Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)


Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.
The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1832. The borough's representation was reduced to one MP by the Reform Act 1832.
The parliamentary borough was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and the name transferred to a new county division with effect from the 1885 general election. The county division returned one MP until it was abolished for the 1983 general election. It was then largely replaced by the new Ribble Valley constituency.

Boundaries

1885–1918: The Boroughs of Clitheroe and Burnley, the Sessional Division of Colne, and parts of the Sessional Divisions of Clitheroe and Burnley.
1918–1950: The Borough of Clitheroe, the Urban Districts of Great Harwood and Padiham, the Rural District of Clitheroe, and part of the Rural District of Burnley.
1950–1983: The Borough of Clitheroe, the Urban Districts of Great Harwood, Longridge, and Padiham, the Rural Districts of Burnley and Clitheroe, and in the Rural District of Preston the parishes of Dutton, Hothersall, and Ribchester.

Members of Parliament

Borough of Clitheroe

MPs 1559–1660

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1559 Thomas GreenacresWalter Horton
1563 Thomas GreenacresJohn Jeffrey
1571Richard GreenacresGeorge Horsey
1572William WynterThomas Docwray
1584Michael PurefoyAlexander Fisher
1586Edmund PoleyJohn Walmesley
1588 Robert PilkingtonJohn White
1593William TwysdenJohn Chamberlain
1597 William HolteGeorge Rotheram
1601 John OsbaldestoneAnthony Dering
1604Sir John DormerMartin Lister
1614Sir Gilbert Hoghton, 2nd BaronetClement Coke
1621–1622Sir Thomas WalmsleyWilliam Fanshawe
1624William FanshaweRalph Whitfield
1625Ralph AsshetonWilliam Fanshawe
Jan 1626Ralph AsshetonGeorge Kirke
Apr 1626Ralph AsshetonChristopher Hatton
1628Thomas JermynWilliam Newell
1629–1640No Parliament summonedNo Parliament summoned
1640 Sir Ralph AsshetonRichard Shuttleworth, jnr
1640 Sir Ralph AsshetonRichard Shuttleworth, jnr
1645Sir Ralph AsshetonRichard Shuttleworth, jnr
1648Richard Shuttleworth, jnr-
1653–1660Clitheroe not represented in Barebones or Protectorate ParliamentsClitheroe not represented in Barebones or Protectorate Parliaments

MPs 1660–1832

Two members returned to Parliament
YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party
Apr 1660Sir Ralph AsshetonWilliam White
Jul 1660Sir Ralph AsshetonWilliam Hulton
Apr 1661Sir Ralph AsshetonJohn Heath
1662Ambrose PudsayJohn Heath
1675Sir Thomas StringerJohn Heath
1679Sir Thomas StringerSir Ralph Assheton
1680Sir Thomas StringerHenry Marsden
1685Lord StrangeEdmund Assheton
1689Anthony ParkerChristopher Wilkinson
1690Anthony ParkerRoger Kenyon
1693Fitton GerardRoger Kenyon
1695Christopher ListerAmbrose Pudsay
1698Christopher ListerThomas Stringer
1701Ambrose PudsayThomas Stringer
1705Edward HarveyThomas Stringer
1707Edward HarveyDaniel Harvey
1708Edward HarveyChristopher Parker
Apr 1713Thomas Lister IChristopher Parker
Sep 1713Thomas Lister ICharles Zedenno Stanley
1715Thomas Lister IEdward Harvey
1722Thomas Lister INathaniel Curzon
1727Thomas Lister IThe Viscount Galway
1734Thomas Lister IWilliam Curzon
1745Thomas Lister IIWilliam Curzon
1747Thomas Lister IINathaniel Curzon
1754Thomas Lister IIToryAssheton CurzonTory
Dec 1761 by-electionNathaniel ListerToryAssheton CurzonTory
1773 by-electionThomas Lister IIIToryAssheton CurzonTory
1780Thomas Lister IIIToryJohn ParkerTory
1782 by-electionThomas Lister IIIToryJohn LeeTory
1790Sir John Aubrey, BtToryPenn CurzonTory
1792 by-electionSir John Aubrey, BtToryAssheton CurzonTory
1795 by-electionSir John Aubrey, BtToryRichard Erle-Drax-GrosvenorTory
1796Lord Edward BentinckToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1802Hon. John CustToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1808 by-electionJames GordonToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
Oct 1812Viscount CastlereaghToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
Dec 1812 by-electionEdward Wilbraham-BootleToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1818Hon. William CustToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1822 by-electionHenry PorcherToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1826Hon. Peregrine CustToryHon. Robert CurzonTory
1831Hon. Peregrine CustToryHon. Robert CurzonTory

MPs 1832–1885

Clitheroe division of Lancashire

MPs 1885–1983

Election results

Elections in the 1970s

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1950s

Elections in the 1940s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1890s

Elections in the 1880s

Elections in the 1860s

Wilson's election at the 1841 general election was declared void and Cardwell was declared elected on 21 March 1842.

Elections in the 1830s