Category: Local History

Georgian Lords, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Elections, History of Parliament Trust, Irish History, Local History

The Southwells – from administrators to an ancient peerage

In the latest blog for the Georgian Lords, Dr Stuart Handley charts the history of the Southwell family, from their origins in Gloucestershire and as administrators in Ireland to their ultimate inheritance of one of the senior peerages in the House of Lords. It is particularly satisfying when the various sections of the History of Parliament allow the fortunes of one family to be traced … Continue reading The Southwells – from administrators to an ancient peerage

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Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, 19th Century history, Elections, Factions, Local History, Military history, Parties, Social history

Election Chairing Ballads: The Songs and Music of Electoral Victory from Handel to ‘Things Can Only Get Better’

In today’s blog for the Georgian Elections Project, Dr Kendra Packham (Institute of English Studies, University of London and Newcastle University) tells us about her research on eighteenth-century election ballads, and finds in the forgotten election ‘chairing’ song points of comparison with the campaign for the 2024 UK general election. In the eighteenth century, when the ability and opportunity to vote was heavily restricted, songs … Continue reading Election Chairing Ballads: The Songs and Music of Electoral Victory from Handel to ‘Things Can Only Get Better’

History of Parliament
Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Local History, Parties

Hustings and leadership debates 18th-century style

Leadership debates, as experienced in modern elections, were not a feature of 18th-century contests. However, as Dr Robin Eagles shows in the latest post for the Georgian Elections Project, that does not mean that there was not plenty of opportunity for candidates to address their prospective constituents and be quizzed on their record. As Frank O’Gorman has shown, the qualities looked for in 18th-century MPs, … Continue reading Hustings and leadership debates 18th-century style

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Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, Elections, History of Parliament Trust, Local History, Social history

The ups and downs of a London election: examining London poll books

As pollsters look for constituencies across the country to act as representatives of how the wider nation may vote in the upcoming election, in the 18th century you might have looked to the capital city. Here Dr Robin Eagles explores how the City of London voted in two key elections either side of George I’s accession to the throne, as part of our Georgian Elections … Continue reading The ups and downs of a London election: examining London poll books

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Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Elections, Electoral Reform, Local History, Victorian

‘The corruption of the best things becomes the worst.’ The Politics of Electoral Registration in Several Midland Boroughs in the Age of Reform, 1832-41

Ahead of next Tuesday’s Parliaments, Politics and People seminar, we hear from Sarah Boote Powell, of the University of Warwick. On 14 May she will discuss the politics of electoral registration in the Midlands in the aftermath of the 1832 Reform Act. The seminar takes place on 14 April 2024, between 5:30 and 6.30 p.m. It is taking place online, via Zoom. Details of how to … Continue reading ‘The corruption of the best things becomes the worst.’ The Politics of Electoral Registration in Several Midland Boroughs in the Age of Reform, 1832-41

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Georgian Lords, 17th Century history, 18th Century history, Elections, Factions, Georgian, Local History, Religious history, Speakers of the House

Enter the Dragon: the education of Robert Harley

Robert Harley (1661-1724) was in his late 20s when he was first elected to Parliament as MP for Tregony in April 1689. He would remain a member of Parliament, first of the Commons and then of the Lords, for the rest of his life. Both his power and personal style was reflected in a number of nicknames: ‘Robin the Trickster’, ‘Harlequin’ and ‘the Dragon’ being … Continue reading Enter the Dragon: the education of Robert Harley

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The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Local History, Medieval

The Tomb of Sir Richard and Eleanor Croft in Croft Church, Herefordshire

Sir Richard Croft’s career spanned the entirety of the Wars of the Roses; he was able to adapt and maintain his prominence under each new political rule. Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project takes a look at his remarkable career and his commemoration in Croft Church. The tomb of Sir Richard Croft, MP for Herefordshire in the Parliament of 1478, and his wife, Eleanor, dominates the small church … Continue reading The Tomb of Sir Richard and Eleanor Croft in Croft Church, Herefordshire

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Factions, Georgian, Local History, Military history, Social history

Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

With Guy Fawkes night almost upon us, we can expect to see and hear fireworks going off all across the country. A previous blog showed how throughout the late 17th century, fireworks and bonfires were used to mark the momentous events of the Glorious Revolution and William III’s wars with France. [Making ‘night like day’] As Dr Charles Littleton shows, that tradition continued into the … Continue reading Loud enough to wake the dead? Fireworks and celebration in the mid-18th century

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Art, Fashion and Material Culture, Georgian, Local History, Social history

Tackling congestion in 18th-century London

In the course of the 18th century, Britain’s towns became increasingly congested with private carriages as well as a variety of carts, drays and hackney coaches going about their business. For pedestrians it could make negotiating the streets a nightmare. For members of Parliament, keeping the ways around Westminster unclogged proved an uphill battle. In this latest post for the Georgian Lords, Dr Robin Eagles … Continue reading Tackling congestion in 18th-century London

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Contemporary History, Elections, Electoral Reform, Local History, Modern, Oral history

How MPs navigated changing constituency boundaries

The Boundary Commissions for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted their 2023 Boundary Reviews in June, presenting their recommendations to the Speaker of the House of Commons on the reorganisation of UK parliamentary constituencies. Out of 650 existing constituencies in the UK, only 65 will remain unchanged. Dr Emmeline Ledgerwood, our Oral History Project Manager, reflects on the impact boundary changes have had on MPs … Continue reading How MPs navigated changing constituency boundaries

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