Weobley

Borough

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Background Information

Right of Election:

‘in the inhabitants of the ancient vote houses of 20s. per annum value and upwards, residing in the said borough 40 days before the day of election and paying scot and lot; and also in the owners of such ancient vote houses paying scot and lot who shall be resident in such houses at the time of election’.1

Number of voters:

about 100

Population:

(1801): 608

Elections

DateCandidate
21 June 1790THOMAS THYNNE I, Visct. Weymouth
 SIR JOHN SCOTT
28 Dec. 1790 LORD GEORGE THYNNE vice Weymouth, chose to sit for Bath
20 Feb. 1793 SCOTT re-elected after appointment to office
27 May 1796LORD GEORGE THYNNE
 LORD JOHN THYNNE
16 Dec. 1796 INIGO FREEMAN THOMAS vice Lord John Thynne, vacated his seat
1 Apr. 1800 SIR CHARLES TALBOT, Bt., vice Thomas, vacated his seat
24 Mar. 1801 THYNNE re-elected after appointment to office
8 July 1802LORD GEORGE THYNNE
 ROBERT STEELE
22 May 1804 THYNNE re-elected after appointment to office
5 Nov. 1806LORD GEORGE THYNNE
 ROBERT STEELE
6 May 1807LORD GEORGE THYNNE
 HENEAGE FINCH, Lord Guernsey
15 Jan. 1812 HENRY GEORGE BATHURST, Lord Apsley, vice Guernsey, accepted a commission in the army
10 Oct. 1812GEORGE ASHBURNHAM, Visct. St. Asaph
 HON. WILLIAM LENNOX BATHURST
22 June 1813 JAMES LENOX WILLIAM NAPER vice St. Asaph, deceased
20 Feb. 1816 LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH BENTINCK vice Bathurst, appointed to office
17 June 1818THOMAS THYNNE II, Visct. Weymouth
 LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH BENTINCK

Main Article

Since 1754 the Thynne family, who in 1789 obtained the marquessate of Bath, had established complete control over Weobley by buying up all the vote houses.2 Consequently there was no contest in this period. All the Members were kin to or protégés of the 1st and 2nd Marquesses and all supported administration.

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

  • 1. CJ, xxii. 770 (3 Mar. 1737).
  • 2. Oldfield, Boroughs, i. 308; Rep. Hist. iv. 21.