 |

### Cwmorthin and Ystradau (two seats)

Cwmorthin and Ystradau 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alexander Milne Dunlop | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal | William Parry Evans | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Dolgelley Combined District (two seats)

Dolgelley Combined District 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | Edward Jones | 300 |
| Liberal | Morris Jones | 261 |
| Conservative | John Vaughan | 218 |

### Dolgelley Rural District

Dolgelley Rural District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Robert Pugh | 111 |
| | Conservative | Richard Edward Lloyd Richards | 95 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 |

### Dyffryn

Dyffryn 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Samuel Pope | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Gwyddelwern

Gwyddelwern 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Edwards | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Harlech District

Richard Thomas Jones, surgeon, of Penygarth Villa, Harlech defeated John Owen, farmer, of Brynartro, Llanfair.
Harlech District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Richard Thomas Jones | 152 |
| | Conservative | John Owen | 141 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 11 |

### Llanaber

Charles Williams of Hengwm, Llanaber defeated John Jones, farmer, of Llwyndu, Barmouth.
Llanaber 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Charles Williams | 50 |
| | Liberal | John Jones | 28 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 22 |

### Llandrillo

Llandrillo 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Davies | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Llandderfel

Llandderfel 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Llanegryn

Llanegryn 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | William Robert Maurice Wynne | 151 |
| | Liberal | John Evans | 104 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 48 |

### Llanfachreth

Llanfachreth 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Robert Vaughan | 136 |
| | Liberal | Edward Griffith | 91 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 45 |

### Llanfor

Richard John Price of Rhiwlas defeated William Thomas Rowlands, farmer, of Tanycoed, Llanfor (L).
Llanaber 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Richard John Price | 141 |
| | Liberal | William Thomas Rowlands | 64 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77 |

### Llanfrothen

John Jones, gentleman, of Ynysfor, Llanfrothen defeated William Hughes, farmer, of Cwmcaeth, Nantmor, Beddgelert.
Llanaber 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | John Jones | 142 |
| | Liberal | William Hughes | 74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 68 |

### Llansantffraid and Corwen Combined Districts (three seats)

William Ffoulkes Jones, timber merchant, of the Terrace, Corwen; Robert David Roberts, wholesale grocer, of Glandwr, Corwen, and Hugh Cernyw Williams, Baptist minister, of London Road, Corwen were elected at the expense of David Robert Jones, surgeon, of the Terrace, Bridge Street, Corwen and Horatio Edward Walker, surgeon, of Plasyndref, Corwen.
Llansantffraid and Corwen Combined Districts 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | William Ffoulkes Jones | 341 |
| Liberal | Robert David Roberts | 332 |
| Liberal | Rev Hugh Cernyw Williams | 277 |
| Conservative | David Robert Jones | 252 |
| Conservative | Horatio Edward Walker | 162 |

### Llanuwchllyn District

Llanuwchllyn 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Michael Daniel Jones | 125 |
| | Conservative | John Williams | 117 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8 |

### Llanycil

Llanycil 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Edward Peters | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Llwyngwril

Llwyngwril 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ellis Pughe-Jones | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District (two seats)

John Parry Jones of the District Bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Robert Owen Jones, solicitor, of High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog were elected at the expense of Morris Jones, flour dealer, of Blaenbowydd House, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | John Parry Jones | 276 |
| Liberal | Robert Owen Jones | 264 |
| Independent | Morris Jones | 173 |

### Maentwrog

William Edward Oakeley of Plas Tanybwlch defeated Griffith Ceidiog Roberts, nonconformist minister of Gwyndy, Maentwrog. In what was described as the first Liberal meeting held at Maentwrog, in support of Roberts's candidature, Tom Ellis MP spoke for over an hour and a half.
Maentwrog 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | William Edward Oakeley | 134 |
| | Liberal | Griffith Ceidiog Roberts | 83 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 51 |

### Mawddwy District

Mawddwy 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Jones | 141 |
| | Conservative | Henry Owen | 105 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36 |

### Pennal

Pennal 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | James Meredith | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Penrhyn and Talsarnau (two seats)

J. B. Jones, miller, of Brynyfelin and John Rowe, quarry manager, of Glasfryn View, Penrhyn, were elected at the expense of Edmund Morgan Roberts, farmer, of Cefntrefor- isaf, Talsarnau and John Morgan, grocer, of Canton House, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Penrhyn and Talsarnau 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | J. B. Jones | 223 |
| Liberal | John Rowe | 219 |
| Conservative | Edmund Morgan Roberts | 207 |
| Liberal | John Morgan | 72 |

### Rhiw and Bowydd (two seats)

Rhiw and Bowydd 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David Griffith Williams | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal | David Griffith Jones | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Towyn Rural District

Towyn Rural District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Griffith Evans | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Towyn Urban District

Towyn Urban District 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Haydn Jones | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |

### Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts (two seats)

John Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Fronwynion-street, Trawsfynydd and Robert Hugh Pughe, farmer, of Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd, were elected at the expense of David Tegid Jones, farmer, of Y Goppa and William Evans, draper, of Meirion House, Trawsfynydd.
Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts 1889 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes |
| Liberal | John Humphreys | 162 |
| Independent | Robert Hugh Pughe | 109 |
| Liberal | David Tegid Jones | 107 |
| Liberal | William Evans | 81 |

## Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 42 councillors the council consisted of 14 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were sixteen Aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council:
Only three of those elected were members of the council.
Elected for six years
* S. Pope, Liberal, (elected councillor at )
* A. O. Williams, Liberal
* J. Cadwaltwdr, Liberal
* Edward Griffith, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llanfachreth)
* Richard Jones, Plasyracre, Liberal (elected councillor at Bala)
* Wm. Williams, Liberal
* J. Hughes Jones, Liberal
Elected for three years
* C. H. Wynn, Conservative
* John Evans, Liberal
* E. H. Jonathan, Liberal
* Andreas Roberts. Liberal
* Edward Peters, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanycil)
* Rev G. Ceidiog Roberts, Liberal (defeated candidate at Maentwrog)
* William Davies, Pant, Liberal

## Aldermanic Vacancies 1889-1895

Richard Jones died suddenly in February 1889, creating an immediate vacancy.
Therefore, the following appointment was made for the remaining six years in May 1892.

## By-elections

Three by-elections were caused by the election of aldermen.

### Bala by-election

Edward Watkin, land agent, Rhiwlas, standing as an Independent, defeated the Liberal candidate by fifteen votes. Richard Jones, who had been elected alderman, died three days later.
Bala by-election 1889 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Independent | Edward Watkin | 147 |
| | Liberal | Evan Jones | 132 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 15 |