# 1898 Carmarthenshire County Council election

The fourth election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in March 1898. It was preceded by the 1895 election and followed by the 1901 election.

## Overview of the result

The Liberal Party once again retained a strong majority.

## Candidates

42 candidates were returned unopposed, with only nine seats being contested, and several of these were between rival Liberal candidates. This was the highest number of uncontested seats since the council was created. Fourteen of those elected at the first election, and who had served continuously since then, sought re-election
Of the retiring aldermen, only Gwilym Evans, former chairman of the council, sought election. He had been defeated for a Llanelli ward in 1892 but was now returned unopposed for a different ward.

## Outcome

Although the number of contested elections was small, a number of wards were keenly contested.
There were notable Liberal victories at Caio, where Sir James Hills-Johnes was defeated, and at Pembrey, where W.J. Buckley lost to the Liberal candidate David Evans. Buckley had been a member since 1889 and was parliamentary candidate for West Carmarthenshire.
The Conservatives, in turn, gained ground by winning a number of seats including St Clears and Llanboidy. In Llanelli, John Allen Williams, editor of the Llanelly Guardian, was returned unopposed as a Liberal Unionist.
Seven of the aldermanic seats were occupied by Liberals with the newly elected aldermen including Sir James Hills-Johnes and John Williams, both of whom had been defeated at the polls. Two Conservatives were elected as aldermen, a net gan of one on the aldermanic bench.

## Ward results
### Abergwili

Abergwili 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Bettws

Bettws 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Nathaniel Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Caio

Caio 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | ±% |
| | Liberal | T. Francis Jones | 217 | |
| | Conservative | Sir James Hills-Johnes* | 201 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 16 | N/A |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | T.E. Brigstocke | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division) 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)

Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | James John | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)

Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Professor D.E. Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Cenarth

Cenarth 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | David Davies | 258 |
| | Liberal | D.D. Walters | 163 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 95 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Cilycwm

Cilycwm 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Conwil

Conwil 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Kidwelly

Kidwelly 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Alfred Stephens | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Laugharne

Laugharne 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John D. Morse* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanarthney

Llanarthney 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Henry Jones-Davies* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanboidy

Llanboidy 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | David Thomas | 298 |
| | Liberal | Thomas Evans* | 248 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 50 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### Llandebie

Llandebie 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Rural

Llandilo Rural 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | William Jones* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | | |

### Llandilo Urban

Llandilo Urban 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | J.W. Gwynne Hughes* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llandovery

Llandovery 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Walter Powell Jeffreys* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llanedy

Llanedy 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Ll. Thomas* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanegwad

Llanegwad 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division.1

Llanelly Division.1 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Unionist | J. Allen Williams | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal Unionist gain from Conservative | Liberal Unionist gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 2

Llanelly Division 2 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Mayberry* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 3

Llanelly Division.3 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William David | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 4

Llanelly Division 4 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev Thomas Johns* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |

### Llanelly Division 5

Llanelly Division 5 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | D.C. Parry* | 222 |
| | Liberal | D. Rees Edmunds | 114 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 108 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 6

Llanelly Division 6 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | Thomas Phillips* | 147 |
| | Liberal | T. Williams | 135 |
| | Liberal | J. Auckland | 102 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 12 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanelly Division 7

Llanelly Division 7 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Thomas Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Division 8

Llanelly Division 8 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Joseph Williams* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Berwick

Llanelly Rural, Berwick 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Owen Bonville* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Hengoed

Llanelly Rural, Hengoed 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | David John* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn

Llanelly Rural, Westfa and Glyn 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gwilym Evans** | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanfihangel Aberbythick

Llanfihangel Aberbythick 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Viscount Emlyn* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanfihangel-ar-Arth

Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Thomas Rees Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llangadock

Llangadock 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | William Davies | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangeler

Llangeler 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Colonel W.P. Lewes | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Llangendeirne

Llangendeirne 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | William Jenkins | 159 |
| | Liberal | John Jenkins | 126 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 33 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llangennech

Llangennech 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Thomas | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llangunnor

Llangunnor 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | C.E. Morris* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llanon

Llanon 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Morgan Jones | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Llansawel

Llansawel 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart.* | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Conservative hold |

### Llanstephan

Llanstephan 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | John Johns | 177 |
| | Liberal | D.W. Lewis | 114 |
| | | William Williams | 80 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 63 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing |

### Llanybyther

Llanybyther 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Mothvey

Mothvey 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Pembrey North

Pembrey North 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Liberal | David Evans | 336 |
| | Liberal Unionist | W.J. Buckley* | 213 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 123 |
| | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing |

### Pembrey South

Pembrey South 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | W.S. Marsh* | unopposed | | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Quarter Bach

Quarter Bach 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Dr Howell Rees* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Rhydcymmerai

Rhydcymmerai 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### St Clears

St Clears 1895 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Conservative | Dr R.L. Thomas | 253 |
| | Liberal | John Williams* | 246 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 7 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing |

### St Ishmael

St Ishmael 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Lloyd Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Trelech

Trelech 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | John Phillips* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | | |

### Whitland

Whitland 1898 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Rev William Thomas* | unopposed | | |
| | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) | Liberal win (new seat) |

## Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, the following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.
The following retiring aldermen were re-elected:
* J.S. Tregoning, Iscoed, Conservative (retiring alderman) 43
* John Lewis, Meirios Hall, Liberal (retiring alderman) 42
* D.L. Jones, Derlwyn, Liberal (retiring alderman) 42
* R.W. Stephens, Coedybrain, Liberal (retiring alderman) 41
* David Evans, Llangennech, Liberal (retiring alderman)38
In addition, the following four new aldermen were elected:
* Rev. William Davies, Llandilo, Liberal 38
* James Hill-Johnes, Dolaucothy, Conservative (defeated candidate at Caio) 35
* Rev. W. Thomas, Whitland, Liberal (elected member for Whitland) 38
* John Williams, Llanginning, Liberal 35 (defeated candidate at St Clears)
One retiring alderman was elected as councillor but not re-elected as alderman:
* Gwilym Evans, Liberal
Two aldermen were not re-elected
* J. Bagnall Evans, Liberal
* Robert Scourfield, Llansteffan, Liberal