West Cornwall (UK Parliament constituency)


West Cornwall was a county constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election.

Boundaries

In 1832 the county of Cornwall, in south west England, was split for parliamentary purposes into two county divisions. These were the West division and East Cornwall. Each division returned two members to Parliament.
The parliamentary boroughs included in the West division, between 1832-1885, were Helston, Penryn and Falmouth, St Ives and Truro..
1832–1885: The Hundreds of Kerrier, and Penwith, and in the hundred of Powder, the western division, i.e. the parishes of St Allen, St Anthony in Roseland, St Clement, Cornelly, Creed-with-Grampound, Cuby-with-Tregony, St Erme, Feock, Gerrans, St Just in Roseland, Kea, Kenwyn, Lamorran, Merther, St Michael Penkevil, Philleigh, Probus, Ruan Lanihorne, Truro St Mary, Veryan, and in the hundred of Pydar, the parishes of St Agnes, Crantock, Cubert, Newlyn, St Enoder, and Perranzabuloe, and the Isles of Scilly.

History

During the 53-year history of this division, there was never a contested election. Only once was a Conservative member returned, but he only represented the constituency for a few months before becoming the 2nd Earl of Falmouth.
In 1885 this division was abolished, when the East and West Cornwall county divisions were replaced by six new single-member county constituencies. These were Bodmin, Camborne, Launceston, St Austell, St Ives and Truro. In addition the last remaining Cornish borough constituency was Penryn and Falmouth.

Members of Parliament

Elections in the 1830s

had been Whig Member of Parliament for Cornwall prior to the 1832 election. Edward Wynne-Pendarves had also been a Member of Parliament in the previous parliament.

Elections in the 1840s

Boscawen-Rose succeeded to the peerage, becoming 2nd Earl of Falmouth and causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s

Wynne-Pendarves' death caused a by-election.
John Tremayne had planned to stand for election, but withdrew.
Williams' death caused a by-election.
George Williams, younger son of Michael, had withdrawn to avoid "disturbing the County".

Elections in the 1860s

Elections in the 1870s

Elections in the 1880s