1898 Glamorgan County Council election


The Glamorgan County Council election, 1898 was the fourth contest for seats on this authority. It was preceded by the 1895 election and followed by the 1901 election. Glamorgan was by far the largest county in Wales in terms of population. Glamorgan County Council had been established by the 1888 Local Government Act, and the first elections held in early 1889. The county of Glamorgan was at this time becoming heavily industrialised, although some areas such as the Vale of Glamorgan remained essentially rural. The rise of nonconformist liberalism, especially since the 1860s, throughout Wales, had challenged the prevailing influence of the landed gentry. However, even in 1889, the traditional forces remained influential and no working men were elected to the Council. This changed in 1892 with the unopposed return of David Morgan in Aberdare and the success of Isaac Evans in Resolven.

Overview of the result

As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. In 1895 there were more unopposed results than in previous elections and the Conservatives made some headway, reflecting the position in the United Kingdom as a whole where the party took power that year.
Results are drawn from a number of sources. The include an account of unopposed returns in the Evening Express, and results from the same newspaper as well as the Cambrian and Pontypridd Chronicle.

Boundary changes

There were no boundary changes at this election.

Retiring aldermen

All eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals. Gwilym Jones, W.H. Mathias, J.C. Meggitt, Herbert Evans and the Rev Aaron Davies all sought re-election. Jones and Mathias were returned unopposed while Meggitt's only opponent withdrew before polling day. Herbert Evans was opposed by the sitting Liberal councillor whom he eventually narrowly defeated. Aaron Davies was defeated at Pontlottyn. At Aberdare, David Price Davies was also nominated but withdrew rather than face a contest with the sitting councillor.

Contested elections

Results

Aberaman">Aberaman (electoral ward)">Aberaman

Aberavon">Aberavon (electoral ward)">Aberavon

Aberdare Town">Aberdare Town (electoral ward)">Aberdare Town

Prior to the election it became apparent that Evans, the sitting councillor and the retiring alderman, David Price Davies, both coveted the seats. Davies however withdrew before the poll.

Barry">Barry, Vale of Glamorgan">Barry

The sitting councillor, John Cory, had withdrawn in favour of retiring alderman John Claxton Meggitt. The defeated candidate withdrew before polling day.

Blaengwawr

Cadoxton">Cadoxton, Vale of Glamorgan">Cadoxton

[Bridgend]

[Briton Ferry]

Jenkin Hill recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.

[Caeharris]

[Caerphilly]

A narrow victory.

[Cilfynydd]

W.R. Davies took the place of Henry Lewis, who did not seek re-election after one term. Davies was chosen as a candidate after a public meeting of local Liberals where both candidates agreed to abide by the vote.

[Coedffranc]

[Coity]

[Cowbridge]

Cwmavon

Two Liberals, a sitting alderman and sitting councillor, opposed each other.

[Cyfarthfa]

Thomas Thomas recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.

Cymmer">Cymmer, Rhondda Cynon Taf">Cymmer

[Dinas Powys]

[Dowlais]

[Dulais Valley]

Ferndale">Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf">Ferndale

David Thomas JP, who had ousted fellow Liberal Morgan Williams in 1895, did not seek re-election due to ill-health leading to a contrast between the Rev Silas Charles, Congregational Minister and Thomas Samuel, grocer.

Gadlys">Gadlys (electoral ward)">Gadlys

[Garw Valley]

Gellifaelog

[Gelligaer]

[Gower]

[Kibbor]

[Llandaff]

Llandeilo Talybont

Llansamlet

Llantrisant

Llwydcoed">Llwydcoed (electoral ward)">Llwydcoed

[Llwynypia] and Clydach

Lougher and Penderry">Loughor">Lougher and Penderry

[Maesteg]

The same two candidates had faced each other in 1895. On that occasion, Barrow had won and was elected as alderman for a three-year period. Jenkin Jones was then returned at a by-election.

Margam

Merthyr Town">Merthyr Tydfil">Merthyr Town

Merthyr Vale

Morriston

Mountain Ash">Mountain Ash (Rhondda Cynon Taf)">Mountain Ash

Neath (North)">Neath">Neath (North)

Neath (South)">Neath">Neath (South)

At the previous election, Trick had stood as a Conservative.

Newcastle">Newcastle, Bridgend">Newcastle

Ogmore">Ogmore, Vale of Glamorgan">Ogmore

Ogmore Valley

[Oystermouth]

Penarth North

Penarth South

Penrhiwceiber

[Pentre]

Morris appears to have defected to the Unionists, leading to his defeat. This was considered to be the most significant contest in the valley but, owing to the support of colliery officials and leading tradesmen for the winning candidate, Elias Henry Davies, it was clear that Morris and been defeated before the close of the poll. Davies was an active Congregationalist, freemason and president of the Rhondda Cymmrodorion.

[Penydarren]

[Pontardawe]

Plymouth

[Pontlottyn]

Although a Liberal gain, the shock was the defeat of Alderman Aaron Davies.

[Pontypridd]

Porth and [Penygraig]

[Resolven]

Sketty">Sketty (electoral ward)">Sketty

A repeat of the contest in 1895, with the same result.

Swansea Valley

Boundary Change

[Treforest]

James Roberts had won the seat at a by-election following the death of the previous member, David Leyshon. His defeat was greeted with surprise by a crowd said to number 4,000 who had gathered to hear the result. Roberts said h was glad to think that he had been the means of overthrowing a member of a 'Pontypridd clique'.

[Treherbert]

Treorchy

Trealaw and [Tonypandy]

Tylorstown and [Ynyshir]

Ystalyfera

[Ystrad]

Election of aldermen

In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1898 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies. These comprised the eleven vacancies due to retiring alderman with the twelfth being vacant following the death of Isaac Evans.
The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.
elected for six years
elected for three years
All eleven aldermen were Liberals, as were the retiring aldermen.

By-elections

Aberdare Town">Aberdare">Aberdare Town by-election

Following the return of J.W. Evans, David Price Davies and Thomas Thomas were nominated. However, Thomas withdrew allowing Davies to be returned unopposed.

Barry">Barry, Vale of Glamorgan">Barry by-election

John Cory had been a member of the county council since its formation, and served as alderman from 1889 until 1892. Captain Murrell, in returning thanks for his election, said he came forward as an independent candidate as a protest against the introduction of the foreign element into the representation of the district.

[Coity] by-election

Llandeilo Talybont by-election

Merthyr Vale by-election

Mountain Ash">Mountain Ash (Rhondda Cynon Taf)">Mountain Ash by-election

Newcastle">Newcastle, Bridgend">Newcastle by-election

Ogmore Valley by-election

Penrhiwceiber by-election

Following the election of Dr R.W. Jones as an alderman, Thomas Morris, who had represented Mountain Ash on the previous council, was elected. Morris was opposed by another Liberal candidate, clerk to the Llanwonno School Board, who stood in opposition to Morris's links to the beer trade. John Williams, checkweigher at a local colliery and a future Labour MP was a possible candidate but withdrew at an early stage.

[Resolven] by-election

Swansea Valley by-election

Tylorstown and [Ynyshir] by-election

By-elections 1898-1901

Dowlais by-election

A by-election was held in Dowlais ward in October 1899 following the elevation of Thomas Jenkins to the aldermanic bench. John Davies, the local miners' agent defeated an Independent candidate, a local chemist.