Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (UK Parliament constituency)
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis was a parliamentary borough in Dorset represented in the English House of Commons, later in that of Great Britain, and finally in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was formed by an Act of Parliament of 1570 which amalgamated the existing boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. Until 1832, the combined borough continued to elect the four Members of Parliament to which its constituent parts had previously been entitled; the Great Reform Act reduced its representation to two Members, and the constituency was abolished altogether in 1885, becoming part of the new South Dorset constituency.
Members of Parliament
Members for Weymouth (1348–1570)
Parliament | First member | Second member |
1386 | John Gosselyn I | John Hughelot |
1388 | John Wake | Henry Hert |
1388 | Thomas Dovere | John James |
1390 | Philip Brice | Robert Gilbert |
1390 | - | |
1391 | Philip Brice | John James |
1393 | Henry Badecok | John Avery |
1394 | John Bassingbourne | William Glover |
1395 | John Bassingbourne | Stephen Russell |
1397 | Thomas Cole | John Fleet |
1397 | William Ford | Nicholas Crabbe |
1399 | John Brice | William Clerk |
1401 | - | |
1402 | Robert Penne | William Faringdon |
1404 | - | |
1404 | - | |
1406 | Peter Dille | William Rose I |
1407 | John Aalday | John Bassingbourne |
1410 | Thomas Payn | John Bassingbourne |
1411 | - | |
1413 | - | |
1413 | Robert Penne | John Wydeford |
1414 | Thomas Payn | John Wodham |
1414 | John James | John Wodham |
1415 | - | |
1416 | - | |
1416 | - | |
1417 | John Brice | Robert Penne |
1419 | Robert Hillary | Robert Penne |
1420 | Robert Hillary | Robert Penne |
1421 | John Bassingbourne | Robert Penne |
1421 | William Payn | John Penne |
1423 | John Abbot | - |
1450 | John Troutbeck | - |
1472-5 | William Twynyho | - |
1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
1529 | William Bond | Robert Aley |
1536 | ? | - |
1539 | ? | - |
1542 | William Aubrey | Richard Jenour |
1545 | Roger Stourton | Richard Duke |
1547 | John Cornelius alias Johnson alias Welbored | John Brace |
1553 | ?Richard Phelips | ? |
1553 | Thomas Samways | John Jordan alias Blancombe |
1554 | John Wadham | John Williams |
1554 | John Phelips | William Randall |
1555 | John Buller | Thomas Hobbs |
1558 | Thomas Keynell | John Cattell |
1559 | Thomas Fitzwilliams | John Fowler |
1562/3 | Robert Eyre | Reginald Gray |
Members for Melcombe Regis (1319–1570)
Parliament | First member | Second member |
1386 | Henry Ford | John Northovere |
1388 | Henry Ford | Thomas Russell |
1388 | Thomas Walsh | Richard Morys |
1390 | John Northovere | Thomas Russell |
1390 | - | |
1391 | John Northovere | John Kete |
1393 | John Abbot | Robert Veel |
1394 | Robert Calche | Robert Veel |
1395 | Robert Calche | William Helier |
1397 | Robert Calche | Henry Ford |
1397 | William Helier | William Coventre II |
1399 | Thomas Cole | Eustace Kymer |
1401 | - | |
1402 | John Wyot | William Fowler |
1404 | Robert Penne | William Helier |
1404 | - | |
1406 | Richard Hurst | William Clerk |
1407 | Thomas Cole | Eustace Kymer |
1410 | John Ford | Lane |
1411 | - | |
1413 | - | |
1413 | Ralph Burnage | Thomas Lond |
1414 | Henry Barbour | Ralph Burnage |
1414 | William Pyne | William Helier |
1415 | - | |
1416 | - | |
1416 | - | |
1417 | Nicholas Pury | John Gardener |
1419 | Ralph Burnage | Walter Reson |
1420 | William Walkeden | Robert Abbot |
1421 | William Benefeld | Robert Abbot |
1421 | William Walkeden or Nicholas Moigne | John Alysaundre |
1437 | William Abbot | |
1510–1523 | No names known | No names known |
1529 | Richard Phelips | Oliver Lawrence |
1536 | ? | - |
1539 | ? | - |
1542 | ? | - |
1545 | Anthony Cokett | Thomas Poley |
1547 | Thomas Phelips | John Leweston |
1553 | John Wadham | ?Owen Reynolds |
1553 | John Leweston | Owen Reynolds |
1554 | Richard Mitchell | Thomas Samways |
1554 | Thomas Phelips | John Hannam |
1555 | John Leweston | William Crowche |
1558 | John Mill | Richard Shaw |
1559 | John Maynes | Richard Shaw |
1563-7 | Thomas Colby | William Mere |
Members for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (1570–1885)
1570–1629
1640–1832
1832–1885
Election results
Elections in the 1830s
Weyland was also elected for and opted to sit there, causing a by-election.Representation reduced to two members.
Elections in the 1840s
On petition the result was overturned on 4 April 1842 and the opponents, Bernal and Christie, were seated in their place.Christie resigned by accepting the office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, causing a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s
Elections in the 1860s
A late compromise between the Conservatives and Liberals, whereby Mr Brooks and Mr Gridley would be elected, came too late to cancel the election.The 1867 by-election followed the resignation of Henry Gillett Gridley.