List of multi-member constituencies in the United Kingdom and predecessor Parliaments

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This article contains a List of multi-member constituencies in the United Kingdom and predecessor Parliaments. It is sub-divided into England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (including Northern Ireland from 1922).

This list excludes periods when a constituency only returned one member. The from date is the year from which the multi-member constituency is known to have been regularly represented. The until date is the year when the constituency was either disenfranchised or ceased to have more than one member. It covers the Parliament of England, the Protectorate Parliament, the Parliament of Scotland, the Parliament of Ireland, the Parliament of Great Britain and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

In some cases there were earlier periods of enfranchisement in the Parliament of England but those before the sixteenth century are excluded from this list. In the English and Welsh sub-lists the 'Prot' column only covers the first two Protectorate Parliaments (1654-1658). The English and Welsh seats in the third Protectorate Parliament (1659) used the same seats as the '<1826' column. The 'Prot' column includes all three Protectorate Parliaments for the Scottish and Irish sub-lists.

At present only the number of seats by constituency for the last Parliament of Scotland before the Union have been identified. The multi-member constituencies in that Parliament may well be much older.

Multi-member constituencies in England[edit]

Article names are followed by (UK Parliament constituency). The constituencies which existed before 1832 were all part of the Parliament of England (from the date indicated until 1707), the Parliament of Great Britain (1707-1800) and the Parliament of the United Kingdom (from 1801).

Due to the lack of survival of records, it is not certain when in the thirteenth century most of the counties and the older boroughs were enfranchised. All the historic counties, except Cheshire and Durham, are deemed to have been enfranchised in 1290 for the purposes of this list. The oldest parliamentary boroughs are deemed to have been enfranchised in 1295, when a contemporary official list is available. However, as the 1295 list does not include London it may not be complete.

Many counties and boroughs may have been represented at Simon de Montfort's Parliament of 1265 or other early Parliaments for which no exact records are available. The earliest known Parliament to which knights of the shire (representing counties) were summoned was in 1258 and the earliest known attendance of burgesses (representing boroughs) was at the 1265 meeting, but it is not known which counties and boroughs were involved.

A[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Aldborough 1558 1832 - 2 - - - - Yorkshire
Aldeburgh 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Suffolk
Amersham 1625 1832 - 2 - - - - Buckinghamshire
Andover 1586 1868 - 2 2 - - - Hampshire
Appleby 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Westmorland
Arundel 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Ashburton 1640 1832 - 2 - - - - Devon
Aylesbury 1553 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Buckinghamshire

B[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Barnstaple 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Devon
Bath 1295 1918 - 2 2 2 2 - Somerset
Bedford 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire 1290 1885 5 2 2 2 - - Bedfordshire
Bere Alston 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Devon
Berkshire 1290 1885 5 2 3 3 - - Berkshire
Berwick-upon-Tweed 1512 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Northumberland
Beverley 1558 1868 - 2 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Birmingham 1832 1885 - - 2 3 - - Warwickshire
Bishop's Castle 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Shropshire
Blackburn 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Lancashire
Bletchingley 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Surrey
Bodmin 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Cornwall
Bolton 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Lancashire
Boroughbridge 1553 1832 - 2 - - - - Yorkshire
Bossiney 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Boston 1547 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Lincolnshire
Brackley 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Northamptonshire
Bradford 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Bramber 1467 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Bridgnorth 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Shropshire
Bridgwater 1295 1870 - 2 2 2 - - Somerset
Bridport 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Dorset
Brighton 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Sussex
Bristol 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Gloucestershire and Somerset
Buckingham 1542 1868 - 2 2 - - - Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire 1290 1885 5 2 3 3 - - Buckinghamshire
Bury St Edmunds 1621 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Suffolk

C[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Callington 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Calne 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Cambridge 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire 1290 1885 4 2 3 3 - - Cambridgeshire
Cambridge University 1603 1950 - 2 2 2 2 2 Cambridgeshire
Camelford 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Canterbury 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Kent
Carlisle 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Cumberland
Castle Rising 1558 1832 - 2 - - - - Norfolk
Chelsea 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Middlesex
Cheshire 1545 1832 4 2 - - - - Cheshire
East Cheshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Cheshire
Mid Cheshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Cheshire
North Cheshire 1832 1868 - - 2 - - - Cheshire
South Cheshire 1832 1868 - - 2 - - - Cheshire
West Cheshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Cheshire
City of Chester 1545 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Cheshire
Chichester 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Sussex
Chippenham 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Wiltshire
Christchurch 1561 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire
Cirencester 1571 1868 - 2 2 - - - Gloucestershire
Clitheroe 1559 1832 - 2 - - - - Lancashire
Cockermouth 1640 1868 - 2 2 - - - Cumberland
Colchester 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Essex
Combined English Universities 1918 1950 - - - - - 2 Various counties
Corfe Castle 1572 1832 - 2 - - - - Dorset
Cornwall 1290 1832 8 2 - - - - Cornwall
East Cornwall 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cornwall
West Cornwall 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cornwall
Coventry 1298 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Warwickshire
Cricklade 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Wiltshire
Cumberland 1290 1832 2 2 - - - - Cumberland
East Cumberland 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cumberland
West Cumberland 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cumberland

D[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Dartmouth 1351 1832 - 2 - - - - Devon
Derby 1295 1950 - 2 2 2 2 2 Derbyshire
Derbyshire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Derbyshire
East Derbyshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Derbyshire
North Derbyshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Derbyshire
South Derbyshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Derbyshire
West Derbyshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Derbyshire
Devizes 1331 1868 - 2 2 - - - Wiltshire
Devon 1290 1832 11 2 - - - - Devon
East Devon 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Devon
North Devon 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Devon
South Devon 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Devon
Devonport 1832 1918 - - 2 2 2 - Devon
Dorchester 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Dorset
Dorset 1290 1885 6 2 3 3 - - Dorset
Dover 1369 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Kent
Downton 1467 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Dunwich 1298 1832 - 2 - - - - Suffolk
City of Durham 1678 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Durham
County Durham 1675 a 1832 2 2 - - - - Durham
North Durham 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Durham
South Durham 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Durham

E[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
East Grinstead 1307 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
East Looe 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
East Retford 1571 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Nottinghamshire
Isle of Ely 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Cambridgeshire
East Essex 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Essex
Essex 1290 1832 13 2 - - - - Essex
North Essex 1832 1868 - - 2 - - - Essex
South Essex 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Essex
West Essex 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Essex
Evesham 1604 1868 - 2 2 - - - Worcestershire
Exeter 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Devon
Eye 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Suffolk

F[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Finsbury 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Middlesex
Fowey 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall

G[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Gatton 1450 1832 - 2 - - - - Surrey
Gloucester 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Gloucestershire
East Gloucestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire 1290 1832 5 2 - - - - Gloucestershire
West Gloucestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Gloucestershire
Grampound 1547 1821 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Grantham 1468 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Lincolnshire
Great Bedwyn 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Great Grimsby 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Lincolnshire
Great Marlow 1625 1868 - 2 2 - - - Buckinghamshire
Great Yarmouth 1298 1868 2 2 2 - - - Mostly Norfolk but part in Suffolk
Greenwich 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Kent
Guildford 1295 1868 - - 2 - - - Surrey

H[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Hackney 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Middlesex
Halifax 1832 1918 - - 2 2 2 - Yorkshire
Hampshire 1290 1832 8 2 - - - - Hampshire
North Hampshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Hampshire
South Hampshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Hampshire
Harwich 1604 1868 - 2 2 - - - Essex
Haslemere 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Surrey
Hastings 1366 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Sussex
Hedon 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Yorkshire
Helston 1298 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Hereford 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Herefordshire
Herefordshire 1290 1885 4 2 3 3 - - Herefordshire
Hertford 1624 1868 - 2 2 - - - Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire 1290 1885 5 2 3 3 - - Hertfordshire
Heytesbury 1449 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Hindon 1449 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Honiton 1640 1868 - 2 2 - - - Devon
Horsham 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Huntingdon 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire 1290 1885 3 2 2 2 - - Huntingdonshire
Hythe 1366 1832 - 2 - - - - Kent

I[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Ilchester 1621 1832 - 2 - - - - Somerset
Ipswich 1298 1918 2 2 2 2 2 - Suffolk

K[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
East Kent 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Kent
Kent 1290 1832 11 2 - - - - Kent
Mid Kent 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Kent
West Kent 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Kent
King's Lynn 1298 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Norfolk
Kingston upon Hull 1334 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Knaresborough 1553 1868 - 2 2 - - - Yorkshire

L[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Lambeth 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Surrey
Lancashire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Lancashire
North Lancashire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Lancashire
North East Lancashire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Lancashire
South Lancashire 1832 1868 - - 2+ c - - - Lancashire
South East Lancashire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Lancashire
South West Lancashire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Lancashire
Lancaster 1523 1868 - 2 2 - - - Lancashire
Launceston 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Leeds 1832 1885 - - 2 3 - - Yorkshire
Leicester 1295 1918 2 2 2 2 2 - Leicestershire
Leicestershire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Leicestershire
North Leicestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Leicestershire
South Leicestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Leicestershire
Leominster 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Herefordshire
Lewes 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Sussex
Lichfield 1547 1868 - 2 2 - - - Staffordshire
Lincoln 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire 1290 1832 10 2 - - - - Lincolnshire
Mid Lincolnshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Lincolnshire
South Lincolnshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Lincolnshire
Liskeard 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Liverpool 1545 1885 - 2 2 3 - - Lancashire
City of London 1298 1950 6 4 4 4 2 2 Middlesex
Lostwithiel 1305 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Ludlow 1472 1868 - 2 2 - - - Shropshire
Ludgershall 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Lyme Regis 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Dorset
Lymington 1584 1868 - 2 2 - - - Hampshire

M[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Macclesfield 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cheshire
Maidstone 1563 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Kent
Maldon 1332 1868 - 2 2 - - - Essex
Malmesbury 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Malton 1641 1868 - 2 2 - - - Yorkshire
Manchester 1832 1885 - - 2 3 - - Lancashire
Marlborough 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Wiltshire
Marylebone 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Middlesex
Middlesex 1290 1885 4 2 2 2 - - Middlesex
Midhurst 1311 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Milborne Port 1628 1832 - 2 - - - - Somerset
Minehead 1563 1832 - 2 - - - - Somerset
Mitchell 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Morpeth 1553 1832 - 2 - - - - Northumberland

N[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Newark 1673 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Nottinghamshire
Newcastle-under-Lyme 1354 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Staffordshire
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1295 1918 - 2 2 2 2 - Northumberland
Newport (Cornwall) 1529 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Newport (Isle of Wight) 1584 1868 - 2 2 - - - Hampshire (Isle of Wight)
New Romney 1371 1832 - 2 - - - - Kent
New Shoreham 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Sussex
Newton (Lancashire) 1559 1832 - 2 - - - - Lancashire
Newtown (Isle of Wight) 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire (Isle of Wight)
New Woodstock 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Oxfordshire
East Norfolk 1832 1868 - - 2 - - - Norfolk
Norfolk 1290 1832 10 2 - - - - Norfolk
North Norfolk 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Norfolk
South Norfolk 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Norfolk
West Norfolk 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Norfolk
Northallerton 1640 1832 - 2 - - - - Yorkshire
Northampton 1295 1918 - 2 2 2 2 - Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire 1290 1832 6 2 - - - - Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Northamptonshire
South Northamptonshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Northamptonshire
North Northumberland 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Northumberland
Northumberland 1290 1832 3 2 - - - - Northumberland
South Northumberland 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Northumberland
Norwich 1298 1950 2 2 2 2 2 2 Norfolk
Nottingham 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Nottinghamshire
North Nottinghamshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Nottinghamshire
South Nottinghamshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Nottinghamshire

O[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Okehampton 1640 1832 - 2 - - - - Devon
Oldham 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Lancashire
Old Sarum 1360 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Orford 1512 1832 - 2 - - - - Suffolk
Oxford 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire 1290 1885 5 2 3 3 - - Oxfordshire
Oxford University 1603 1950 - 2 2 2 2 2 Oxfordshire

P[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Penryn 1553 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Penryn and Falmouth 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Cornwall
Peterborough 1547 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Northamptonshire
Petersfield 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire
Plymouth 1442 1918 2 2 2 2 2 - Devon
Plympton Erle 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Devon
Pontefract 1621 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Poole 1455 1868 - 2 2 - - - Dorset
Portsmouth 1295 1918 - 2 2 2 2 - Hampshire
Preston 1529 1950 - 2 2 2 2 2 Lancashire

Q[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Queenborough 1571 1832 - 2 - - - - Kent

R[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Reading 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Berkshire
Reigate 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Surrey
Richmond (Yorks) 1585 1868 - 2 2 - - - Yorkshire
Ripon 1553 1868 - 2 2 - - - Yorkshire
Rochester 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Kent
Rutland 1290 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Rutland
Rye 1366 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex

S[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
St Albans 1553 1852 - 2 2 - - - Hertfordshire
St Germans 1563 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
St Ives 1558 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
St Mawes 1563 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Salford 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Lancashire
Salisbury 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Wiltshire
Saltash 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Sandwich 1366 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Kent
Scarborough 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Seaford 1641 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Shaftesbury 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Dorset
Sheffield 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Shrewsbury 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Shropshire
North Shropshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Shropshire
Shropshire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Shropshire
South Shropshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Shropshire
East Somerset 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Somerset
Mid Somerset 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Somerset
Somerset 1290 1832 11 2 - - - - Somerset
West Somerset 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Somerset
Southampton 1295 1950 - 2 2 2 2 2 Hampshire
Southwark 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Surrey
Stafford 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Staffordshire
East Staffordshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Staffordshire
North Staffordshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Staffordshire
South Staffordshire 1832 1868 - - 2 - - - Staffordshire
Staffordshire 1290 1832 3 2 - - - - Staffordshire
West Staffordshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Staffordshire
Stamford 1467 1868 - 2 2 - - - Lincolnshire
Steyning 1467 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Stockbridge 1563 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire
Stockport 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Cheshire
Stoke-upon-Trent 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Staffordshire
Stroud 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Gloucestershire
Sudbury 1559 1844 - 2 2 - - - Suffolk
East Suffolk 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Suffolk
Suffolk 1290 1832 10 2 - - - - Suffolk
Western Division of Suffolk 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Suffolk
Sunderland 1832 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 Durham
East Surrey 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Surrey
Mid Surrey 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Surrey
Surrey 1290 1832 6 2 2 - - - Surrey
West Surrey 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Surrey
East Sussex 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Sussex
Sussex 1290 1832 9 2 - - - - Sussex
West Sussex 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Sussex

T[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Tamworth 1563 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Staffordshire
Taunton 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Somerset
Tavistock 1330 1868 - 2 2 - - - Devon
Tewkesbury 1610 1868 - 2 2 - - - Gloucestershire
Thetford 1529 1868 - 2 2 - - - Norfolk
Thirsk 1553 1832 - 2 - - - - Yorkshire
Tiverton 1615 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Devon
Totnes 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Devon
Tower Hamlets 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Middlesex
Tregony 1559 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Truro 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Cornwall

W[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Wallingford 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Berkshire
Wareham 1302 1832 - 2 - - - - Dorset
Warwick 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Warwickshire
North Warwickshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Warwickshire
South Warwickshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Warwickshire
Warwickshire 1290 1832 4 2 - - - - Warwickshire
Wells 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Somerset
Wendover 1625 1832 - 2 - - - - Buckinghamshire
Wenlock 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Shropshire
Weobley 1628 1832 - 2 - - - - Herefordshire
Westbury 1449 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
West Looe 1547 1832 - 2 - - - - Cornwall
Westminster 1545 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Middlesex
Westmorland 1290 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Westmorland
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis 1572 1885 - 4 2 2 - - Dorset
Whitchurch 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire
Wigan 1545 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Lancashire
Isle of Wight 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Hampshire (Isle of Wight)
Wilton 1295 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
North Wiltshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Wiltshire
South Wiltshire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Wiltshire
Wiltshire 1290 1832 10 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Winchelsea 1366 1832 - 2 - - - - Sussex
Winchester 1295 1885 - 2 2 2 - - Hampshire
Windsor 1424 1868 - 2 2 - - - Berkshire
Wolverhampton 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Staffordshire
Wootton Bassett 1447 1832 - 2 - - - - Wiltshire
Worcester 1295 1885 2 2 2 2 - - Worcestershire
East Worcestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Worcestershire
West Worcestershire 1832 1885 - - 2 2 - - Worcestershire
Worcestershire 1290 1832 5 2 - - - - Worcestershire
Wycombe 1295 1868 - 2 2 - - - Buckinghamshire

Y[edit]

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) 1584 1832 - 2 - - - - Hampshire (Isle of Wight)
York 1295 1918 2 2 2 2 2 - Yorkshire
Eastern West Riding of Yorkshire 1868 1885 - - - 2 - - Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire 1832 a 1885 4 - 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Northern West Riding of Yorkshire 1865 1885 - - (2) 2 - - Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire 1832 a 1885 4 - 2 2 - - Yorkshire
Southern West Riding of Yorkshire 1865 1885 - - (2) 2 - - Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire 1832 a 1865 6 - (2) - - - Yorkshire
Yorkshire 1290 1832 - 2+ b - - - - Yorkshire

Notes:-

  • a Before the constituency was regularly enfranchised, it sent members to the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments 1654–1658.
  • b In 1826 the representation of Yorkshire was increased to 4 seats.
  • c In 1861 the representation of South Lancashire was increased to 3 seats.

Multi-member constituencies in Wales[edit]

Article names are followed by (UK Parliament constituency). The constituencies which existed before 1832 were all part of the Parliament of England (from the date indicated until 1707), the Parliament of Great Britain (1707-1800) and the Parliament of the United Kingdom (from 1801).

For the purposes of this list Monmouthshire is treated as part of Wales throughout its existence as a Parliamentary county, although before the twentieth century it was regarded as part of England.

Constituency From Until Prot <1832 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic County
Anglesey 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Anglesey
Breconshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Breconshire
Caernarvonshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Caernarvonshire
Cardiganshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Cardiganshire
Carmarthenshire 1832 a 1885 2 - 2 2 - - Carmarthenshire
Denbighshire 1832 a 1885 2 - 2 2 - - Denbighshire
Flintshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Flintshire
Glamorganshire 1832 a 1885 2 - 2 2 - - Glamorganshire
Merthyr Tydfil 1868 1918 - - - 2 2 - Glamorganshire
Monmouthshire 1542 1885 3 2 2 2 - - Monmouthshire
Montgomeryshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Montgomeryshire
Pembrokeshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Pembrokeshire
Radnorshire 1654 1658 2 - - - - - Radnorshire

Note:-

  • a Enfranchised with one seat in 1542, but given two seats in the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments (1654-1658), before being allocated two seats again in 1832.

Multi-member constituencies in Scotland[edit]

Constituency names until 1707 are followed by (Parliament of Scotland constituency). Those from 1708 are followed by (UK Parliament constituency). The constituencies which existed before the Union in 1707 were all part of the Parliament of Scotland (from a currently unestablished date until 1707). Apart from the members co-opted to the 1st Parliament of Great Britain, who are treated in this list as representing Scotland as an undivided whole, there were no Scottish multi-member constituencies from 1707 until the boundary changes for the Parliament of the United Kingdom seats in 1832.

See the list of constituencies in the Parliament of Scotland at the time of the Union for more details, including a discussion of the possible inaccuracy of the constituency and shire names in the list.

Constituency From Until Prot <1690 1690 1707 1832 1868 1885 1918 Historic shire or county
Aberdeenshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Aberdeenshire
Argyllshire <1707 1707 - 2 3 - - - - - Argyllshire
Ayrshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Ayrshire
Banffshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Banffshire
Berwickshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Berwickshire
Buteshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Buteshire
Caithness-shire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Caithness-shire
Combined Scottish Universities 1918 1950 - - - - - - - 3 various counties
Cromartyshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Cromartyshire
Dumfries and Annandale <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Dumfries & Annandale
Dunbartonshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Dunbartonshire
Dundee 1868 1950 - - - - - 2 2 2 Forfarshire/Angus
Edinburgh 1832 a 1885 2 2 2 - 2 2 - - Edinburghshire/Midlothian
Edinburghshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Edinburghshire
Elgin and Forresshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Elgin & Forresshire
Fifeshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Fifeshire
Forfarshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Forfarshire
Glasgow 1832 1885 - - - - 2 3 - - Lanarkshire
Haddingtonshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Haddingtonshire
Inverness-shire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Inverness-shire
Kincardineshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Kincardineshire
Kirkcudbright Stewartry <1707 1707 - 2 3 - - - - - Stewartry of Kirkcudbright
Lanarkshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Lanarkshire
Linlithgowshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Linlithgowshire
Nairnshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Nairnshire
Orkney and Zetland <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Orkney and Zetland
Peeblesshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Peeblesshire
Perthshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Perthshire
Renfrewshire <1707 1707 - 2 3 - - - - - Renfrewshire
Ross-shire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Ross-shire
Roxburghshire <1707 1707 - 2 4 - - - - - Roxburghshire
Scotland b 1707 1708 - - - 45 - - - - undivided country
Selkirkshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Selkirkshire
Stirlingshire <1707 1707 - 2 3 - - - - - Stirlingshire
Wigtownshire <1707 1707 - 2 2 - - - - - Wigtownshire

Note:-

  • a Edinburgh was allocated two seats in the Protectorate Parliaments (1654-1659). There were two commissioners from Edinburgh in the Parliament of Scotland. In 1708-1832 the city was represented by one member of the Westminster Parliament.
  • b The members for Scotland, in the 1st Parliament of Great Britain, were co-opted by the last pre-Union Parliament of Scotland from amongst its elected members.

Multi-member constituencies in Ireland[edit]

Every constituency in the Irish House of Commons elected two members up to its dissolution in 1800. Every County returned two members to the UK House of Commons from 1801 until 1885.

Constituency From Until Prot <1801 1801 1832 1885 1918 1922 Historic County
Antrim 1801 1950 - - 2 2 2 2 2 Antrim
Belfast 1801 1885 - - - 2 2 - - Antrim
Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny and Queen's 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Cork City 1801 1922 - 2 2 2 2 2 - Cork
Dublin City 1801 1922 2 2 2 2 - - - Dublin
Derry, Donegal and Tyrone 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Down 1801 1950 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Down
Down, Antrim and Armagh 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Dublin County and City 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - Dublin
Dublin University 1832 1922 - 2 - 2 2 2 - Dublin
Fermanagh and Tyrone 1922 1950 - - - - - - 2 Fermanagh, Tyrone
Galway Borough 1832 1885 - - - 2 2 - - Galway
Galway and Mayo 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Kerry, Limerick and Clare 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Kildare and Wicklow 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Limerick City 1832 1885 - - - 2 2 - - Limerick
Londonderry 1801 1885 - - 2 2 2 - - Derry
Meath and Louth 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Waterford and Tipperary 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties
Waterford City 1832 1885 - - - 2 - - - Limerick
Westmeath, Longford and King's 1654 1659 2 - - - - - - various counties

References[edit]

  • British Electoral Facts 1832-1987, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1989)
  • The Constitutional Year Book 1900 (William Blackstone & Sons 1900) out of copyright
  • Electoral Reform in England and Wales, by Charles Seymour (David & Charles Reprints 1970)
  • The Statutes: Second Revised Edition, Vol. XVI 1884-1886 (printed by authority in 1900)