The seat, one of many created in 1918, was a narrower form of the oldest creation of South Northamptonshire and lasted 32 years until it reverted into "South Northamptonshire". Finally today's seat was recreated mostly from the north of the South Northants seat in 1974. Since its recreation and during its first existence it has been served by Conservative MPs. As the 1997 majority was also not marginal, it has been to date an archetypal safe seat.
Boundaries
1918–1950: The Boroughs of Daventry and Brackley, the Rural Districts of Brackley, Crick, Daventry, Hardingstone, Middleton Cheney, Potterspury, and Towcester, and part of the Rural District of Northampton. 1974–1983: The Boroughs of Daventry and Brackley, and the Rural Districts of Brackley, Brixworth, Daventry, Northampton, and Towcester. 1983–1997: The District of Daventry wards of Abbey North, Abbey South, Badby, Barby, Brampton, Braunston, Byfield, Crick and West Haddon, Drayton, Everdon, Flore, Guilsborough, Hill, Kilsby, Long Buckby, Ravensthorpe, Spratton, Weedon, Welford, Woodford, and Yelvertoft, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Astwell, Blakesley, Brackley East, Brackley West, Cosgrove, Danvers, Deanshanger, Forest, Grafton, Greatworth, King's Sutton, Kingthorn, Middleton Cheney, Potterspury, Rainsborough, Slapton, Tove, Towcester, and Wardoun. 1997–2010: The District of Daventry wards of Abbey North, Abbey South, Badby, Barby, Brampton, Braunston, Byfield, Crick and West Haddon, Drayton, Everdon, Flore, Hill, Kilsby, Long Buckby, Ravensthorpe, Weedon, Woodford, and Yelvertoft, and the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Astwell, Blakesley, Blisworth, Brackley East, Brackley West, Bugbrooke, Cosgrove, Danvers, Deanshanger, Forest, Gayton, Grafton, Greatworth, Heyford, King’s Sutton, Kingthorn, Middleton Cheney, Potterspury, Rainsborough, Slapton, Tove, Towcester, and Wardoun. 2010–present: The District of Daventry, the District of South Northamptonshire wards of Cote, Downs, Grange, Harpole, and Heyford, and the Borough of Wellingborough wards of Earls Barton and West. The constituency covers the west of Northamptonshire and is named for the market town of Daventry. It covers the western part of Daventry and South Northamptonshire local government districts.
UKIP originally selected Nigel Wickens, who was also selected for Mid Bedfordshire. After the 2005 general election, Daventry incurred massive boundary changes following the creation of the new South Northamptonshire seat. The results of the 2010 general election are based on the notional results for the new boundaries.
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 from 1939 and by the end of this year, the following candidates had been selected;