West Norfolk or Norfolk Western (formally the "Western division of Norfolk") was a county constituency in the county of Norfolk, which returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.
The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general election, alongside Eastern Norfolk, as one of two Divisions of the Parliamentary County of Norfolk, each returning 2 MPs. It was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election.
Boundaries and boundary changes
1832–1868
The Hundreds of Freebridge Marshland, Smithdon, Freebridge Lynn, Clackclose, Brothercross, Gallow, Holt, Launditch, South Greenhoe, Grimshoe, North Greenhoe, Wayland, Shropham, Gilt Cross and Mitford.
1868–1885
The Hundreds of Wayland, Launditch, South Greenhoe, Gallow, Brothercross, Smithdon, Freebridge Lynn, Freebridge Marshland, Clackclose and Grimshoe.
Small parts of the division were transferred to the newly formed North and South Divisions of Norfolk. Also absorbed the disenfranchised Parliamentary Borough of Thetford.
On abolition in 1885, northern areas formed the new North-Western Division of Norfolk, southern areas formed the new South-Western Division and central areas were included in the new Mid Division.
Members of Parliament Election1st Member1st Party2nd Member2nd Party 1832 Sir William Ffolkes, Bt Whig Sir Jacob Astley, Bt Whig 1837 William Bagge Conservative William Chute Conservative 1847 Hon. Edward Coke Whig 1852 George Bentinck Conservative 1857 Brampton Gurdon Whig 1859 Liberal 1865 William Bagge Conservative Hon. Thomas de Grey Conservative 1871 by-election George Bentinck Conservative 1880 by-election William Tyssen-Amherst Conservative 1884 by-election Clare Sewell Read Conservative1885 representation reduced to one member and constituency abolished
Election results Elections in the 1830s
Elections in the 1840s
11776
Elections in the 1850s
Elections in the 1860s
Elections in the 1870s Grey succeeded to the peerage, becoming Lord Walsingham.
Elections in the 1880s Bagge's death caused a by-election.
Bentinck's resignation caused a by-election.
References
Sources