Barnstaple was a constituency centred on the town of Barnstaple in Devon, in the South West of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800 and the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, thereafter, one.

It was created in 1295 and abolished for the 1950 general election. Most of the area and the town falls into the North Devon seat.

Boundaries 1885–1918: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, and the Sessional Divisions of Bideford and Braunton.

1918–1950: The Municipal Boroughs of Barnstaple and Bideford, the Urban Districts of Ilfracombe, Lynton, and Northam, and the Rural Districts of Barnstaple and Bideford (including Lundy Island).

Members of Parliament

1295–1885 YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party1372Thomas RaymondJan. 1377Thomas RaymondOct. 1377Thomas Raymond1385John Grey 1386 John Bidewell Jocelin Antony February 1388 Thomas Norris II William Long September 1388 John Sampford Roger Rede January 1390 Thomas Norris II Robert Crook 1391 John Aston Robert Cobbley 1393 Richard Colecote John Herberd 1394 Thomas Norris II John Bidewell 1395 Thomas Norris II John Bidewell January 1397 Robert Napton Thomas Holman 1399 Thomas Hoper Walter Spencer 1402 Robert Napton John But 1406 Thomas Holman alias Pyers John Luttrell 1407 John Bakwell John Hunt 1410 Alfred Wonston John Foxley 1411 Nicholas Broomford Alfred Wonston May 1413 Thomas Haseley John Broomford November 1414 John Pyne John Walwyn 1420 William Weldo Walter Prideaux May 1421 John More II Richard Wood December 1421 John Cokeworthy II Sir John Trebell 1427 Sir John Trebell 1512 John Culme John Goddisland 1515 John Goddisland ? 1529 Hugh Yeo Anthony Bury 1542 George Rolle ? 1545 George Rolle George Haydon 1547 Sir James Wilford died 1550 and repl. by Sir Arthur Champernowne Bartholemew Traheron 1553 (Mar)William Gardiner Thomas Prideaux 1553 (Oct)Robert Carey Roger Worthe 1554 (Apr)Sir John Pollard George Ferrers 1554 (Nov)Robert Apley William Salusbury 1555Robert Apley George Stapleton 1558Richard Skinner William Salusbury 1558–9Sir John Chichester John Darte 1562–3 Arthur Bassett Robert Apley 1571 Peter Wentworth Robert Apley 1572 Vincent Skinner Robert Apley 1584 John Peryam Robert Prowse 1586 Thomas Hinson Lewis Darte 1588 Thomas Hinson John Doddridge 1593 George Chittinge Richard Leye 1597 Thomas Hinson George Peard 1601 Richard Martin Edward Hancock 1604 Thomas Hinson George Peard 1614 John Gostlin John Delbridge 1621 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge 1624 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge 1625 John Delbridge Pentecost Dodderidge 1626 Sir Alexander St John John Delbridge 1628 Sir Alexander St John John Delbridge 1640 April George Peard Thomas Matthew 1640 November George Peard Richard Ferris Peard died; Ferrers disabled 1646 Philip Skippon John Dodderidge 1653 Not represented in Barebones Parliament 1654 John Dodderidge 1656 Sir John Coppleston 1659 Sir John Coppleston George Walters 1660 John Rolle Nicholas Dennys 1661 Sir John Chichester, of Raleigh 1667 Sir John Northcote 1677 John Basset February 1679 Sir Hugh Acland ToryOctober 1679 Arthur Acland 1680 Richard Lee 1685 Sir Arthur Chichester 1689 Richard Lee 1690 Sir George Hutchins Arthur Champneys 1695 Sir Nicholas Hooper Tory 1705 Samuel Rolle 1708 Richard Acland 1713 Sir Arthur Chichester 1715 John Rolle 1718 John Basset 1721 Sir Hugh Acland 1722 Lieutenant-General Thomas Whetham 1727 Richard Coffin Whig Theophilus Fortescue Whig 1734 Sir John Chichester Tory 1740 John Basset 1741 John Harris Henry Rolle 1747 Thomas Benson 1748 Sir Bourchier Wrey 1754 John Harris Whig George AmyandCreated a baronet, 1764 Whig 1761 Denys Rolle 1766 John Clevland Whig 1774 William Devaynes Tory 1780 Francis Basset 1784 William Devaynes Tory 1796 Richard Wilson Whig 1802 William Devaynes Tory Captain Sir Edward Pellew Tory 1804 Viscount Ebrington Whig 1806 William Taylor Tory 1807 George Woodford Thellusson ToryJanuary 1812 William Busk WhigOctober 1812 Sir Manasseh Masseh LopesLopes was re-elected at the general election of 1818, but on petition was unseated for bribery Tory Sir Eyre Coote Tory 1818 Francis Ommanney Tory 1820 Michael Nolan Tory 1824 Frederick Hodgson Tory 1826 Henry Alexander Tory 1830 Stephens Lyne-Stephens Tory George Tudor Tory 1831 Frederick Hodgson Tory John Chichester Whig 1832 Charles St John Fancourt Tory 1834 Conservative 1837 Frederick Hodgson Conservative 1841 Montague Gore Conservative 1847 Richard Bremridge Conservative Hon. John Fortescue Whig 1852At the election of 1852 Fraser and Bremridge were declared elected, but on petition the election was declared void and the constituency's writ was suspended. After investigation by a Royal Commission, a new writ was issued and a by-election was held Sir William Fraser Conservative 1854 John LaurieLaurie's election at the by-election of 1854 was declared void on petition, and a second by-election held Conservative Richard Samuel Guinness Conservative 1855 George Stucley Conservative 1857 John Laurie Conservative Sir William Fraser Conservative 1859 John Ferguson Davie Liberal George Potts Liberal 1863 Thomas LloydOn petition, Lloyd's election was declared void and after scrutiny of the votes Bremridge was declared duly elected Liberal 1864 Richard Bremridge Conservative 1865 Sir George Stucley Conservative Thomas Cave Liberal 1868 Charles Henry Williams Conservative 1874 Samuel Danks Waddy Liberal February 1880 Newton Wallop Liberal April 1880 Sir Robert Carden Conservative1885 Representation reduced to one member

1885–1950 YearMemberParty 1885 George Pitt-Lewis Liberal 1886 Liberal Unionist 1892 Alfred Billson Liberal 1895 Cameron Gull Liberal Unionist 1900 Ernest Soares Liberal 1911 Godfrey Baring Liberal 1918 Tudor Rees Liberal 1922 Basil Peto Conservative 1923 Tudor Rees Liberal 1924 Basil Peto Unionist 1935 Richard Acland Liberal 1942 Common Wealth 1945 Christopher Peto Conservative1950 constituency abolished

Election results

Elections in the 1830s

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1850s

The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.

Laurie's election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, causing a by-election.

Prinsep withdrew from the election during polling.

Elections in the 1860s Potts' death caused a by-election.

On petition, Lloyd's election was declared void due to bribery and, on 15 April 1864, Bremridge was declared elected.

Elections in the 1870s

Elections in the 1880s Waddy resigned in order to contest Sheffield, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

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 and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected; Liberal: Unionist: Charles Sandbach Parker

Both candidates supported the Coalition Government; Rees may have received its endorsement.

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1930s

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 and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected; Liberal: Richard AclandThe Liberal Magazine, 1939 Conservative: Marjorie Graves

Elections in the 1940s

Notes

References Robert Beatson, "A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament" (London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807) F W S Craig, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832–1885" (2nd edition, Aldershot: Parliamentary Research Services, 1989)