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{{Short description|Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1918}}
{{Distinguish|Electoral district of Croydon (disambiguation){{!}}Electoral district of Croydon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox UK constituency main
{{Infobox UK constituency main
|name = Croydon
|name = Croydon
|parliament = uk
|parliament = uk
|map1 =
|map1 = Croydon 1885_
|map2 =
|map2 =
|map_entity =
|map_entity = Surrey
|map_year =
|map_year = 1910
|year = 1885
|year = 1885
|abolished = 1918
|abolished = 1918
|type = Borough
|type = Borough
|elects_howmany = One
|elects_howmany = One
|previous = [[East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)|East Surrey]]
|previous = [[East Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)|East Surrey]] (leaving its bulk, continued)
|next = [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] and [[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]
|next = [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] and [[Croydon South (historic UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]
|region = England
|region = England
|county = [[Surrey]]
|county = [[Surrey]]
|towns = [[Croydon]], [[Addiscombe]], [[Norbury, London|Norbury]], [[South Croydon]], [[South Norwood]], [[Thornton Heath]], [[Upper Norwood]]
}}
}}


'''Croydon''' was a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] from 1885 to 1918. It elected one [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.
'''Croydon''' was a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] from 1885 to 1918. As with most in its lifetime following the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]], it was a seat, that elected one [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.

It was won for all but three years by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative candidate]], the exception being the years 1906-1909 when that party, as a fellow Unionist party against [[Irish Home Rule]] and other devolution in a spell of widespread popular decline held a general meeting endorsing instead [[H. O. Arnold-Forster]], a [[Liberal Unionist]]. His 3.2% victory against the candidate of the rest of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] coupled with a 20.2% performance for [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] in Croydon which coincided with a Liberal landslide &mdash; the [[First Asquith ministry]] which brought in the fundamental constitutional reform of the [[Parliament Act 1911]] after the delay for "the [[People's Budget]]" to be implemented.<ref>Murray, Bruce K. "The Politics of the ‘People's Budget’." ''Historical journal'' 16#3 (1973): 555-570.</ref> He died in 1909 causing a by-election and his party, with its occasional candidates in the region, no longer stood for the Croydon seat nor its north–south successors after 1918. The Labour party fielded a candidate for the second time in the 1909 by-election, polling badly, winning about a fifth of the 1906 vote; the party fielded none in the 1910 elections for this seat.


== Boundaries ==
== Boundaries ==
'''1885–1918''': The municipal borough of Croydon.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria |url=https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog |location=London |publisher=Eyre and Spottiswoode |pages=[https://archive.org/details/publicgeneralac01walegoog/page/n114 111]–198 |date=1885 |chapter=Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885 }}</ref>
This constituency was a [[parliamentary borough]] covering an area based on the town of [[Croydon]]. Croydon had been a [[Municipal Borough]] from 1883 and was to become a [[County Borough]] in 1889. By 1902, at the latest, the parliamentary and local government boroughs had the same boundaries.


This seat was covered an area based on the town of [[Croydon]]. Croydon had been a [[Municipal Borough]] from 1883 and was to become a [[County Borough]] in 1889. By 1902, at the latest, the parliamentary and local government boroughs had the same boundaries.
The Royal Commission on London Traffic, which reported in 1906, included the borough in its definition of Greater London. It is part of the northern section of the historic county of [[Surrey]], which was included in [[Greater London]] after 1965.


The Royal Commission on London Traffic, which reported in 1906, included the borough in its definition of Greater London. It was throughout in the north-east of [[Surrey]]. Its area has been included in [[Greater London]] since 1965.
From 1918 '''Croydon''' was divided into two borough constituencies - [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] and [[Croydon South (historic UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]].

From 1918 '''Croydon''' was divided into two borough constituencies - [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] and [[Croydon South (historic UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]].


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:United Kingdom general election 1906 (within London & Middlesex).svg|thumb|The 1906 election saw for the first time a majority of seats in London's metropolitan area align with the Liberal party; the Liberal Unionist candidate here was a compromise reached by the Conservatives and non-Home Rule for Ireland Liberals calculated to prevent a loss to a Liberal candidate.]]
The constituency was close enough to London to be considered part of a Greater London area. Nevertheless at the time it existed the constituency was a Surrey borough, so it was in the South East region rather than the London region. Both regional historic constituency categories apply.
The constituency was close enough to London and built-up enough to be considered part of a greater London or "Metropolitan" area.

A large part of the inhabitants of this constituency commuted to work in the City of London. It was however an area where attendance at Nonconformist chapels exceeded that at Anglican churches, according to the ''Daily News'' survey of 1902. By the time of the 1911 census more factories had been set up and a large artisan population had moved in so its core and north in particular was decidedly lower-income working-class.


The constituency was in general Conservative, but less strongly so than many suburban commuter seats around London. The Labour Party secured 20% of the vote, in a three-way contest, in the 1906 election.
A large part of the inhabitants of this constituency commuted to work in the City of London. It was however an area where attendance at Nonconformist chapels exceeded that at Anglican churches, according to the ''Daily News'' survey of 1902. By the time of the 1911 census a larger artisan population had moved in so the social status of the borough was declining.


;Borough rather than a County seat
The constituency was in general Conservative, but less strongly so than many suburban commuter seats around London. The Labour Party secured 20% of the vote, in a three way contest, in the 1906 election.
The seat being a [[parliamentary borough]] made for a lower level of election expenses permissible and the usual office/status for the returning officer.


== Members of Parliament ==
== Members of Parliament ==
Line 38: Line 50:
!colspan="2"|Year!!Member!!Party
!colspan="2"|Year!!Member!!Party
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
||[[United Kingdom general election, 1885|1885]] || [[William Grantham]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
||[[1885 United Kingdom general election|1885]] || [[William Grantham]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
||[[Croydon by-election, 1886|1886]] || [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
||[[1886 Croydon by-election|1886]] || [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
||[[Croydon by-election, May 1895|1895]] || [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
||[[May 1895 Croydon by-election|1895]] || [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Liberal Unionist Party/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Unionist Party}}" |
||[[United Kingdom general election, 1906|1906]] || [[H. O. Arnold-Forster]] || [[Liberal Unionist Party|Liberal Unionist]]
||[[1906 United Kingdom general election|1906]] || [[H. O. Arnold-Forster]] || [[Liberal Unionist Party|Liberal Unionist]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
||[[Croydon by-election, 1909|1909]] || [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Sir Robert Hermon-Hodge]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
||[[1909 Croydon by-election|1909]] || [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Sir Robert Hermon-Hodge]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|-
|style="background-color: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
|style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
||[[United Kingdom general election, December 1910|1910]] || [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
||[[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|1910]] || [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]] || [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
|-
|colspan="2"| [[United Kingdom general election, 1918|1918]]
|colspan="2"| [[1918 United Kingdom general election|1918]]
|colspan="2"| ''constituency abolished
|colspan="2"| ''constituency abolished''
|-
|-
|}
|}
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=== Elections in the 1880s ===
=== Elections in the 1880s ===
[[Image:Jabez Balfour Vanity Fair 1892-03-19.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Jabez Balfour]]
[[Image:Jabez Balfour Vanity Fair 1892-03-19.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Jabez Balfour]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1885|General Election 1885]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1885 United Kingdom general election|General election 1885]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[William Grantham]]
|candidate = [[William Grantham]]
|votes =5,484
|votes =5,484
|percentage = 56.0
|percentage = 56.0
|change = n/a
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Jabez Balfour]]
|candidate = [[Jabez Balfour]]
|votes = 4,315
|votes = 4,315
|percentage = 44.0
|percentage = 44.0
|change = n/a
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 1,169
| |votes = 1,169
|percentage = 12.0
|percentage = 12.0
|change = n/a
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 9,799
|percentage = 77.7
|percentage = 77.7
|change = n/a
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box new seat win
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 12,619
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing = n/a
{{Election box new seat win
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

Grantham resigned after being appointed a judge of the [[High Court of Justice#Queen's Bench Division|Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice]], causing a by-election.

[[Image:Sydney Buxton.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Sydney Buxton]]
[[Image:Sydney Buxton.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Sydney Buxton]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[Croydon by-election, 1886]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[January 1886 Croydon by-election|By-election, 27 Jan 1886]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|votes =5,205
|votes =5,205
Line 105: Line 123:
|change = -2.1
|change = -2.1
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton|Sydney Buxton]]
|candidate = [[Sydney Buxton, 1st Earl Buxton|Sydney Buxton]]
|votes = 4,458
|votes = 4,458
Line 112: Line 130:
|change = +2.1
|change = +2.1
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 747
| |votes = 747
|percentage = 7.8
|percentage = 7.8
|change = -4.2
|change = -4.2
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 9,663
|percentage = 76.6
|percentage = 76.6
|change = -1.1
|change = -1.1
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 12,619
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing = -2.1
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = -2.1
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1886|General Election 1886]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1886 United Kingdom general election|General election 1886]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|votes =unopposed
|percentage = n/a
|change = n/a
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing = n/a
{{Election box end}}

Herbert was appointed a [[Lord Commissioner of the Treasury]], requiring a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=[[August 1886 Croydon by-election|By-election, 11 Aug 1886]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
Line 144: Line 174:
=== Elections in the 1890s ===
=== Elections in the 1890s ===
[[File:Ranji 1897 page 367 Lord Pembroke.jpg|thumb|120px|Sidney Herbert]]
[[File:Ranji 1897 page 367 Lord Pembroke.jpg|thumb|120px|Sidney Herbert]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1892|General Election 1892]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1892 United Kingdom general election|General election 1892]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|candidate = [[Sidney Herbert, 14th Earl of Pembroke|Sidney Herbert]]
|votes =6,528
|votes =6,528
|percentage = 57.5
|percentage = 57.5
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = Edward William Grimwade
|candidate = Edward William Grimwade
|votes = 4,834
|votes = 4,834
|percentage = 42.5
|percentage = 42.5
|change = n/a
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 1,694
| |votes = 1,694
|percentage = 15.0
|percentage = 15.0
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 11,362
|percentage = 76.6
|percentage = 76.6
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 14,837
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing = n/a
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[Croydon by-election, May 1895|Croydon by-election, 1895]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
Herbert's succession to the peerage causes a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=[[May 1895 Croydon by-election]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee| Charles Ritchie]]
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]]
|votes =unopposed
|percentage = n/a
|change = n/a
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = n/a
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}

Ritchie's appointment as [[President of the Board of Trade]] causes a by-election.

{{Election box begin | title=[[July 1895 Croydon by-election]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]]
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
{{Election box end}}

[[File:Charles Thomson Ritchie headshot.jpg|thumb|120px|Charles Ritchie]]
[[File:Charles Thomson Ritchie headshot.jpg|thumb|120px|Charles Ritchie]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1895|General Election 1895]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1895 United Kingdom general election|General election 1895]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]]
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]]
|votes =6,876
|votes =6,876
|percentage = 59.7
|percentage = 59.7
|change = n/a
|change = +2.2
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = Christopher Clarke Hutchinson
|candidate = Christopher Clarke Hutchinson
|votes = 4,647
|votes = 4,647
|percentage = 40.3
|percentage = 40.3
|change = n/a
|change =&minus;2.2
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 2,229
| |votes = 2,229
|percentage = 19.4
|percentage = 19.4
|change = n/a
|change = +4.4
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 11,523
|percentage = 71.3
|percentage = 71.3
|change = n/a
|change = &minus;5.3
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 16,152
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing = n/a
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +2.2
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


=== Elections in the 1900s ===
=== Elections in the 1900s ===
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1900|General Election 1900]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1900 United Kingdom general election|General election 1900]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee| Charles Ritchie]]
|candidate = [[Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee|Charles Ritchie]]
|votes =unopposed
|percentage = n/a
|change = n/a
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = n/a
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:Sidney Stranks.png|thumb|120px|Stranks]]
[[File:Sidney Stranks.png|thumb|120px|Stranks]]
{{Election box begin | title=[[United Kingdom general election, 1906|General Election 1906]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
{{Election box begin | title=[[1906 United Kingdom general election|General election 1906]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Unionist Party
| |party = Liberal Unionist Party
|candidate = [[H. O. Arnold-Forster]]
|candidate = [[H. O. Arnold-Forster]]
|votes =8,211
|votes =8,211
|percentage = 41.5
|percentage = 41.5
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = Henry Charles Augustus Somerset
|candidate = Henry Charles Augustus Somerset
|votes = 7,573
|votes = 7,573
|percentage = 38.3
|percentage = 38.3
|change = n/a
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Representation Committee (1900)
| |party = Labour Representation Committee (1900)
|candidate = [[Sidney Stranks]]
|candidate = [[Sidney Stranks]]
|votes = 4,007
|votes = 4,007
|percentage = 20.2
|percentage = 20.2
|change = n/a
|change = ''New''
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 638
| |votes = 638
|percentage = 3.2
|percentage = 3.2
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 19,791
|percentage = 83.0
|percentage = 83.0
|change = n/a
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 23,858
|winner = Liberal Unionist Party
}}
|swing = n/a
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Liberal Unionist Party
|swing = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:1909_John_Raphael.jpg|thumb|120px|Raphael]]
[[File:1909_John_Raphael.jpg|thumb|120px|Raphael]]
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin
|title=[[Croydon by-election, 1909]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
| |title=[[1909 Croydon by-election]]<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Robert Hermon-Hodge]]
|candidate = [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Robert Hermon-Hodge]]
|votes =11,989
|votes =11,989
|percentage = 57.4
|percentage = 57.4
|change =
|change = +15.9
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = [[John Raphael (sportsman)|John Raphael]]
|candidate = [[John Raphael (sportsman)|John Raphael]]
|votes = 8,041
|votes = 8,041
|percentage = 38.4
|percentage = 38.4
|change =
|change = +0.1
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Labour Party (UK)
| |party = Labour Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Frank Smith (British politician)|Frank Smith]]
|candidate = [[Frank Smith (British politician)|Frank Smith]]
|votes = 886
|votes = 886
|percentage = 4.2
|percentage = 4.2
|change =
|change = &minus;16.0
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 3,948
| |votes = 3,948
|percentage = 19.0
|percentage = 19.0
|change =
|change = +15.8
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 20,916
|percentage = 79.0
|percentage = 79.0
|change =
|change = &minus;4.0
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 26,470
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing =
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +7.9
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
Line 319: Line 370:
=== Elections in the 1910s ===
=== Elections in the 1910s ===
[[File:Robert_Hermon-Hodge.jpg|thumb|120px|Hermon-Hodge]]
[[File:Robert_Hermon-Hodge.jpg|thumb|120px|Hermon-Hodge]]
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, January 1910|General Election January 1910]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
| |title=[[January 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election January 1910]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Robert Hermon-Hodge]]
|candidate = [[Robert Hermon-Hodge, 1st Baron Wyfold|Robert Hermon-Hodge]]
|votes =12,223
|votes =12,223
|percentage = 51.9
|percentage = 51.9
|change = -5.5{{#tag:ref|The change (swing) figures here are contrasting the by-election in the previous year, breaking with convention as the last party who stood at a General Election, some four years before, was the co-ticket of the Liberal Unionists and Conservatives, a Liberal Unionist rather than a Conservative; furthermore the Liberal Party only altered its vote between that general election and the by-election by 0.1% making use of the by-election statistics much fairer and informative to the two candidates making up the new slate/field.|name=note|group=n}}
|change =
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = Arthur Lewis Leon
|candidate = Arthur Lewis Leon
|votes = 11,327
|votes = 11,327
|percentage = 48.1
|percentage = 48.1
|change =
|change = +9.7{{#tag:ref||name=note|group=n}}
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 896
| |votes = 896
|percentage = 3.8
|percentage = 3.8
|change =
|change = ''N/A''
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 23,550
|percentage = 86.1
|percentage = 86.1
|change =
|change = +3.1
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 27,350
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
}}
|swing =
{{Election box hold with party link
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing = +0.3
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
[[File:Ian Zachary Malcolm Vanity Fair 12 May 1898.jpg|thumb|120px|Ian Malcolm]]
[[File:Ian Zachary Malcolm Vanity Fair 12 May 1898.jpg|thumb|120px|Ian Malcolm]]
{{Election box begin |
{{Election box begin
|title=[[United Kingdom general election, December 1910|General Election December 1910]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
| |title=[[December 1910 United Kingdom general election|General election December 1910]]: Croydon<ref>British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Conservative Party (UK)
| |party = Conservative Party (UK)
|candidate = [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]]
|candidate = [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]]
|votes =11,875
|votes =11,875
|percentage = 53.4
|percentage = 53.4
|change =
|change = +1.5
}}
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Liberal Party (UK)
| |party = Liberal Party (UK)
|candidate = Arthur Lewis Leon
|candidate = Arthur Lewis Leon
|votes = 10,343
|votes = 10,343
|percentage = 46.6
|percentage = 46.6
|change =
|change = &minus;1.5
}}
}}
{{Election box majority|
{{Election box majority
|votes = 1,532
| |votes = 1,532
|percentage = 6.8
|percentage = 6.8
|change =
|change = +3.0
}}
}}
{{Election box turnout|
{{Election box turnout
|votes =
| |votes = 22,218
|percentage = 81.2
|percentage = 81.2
|change =
|change = &minus;4.9
}}
{{Election box registered electors
| |reg. electors = 27,350
}}
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
|swing =
|swing = +1.5
}}
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
'''General Election 1914/15''':
'''General Election 1914–15''':


Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
*'''Unionist''': [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]]
*'''Unionist''': [[Ian Malcolm (politician)|Ian Malcolm]]
*'''Liberal''':
*'''Liberal''':


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies]]
*[[List of former United Kingdom Parliament constituencies]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
;Notes
{{reflist|group=n}}
* ''Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972'', compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
* ''Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972'', compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
* ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918'', compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
* ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918'', compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
Line 404: Line 463:
[[Category:Politics of the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Politics of the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in London (historic)]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in London (historic)]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in South East England (historic)]]
[[Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Surrey (historic)]]
[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies established in 1885]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom established in 1885]]
[[Category:United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies disestablished in 1918]]
[[Category:Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom disestablished in 1918]]

Latest revision as of 07:30, 15 July 2024

Croydon
Former borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Outline map
Boundary of Croydon in Surrey for the 1910 general election
CountySurrey
Major settlementsCroydon, Addiscombe, Norbury, South Croydon, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Upper Norwood
18851918
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Surrey (leaving its bulk, continued)
Replaced byCroydon North and Croydon South

Croydon was a constituency in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from 1885 to 1918. As with most in its lifetime following the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, it was a seat, that elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

It was won for all but three years by the Conservative candidate, the exception being the years 1906-1909 when that party, as a fellow Unionist party against Irish Home Rule and other devolution in a spell of widespread popular decline held a general meeting endorsing instead H. O. Arnold-Forster, a Liberal Unionist. His 3.2% victory against the candidate of the rest of the Liberal Party coupled with a 20.2% performance for Labour in Croydon which coincided with a Liberal landslide — the First Asquith ministry which brought in the fundamental constitutional reform of the Parliament Act 1911 after the delay for "the People's Budget" to be implemented.[1] He died in 1909 causing a by-election and his party, with its occasional candidates in the region, no longer stood for the Croydon seat nor its north–south successors after 1918. The Labour party fielded a candidate for the second time in the 1909 by-election, polling badly, winning about a fifth of the 1906 vote; the party fielded none in the 1910 elections for this seat.

Boundaries

[edit]

1885–1918: The municipal borough of Croydon.[2]

This seat was covered an area based on the town of Croydon. Croydon had been a Municipal Borough from 1883 and was to become a County Borough in 1889. By 1902, at the latest, the parliamentary and local government boroughs had the same boundaries.

The Royal Commission on London Traffic, which reported in 1906, included the borough in its definition of Greater London. It was throughout in the north-east of Surrey. Its area has been included in Greater London since 1965.

From 1918 Croydon was divided into two borough constituencies - Croydon North and Croydon South.

History

[edit]
The 1906 election saw for the first time a majority of seats in London's metropolitan area align with the Liberal party; the Liberal Unionist candidate here was a compromise reached by the Conservatives and non-Home Rule for Ireland Liberals calculated to prevent a loss to a Liberal candidate.

The constituency was close enough to London and built-up enough to be considered part of a greater London or "Metropolitan" area.

A large part of the inhabitants of this constituency commuted to work in the City of London. It was however an area where attendance at Nonconformist chapels exceeded that at Anglican churches, according to the Daily News survey of 1902. By the time of the 1911 census more factories had been set up and a large artisan population had moved in so its core and north in particular was decidedly lower-income working-class.

The constituency was in general Conservative, but less strongly so than many suburban commuter seats around London. The Labour Party secured 20% of the vote, in a three-way contest, in the 1906 election.

Borough rather than a County seat

The seat being a parliamentary borough made for a lower level of election expenses permissible and the usual office/status for the returning officer.

Members of Parliament

[edit]
W. Grantham
Year Member Party
1885 William Grantham Conservative
1886 Sidney Herbert Conservative
1895 Charles Ritchie Conservative
1906 H. O. Arnold-Forster Liberal Unionist
1909 Sir Robert Hermon-Hodge Conservative
1910 Ian Malcolm Conservative
1918 constituency abolished

Election results

[edit]

Elections in the 1880s

[edit]
Jabez Balfour
General election 1885: Croydon[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Grantham 5,484 56.0
Liberal Jabez Balfour 4,315 44.0
Majority 1,169 12.0
Turnout 9,799 77.7
Registered electors 12,619
Conservative win (new seat)

Grantham resigned after being appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, causing a by-election.

Sydney Buxton
By-election, 27 Jan 1886: Croydon[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Herbert 5,205 53.9 −2.1
Liberal Sydney Buxton 4,458 46.1 +2.1
Majority 747 7.8 −4.2
Turnout 9,663 76.6 −1.1
Registered electors 12,619
Conservative hold Swing -2.1
General election 1886: Croydon[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Herbert Unopposed
Conservative hold

Herbert was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.

By-election, 11 Aug 1886: Croydon[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Herbert Unopposed
Conservative hold

Elections in the 1890s

[edit]
Sidney Herbert
General election 1892: Croydon[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sidney Herbert 6,528 57.5 N/A
Liberal Edward William Grimwade 4,834 42.5 New
Majority 1,694 15.0 N/A
Turnout 11,362 76.6 N/A
Registered electors 14,837
Conservative hold Swing N/A

Herbert's succession to the peerage causes a by-election.

May 1895 Croydon by-election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Ritchie Unopposed
Conservative hold

Ritchie's appointment as President of the Board of Trade causes a by-election.

July 1895 Croydon by-election[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Ritchie Unopposed
Conservative hold
Charles Ritchie
General election 1895: Croydon[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Ritchie 6,876 59.7 +2.2
Liberal Christopher Clarke Hutchinson 4,647 40.3 −2.2
Majority 2,229 19.4 +4.4
Turnout 11,523 71.3 −5.3
Registered electors 16,152
Conservative hold Swing +2.2

Elections in the 1900s

[edit]
General election 1900: Croydon[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Ritchie Unopposed
Conservative hold
Stranks
General election 1906: Croydon[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist H. O. Arnold-Forster 8,211 41.5 N/A
Liberal Henry Charles Augustus Somerset 7,573 38.3 New
Labour Repr. Cmte. Sidney Stranks 4,007 20.2 New
Majority 638 3.2 N/A
Turnout 19,791 83.0 N/A
Registered electors 23,858
Liberal Unionist hold Swing N/A
Raphael
1909 Croydon by-election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hermon-Hodge 11,989 57.4 +15.9
Liberal John Raphael 8,041 38.4 +0.1
Labour Frank Smith 886 4.2 −16.0
Majority 3,948 19.0 +15.8
Turnout 20,916 79.0 −4.0
Registered electors 26,470
Conservative hold Swing +7.9

Elections in the 1910s

[edit]
Hermon-Hodge
General election January 1910: Croydon[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Hermon-Hodge 12,223 51.9 −5.5'"`UNIQ−−ref−0000002C−QINU`"'
Liberal Arthur Lewis Leon 11,327 48.1 +9.7'"`UNIQ−−ref−0000002D−QINU`"'
Majority 896 3.8 N/A
Turnout 23,550 86.1 +3.1
Registered electors 27,350
Conservative hold Swing +0.3
Ian Malcolm
General election December 1910: Croydon[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ian Malcolm 11,875 53.4 +1.5
Liberal Arthur Lewis Leon 10,343 46.6 −1.5
Majority 1,532 6.8 +3.0
Turnout 22,218 81.2 −4.9
Registered electors 27,350
Conservative hold Swing +1.5

General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Murray, Bruce K. "The Politics of the ‘People's Budget’." Historical journal 16#3 (1973): 555-570.
  2. ^ "Chap. 23. Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885". The Public General Acts of the United Kingdom passed in the forty-eighth and forty-ninth years of the reign of Queen Victoria. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1885. pp. 111–198.
  3. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  4. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  5. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  6. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  7. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  8. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  9. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  10. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  11. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  12. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  13. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  14. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  15. ^ British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
Notes
  1. ^ a b The change (swing) figures here are contrasting the by-election in the previous year, breaking with convention as the last party who stood at a General Election, some four years before, was the co-ticket of the Liberal Unionists and Conservatives, a Liberal Unionist rather than a Conservative; furthermore the Liberal Party only altered its vote between that general election and the by-election by 0.1% making use of the by-election statistics much fairer and informative to the two candidates making up the new slate/field.
  • Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Parliamentary Reference Publications 1972)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1885-1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974)
  • Social Geography of British Elections 1885-1910. by Henry Pelling (Macmillan 1967)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume II 1886-1918, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1978)
  • Who's Who of British Members of Parliament, Volume III 1919-1945, edited by M. Stenton and S. Lees (Harvester Press 1979)
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 6)