North Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)

Boundaries

1832–1885: The Hundreds of Chippenham, North Damerham, Bradford, Melksham, Potterne and Cannings, Calne, Selkley, Ramsbury, Whorwelsdown, Swanborough, Highworth, Cricklade and Staple, Kingsbridge, and Malmesbury.

1983–1997: The District of North Wiltshire.

1997–2010: The District of North Wiltshire wards of Allington, Ashton Keynes, Audley, Avon, Box, Bremhill, Brinkworth, Colerne, Corsham, Crudwell, Hill Rise, Hilmarton, Kington Langley, Kington St Michael, Lacock, Lyneham, Malmesbury, Malmesbury Road, Minety, Monkton Park, Neston and Gastard, Nettleton, Park, Pickwick, Purton, Queen's, Redland, St Paul Malmesbury Without, Sherston, Somerford, The Lydiards, Town, Westcroft, Wootton Bassett North, and Wootton Bassett South.

2010–2024: The District of North Wiltshire wards of Ashton Keynes and Minety, Box, Bremhill, Brinkworth and The Somerfords, Calne Abberd, Calne Chilvester, Calne Lickhill, Calne Marden, Calne Priestley, Calne Quemerford, Calne Without, Colerne, Cricklade, Hilmarton, Kington Langley, Kington St Michael, Lyneham, Malmesbury, Nettleton, Purton, St Paul Malmesbury Without and Sherston, The Lydiards and Broad Town, Wootton Bassett North, and Wootton Bassett South.

The constituency covered most of the northern third of Wiltshire. However, it excluded the eastern town of Swindon which was represented as North Swindon and South Swindon.

North Wiltshire constituency was formed by a renaming for the 1983 general election, with boundaries identical to the former Chippenham constituency (1885–1983). The constituency sat between the Cotswolds and Swindon. Its main towns were Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and Malmesbury, and it also contained villages, both small and large, spread over a large area of farming countryside, including the well-known (often-painted and photographed) village of Castle Combe.

For the 2010 general election the North Wiltshire constituency changed radically as a result of boundary change recommendations. The revised constituency covered a northern swathe of the previous version, retaining the towns of Malmesbury, Cricklade, Royal Wootton Bassett and Calne, while the largest southern town of Chippenham was given its own seat (which was previously abolished in 1983) that brought in the nearby market towns of Bradford on Avon and Melksham.

Abolition

Further to the completion of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished for the 2024 general election, with its contents distributed three ways:

• Northern and western parts, including Cricklade, Purton and Malmesbury, forming part of the new seat of South Cotswolds
• Southern and eastern areas, including Royal Wootton Bassett, Lyneham and most of the town of Calne, added to a reconfigured Chippenham constituency
• The Box and Colerne, and Calne South wards included in the new seat of Melksham and Devizes

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1885

MPs since 1983

Elections

Elections in the 2010s

Elections in the 2000s

Elections in the 1990s

Elections in the 1980s

Elections in the 1880s

|reg. electors = 7,249

Elections in the 1870s

|reg. electors = 7,152

Elections in the 1860s

|reg. electors = 6,857

|reg. electors = 5,146

• Caused by Sotheron-Estcourt's resignation due to ill health.

Elections in the 1850s

|reg. electors = 4,417

• Caused by Sotheron-Estcourt's appointment as Home Secretary

• Caused by Sotheron-Estcourt's appointment as President of the Poor Law Board

|reg. electors = 4,400

|reg. electors = 4,955

Elections in the 1840s

|reg. electors = 5,165

• Caused by Burdett's death.

|reg. electors = 5,241

Elections in the 1830s

|reg. electors = 5,068

|reg. electors = 3,560

|reg. electors = 3,614

Notes

References

References

1. (4 March 2011). "Electorate Figures - Boundary Commission for England". Boundary Commission for England.
2. "The 2023 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries in England – Volume one: Report – South West {{!}} Boundary Commission for England".
3. (1832). "The statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 2 & 3 William IV. Cap. LXIV. An Act to settle and describe the Divisions of Counties, and the Limits of Cities and Boroughs, in England and Wales, in so far as respects the Election of Members to serve in Parliament.". His Majesty's statute and law printers.
4. [http://www.jamesgray.org/site/about-north-wiltshire-2.html ''"About North Wiltshire"''] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-11-29 from the website of James Gray MP. Retrieved on 18 October 2006.)
5. (26 February 2007). "Fifth periodical report – Volume 4 Mapping for the Non-Metropolitan Counties and the Unitary Authorities". The Stationery Office.
6. {{Rayment-hc. w. 4. (March 2012)
7. (1845). "The Parliaments of England, from 1st George I, to the Present Time. Vol II: Oxfordshire to Wales Inclusive". Simpkin, Marshall, & Co..
8. "Wiltshire North parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News.
9. "Parliamentary elections 2017".
10. "Election Data 2015". [[Electoral Calculus]].
11. (3 February 2014). "Brian Mathew".
12. "UK Polling Report".
13. "General Election 2015".
14. Cass, Elliot. (2 January 2015). "North Wiltshire MP denies rivals are ahead in election battle". Wilts and Gloss Standard.
15. "Election Data 2010". [[Electoral Calculus]].
16. Kerr, Andrew. (20 April 2010). "Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll". Wiltshire County Council.
17. "Election Data 2005". [[Electoral Calculus]].
18. "Election Data 2001". [[Electoral Calculus]].
19. "Election Data 1997". [[Electoral Calculus]].
20. "Election Data 1992". [[Electoral Calculus]].
21. (9 April 1992). "Politics Resources". Politics Resources.
22. "Election Data 1987". [[Electoral Calculus]].
23. "Election Data 1983". [[Electoral Calculus]].
24. (1977). "British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885". Macmillan Press.
25. Stephens, H. M.. (2004). "Estcourt, Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron".