Oxford (UK Parliament constituency)


Oxford was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. It comprised the city of Oxford in the county of Oxfordshire, and elected two members of parliament from its creation in 1295 until 1885 when its representation was reduced to one member by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Oxford was a marginal seat.

Boundaries and boundary changes

1918–1950: The County Borough of Oxford. The boundaries were expanded to coincide with the County Borough.
1950–1983: As above, with redrawn boundaries. Areas which had been absorbed by the County Borough of Oxford, including Cowley and Headington, transferred from the Henley constituency.  Small area in the north also transferred from Banbury.
In the 1983 redistribution, this constituency was abolished and was split into two new, separate constituencies: Oxford East, and Oxford West and Abingdon. The City of Oxford local government district had replaced the County Borough of Oxford on 1 April 1974, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, and the redistribution reflected this. Despite Oxford West and Abingdon including Oxford city centre, Oxford East included the majority of the new district. The city centre has been in the redrawn Oxford East since 2010.

Members of Parliament

1295–1640

ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1379Edmund KenyanThomas Somerset
1380 Edmund Kenyan
1381Edmund Kenyan
1382 Edmund Kenyan
1385Edmund Kenyan
1386Edmund KenyanThomas Houkyn
1388 John HickesThomas Somerset
1388 John ShaweThomas Baret
1390 Richard GarstonAlan Lekensfeld
1390 Edmund KenyanAdam de la River
1391Edmund KenyanJohn Ottworth
1393Richard GarstonJohn Merston
1394Edmund KenyanJohn Forster
1395John LudlowAdam de la River
1397 Walter BenhamAdam de la River
1397 John OttworthAdam de la River
1399John SpicerJohn Burbridge
1401Thomas ForsthullAdam de la River
1402Walter BenhamJohn Spicer
1404 Thomas CoventreJohn Spicer
1404 John MerstonMichael Salisbury
1406John OttworthThomas Cowley
1407Thomas CoventreHugh Benet
1410Thomas CoventreHugh Benet
1411-
1413 -
1413 Thomas CoventreHugh Benet
1414 John Shawe IIWalter Colet
1414 Thomas CoventreJohn Merston
1415-
1416 Thomas CoventreWilliam Brampton
1416 -
1417Thomas CoventreHugh Benet
1419Thomas CoventreWilliam Brampton
1420Thomas CoventreWilliam Offord
1421 Thomas CoventreWilliam Brampton
1421 John QuaraneWilliam Offord
1491Robert Caxton
1510–1523No names known-
1529John LattonWilliam Fleming
1536?John Latton?William Fleming
1539Thomas DentonRichard Gunter
1542?-
1545?-
1547Ralph FlaxneyEdward Frere
1553 Christopher EdmondsEdward Glynton
1553 John WayteThomas Williams
1554 Thomas MallinsonEdward Glynton
1554 John WayteWilliam Tylcock
1555John WayteWilliam Pantre
1558John BartonRichard Williams
1559 Thomas WoodRoger Taylor
1562 William PageThomas Wood
1571Edward KnollysWilliam Frere
1572 Edward Knollys, died
and replaced 1576 by Francis Knollys		William Owen, died
and replaced Jan 1581 by Edward Norris
1584 Francis KnollysWilliam Noble
1586 Francis KnollysGeorge Calfield
1588 Francis KnollysGeorge Calfield
1593Sir Edmund CareyGeorge Calfield
1597 Anthony BaconGeorge Calfield
1601 Sir Francis LeighGeorge Calfield
1604Francis LeighThomas Wentworth
1614Sir John AstleyThomas Wentworth
1621–1622Sir John BrookeThomas Wentworth
1624John WhistlerThomas Wentworth
1625John WhistlerThomas Wentworth
1626John WhistlerThomas Wentworth
1628–1629John WhistlerThomas Wentworth
1629–1640No Parliaments convened-

1640–1885

1885–1983

Elections

Elections in the 1830s

Stonor's election was declared void on petition, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1840s

Elections in the 1850s

Wood was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, requiring a by-election.
Wood resigned after being appointed Vice-Chancellor, causing a by-election.
Neate's election was declared void on petition due to bribery, causing a by-election.
Cardwell was appointed Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1860s

Cardwell was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, requiring a by-election.
Langston's death caused a by-election.
Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, requiring a by-election.

Cardwell was appointed Secretary of State for War, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s

Harcourt was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales, causing a by-election.

Cardwell succeeded to the peerage, becoming Viscount Cardwell and causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s

Harcourt was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.
Hall's election was declared void, on account of bribery, and the writ was suspended.
In 1881, Chitty was appointed a judge and resigned the seat. However, as the writ was suspended, no by-election was held and the seat was left without an MP until 1885, when representation was also reduced to one member.

Elections in the 1890s

Chesney's death caused a by-election.
Annesley's appointment as Comptroller of the Household, requiring a by-election.

Elections in the 1900s

Elections in the 1910s

Elections in the 1920s

Elections in the 1930s

Elections in the 1940s

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 Autumn 1939, the following candidates had been selected;
+0.69%

Elections in the 1960s

Elections in the 1970s