Dulwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885–1997
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Dulwich was a borough constituency in the Dulwich area of South London, which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
SeatsOne
Created fromEast Surrey (certainly as to bulk)
Lambeth (possibly as to negligible parts)
Lambeth (possibly as to negligible parts)
Replaced byDulwich and West Norwood (bulk)
Camberwell and Peckham (part)
Camberwell and Peckham (part)
| Dulwich | |
|---|---|
| Former borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
Boundary of Dulwich in Greater London for the 1983 general election | |
| County | Greater London |
| 1885–1997 | |
| Seats | One |
| Created from | East Surrey (certainly as to bulk) Lambeth (possibly as to negligible parts) |
| Replaced by | Dulwich and West Norwood (bulk) Camberwell and Peckham (part) |
The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election. The constituency was abolished by the Boundary Commission in 1997, when most of its former territory became part of the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.
History
The constituency of Dulwich was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, as one of nine covering the enlarged parliamentary former borough of Lambeth. Lambeth councillors had been overwhelmingly progressive Liberals though this part of the seat did have Conservative parish/urban district councillors before 1885.[1] Dulwich was one of three seats in the new parliamentary borough of Camberwell.
As a suburban London constituency, Dulwich tended to favour the Conservatives, and returned a Conservative member in each election between 1885 and 1945, when it fell to the Labour party. After that it became a marginal seat, with Labour winning slightly more times than the Conservatives. In 1892 the Liberal candidate estimated that it had around 4,000 working class voters out of around 10,500 and observed that although it had a reputation as a 'villa constituency' there were many voters in the many less impressive houses.[2]
The constituency shared boundaries with the Dulwich electoral division for election of councillors to the Greater London Council at elections in 1973, 1977 and 1981. Gerald Bowden held the seat from 1977 to 1981.
Boundaries
Map of boundaries 1974–1983
| Dates | Local authority | Maps | Wards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885–1918 | Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell |  | Camberwell and Dulwich, and the hamlet of Penge.[3] |
| 1918–1950 | Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell |  | Alleyn, College, Hamlet, Ruskin, and St John's. |
| 1950–1974 | Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell (before 1965) London Borough of Southwark (after 1965) |
 | Alleyn, College, Hamlet, Lyndhurst, Nunhead, Ruskin, Rye, Rye Lane, and St John's. |
| 1974–1983 | London Borough of Southwark |  | Alleyn, Bellenden, College, Lyndhurst, Ruskin, Rye, The Lane, and Waverley.[4] |
| 1983–1997 | London Borough of Southwark | | Alleyn, Bellenden, College, Lyndhurst, Ruskin, Rye, The Lane, and Waverley.[5] |
1885–1918
The constituency was formed predominantly from the existing constituency of East Surrey
1918–1950
Penge was transferred to the new seat of Bromley.
1950–1974
Nunhead, Rye and Rye Lane wards were transferred from Peckham. Lyndhurst was transferred from the abolished seat of Camberwell North West
1974–1983
Minor transfer from Peckham.
1983–1997
Minor transfer to Peckham.
Members of Parliament
| Election | Member | Party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | John Morgan Howard | Conservative | Resigned in 1887 following his appointment as a County Court circuit Judge | |
| 1887 by-election | Sir John Blundell Maple | Conservative | Died November 1903 | |
| 1903 by-election | Frederick Rutherfoord Harris | Conservative | Resigned in 1906 | |
| 1906 by-election | Bonar Law | Conservative | ||
| 1910 | Sir Frederick Hall | Conservative | Died April 1932 | |
| 1932 by-election | Sir Bracewell Smith | Conservative | ||
| 1945 | Wilfrid Vernon | Labour | ||
| 1951 | Robert Jenkins | Conservative | ||
| 1964 | Samuel Silkin | Labour | Attorney General for England and Wales, and Northern Ireland (1974 – 1979) | |
| 1983 | Gerald Bowden | Conservative | ||
| 1992 | Tessa Jowell | Labour | Contested Dulwich & West Norwood following redistribution | |
| 1997 | constituency abolished: see Dulwich & West Norwood | |||
Elections
Elections in the 1990s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Tessa Jowell | 17,714 | 47.3 | +5.3 | |
| Conservative | Gerald Bowden | 15,658 | 41.8 | −0.6 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Alex Goldie | 4,078 | 10.9 | −3.6 | |
| Majority | 2,056 | 5.5 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 37,450 | 67.9 | −1.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 55,141 | ||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +3.0 | |||
Elections in the 1980s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Gerald Bowden | 16,563 | 42.4 | +1.9 | |
| Labour | Kate Hoey | 16,383 | 42.0 | +6.3 | |
| SDP | Andrew Harris | 5,664 | 14.5 | −7.5 | |
| Green | Alex Goldie | 432 | 1.1 | +0.5 | |
| Majority | 180 | 0.5 | –4.4 | ||
| Turnout | 39,042 | 69.3 | +2.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 56,355 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | –2.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Gerald Bowden | 15,424 | 40.5 | −2.8 | |
| Labour | Kate Hoey | 13,565 | 35.7 | −6.6 | |
| SDP | Dick Taverne | 8,376 | 22.0 | +10.9 | |
| National Front | Raymond Barker | 338 | 0.9 | −1.2 | |
| Ecology | R Baker | 237 | 0.6 | −0.5 | |
| Loony Society | Richard Vero | 99 | 0.3 | New | |
| Majority | 1,859 | 4.9 | +3.8 | ||
| Turnout | 38,039 | 67.2 | |||
| Registered electors | 56,596 | ||||
| Conservative notional hold | |||||
Elections in the 1970s
| 1979 notional result[10] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Conservative | 17,821 | 43.4 | |
| Labour | 17,371 | 42.3 | |
| Liberal | 4,588 | 11.2 | |
| Others | 1,323 | 3.2 | |
| Turnout | 41,103 | ||
| Electorate | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 18,557 | 43.0 | −6.5 | |
| Conservative | Eric Morley | 18,435 | 42.7 | +10.2 | |
| Liberal | William Pearson | 4,759 | 11.0 | −6.9 | |
| National Front | David Thompson | 920 | 2.1 | New | |
| Ecology | David Smart | 468 | 1.1 | New | |
| Majority | 122 | 0.3 | −16.7 | ||
| Turnout | 43,139 | 70.4 | +5.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 61,259 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | –8.3 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 21,790 | 49.5 | +4.1 | |
| Conservative | Eric Morley | 14,331 | 32.6 | −2.1 | |
| Liberal | William Pearson | 7,866 | 17.9 | −2.0 | |
| Majority | 7,459 | 17.0 | +6.2 | ||
| Turnout | 43,987 | 65.1 | –8.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 67,542 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.1 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 22,530 | 45.5 | −2.1 | |
| Conservative | Keith Raffan | 17,189 | 34.7 | −10.0 | |
| Liberal | William Pearson | 9,851 | 19.9 | +12.1 | |
| Majority | 5,341 | 10.8 | +7.9 | ||
| Turnout | 49,570 | 73.9 | +10.9 | ||
| Registered electors | 67,059 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.9 | |||
| 1970 notional result[11] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Vote | % | |
| Labour | 21,500 | 47.6 | |
| Conservative | 20,200 | 44.7 | |
| Liberal | 3,500 | 7.7 | |
| Turnout | 45,200 | 63.0 | |
| Electorate | 71,760 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 20,145 | 47.2 | −4.8 | |
| Conservative | Patrick Mayhew | 19,250 | 45.1 | +6.5 | |
| Liberal | Alfred Blackburn | 3,301 | 7.7 | −1.7 | |
| Majority | 895 | 2.1 | −11.3 | ||
| Turnout | 42,696 | 64.4 | –9.3 | ||
| Registered electors | 66,265 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | –5.6 | |||
Elections in the 1960s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 24,469 | 52.0 | +5.1 | |
| Conservative | Martin Stevens | 18,173 | 38.6 | −2.2 | |
| Liberal | Michael Ridd | 4,458 | 9.5 | −2.4 | |
| Majority | 6,296 | 13.4 | +7.3 | ||
| Turnout | 47,100 | 73.7 | –0.0 | ||
| Registered electors | 63,891 | ||||
| Labour hold | Swing | +3.6 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Samuel Silkin | 22,320 | 46.9 | +4.0 | |
| Conservative | Martin Stevens | 19,415 | 40.8 | −6.3 | |
| Liberal | Fred G Redman | 5,627 | 11.8 | +1.8 | |
| Christian Socialist | Frederick Palmer | 264 | 0.6 | New | |
| Majority | 2,905 | 6.1 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 47,626 | 73.8 | –5.4 | ||
| Registered electors | 64,568 | ||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.2 | |||
Elections in the 1950s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Jenkins | 24,991 | 47.1 | −1.3 | |
| Labour | A Leslie Hill | 22,740 | 42.9 | −2.0 | |
| Liberal | W John Searle | 5,324 | 10.0 | +3.3 | |
| Majority | 2,251 | 4.2 | +0.7 | ||
| Turnout | 53,055 | 79.2 | +0.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 66,988 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Jenkins | 25,333 | 48.4 | +0.8 | |
| Labour | Wilfrid Vernon | 23,482 | 44.9 | −1.5 | |
| Liberal | David Phillips | 3,501 | 6.7 | +0.8 | |
| Majority | 1,851 | 3.5 | +2.3 | ||
| Turnout | 52,316 | 78.7 | –5.2 | ||
| Registered electors | 66,495 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +1.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Robert Jenkins | 26,579 | 47.7 | +3.4 | |
| Labour | Wilfrid Vernon | 25,888 | 46.4 | −0.3 | |
| Liberal | Paul Baker | 3,302 | 5.9 | −3.1 | |
| Majority | 691 | 1.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 55,769 | 83.9 | +0.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 66,473 | ||||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +1.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Wilfrid Vernon | 25,511 | 46.7 | ||
| Conservative | Robert Jenkins | 24,186 | 44.3 | ||
| Liberal | Paul Baker | 4,929 | 9.0 | ||
| Majority | 1,325 | 2.4 | |||
| Turnout | 54,626 | 83.3 | |||
| Registered electors | 65,573 | ||||
| Labour win (new boundaries) | |||||
Elections in the 1940s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | Wilfrid Vernon | 10,266 | 43.49 | ||
| Conservative | Bracewell Smith | 10,055 | 42.59 | ||
| Liberal | John Ellis | 3,287 | 13.92 | ||
| Majority | 211 | 0.90 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 23,608 | ||||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Labour gain from Conservative | Swing | ||||
Elections in the 1930s
The candidates selected for the aborted 1939–1940 general election were;
- Conservative: Bracewell Smith
- Liberal: C. R. Cooke-Taylor
- Labour: Wilfrid Vernon
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bracewell Smith | 16,870 | 60.78 | ||
| Labour | James Vinor Delahaye | 7,142 | 25.73 | ||
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 3,743 | 13.49 | ||
| Majority | 9,728 | 35.05 | |||
| Turnout | 27,755 | 65.76 | |||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bracewell Smith | 12,342 | 61.0 | –10.6 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 3,998 | 19.7 | +6.8 | |
| Labour | Helen Bentwich | 3,905 | 19.3 | +3.7 | |
| Majority | 8,344 | 41.3 | –14.7 | ||
| Turnout | 20,245 | 43.0 | –27.7 | ||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Frederick Hall | 21,752 | 71.6 | +22.8 | |
| Labour | F. Hughes | 4,747 | 15.6 | –14.7 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 3,924 | 12.9 | –8.0 | |
| Majority | 17,005 | 56.0 | +37.5 | ||
| Turnout | 30,423 | 70.7 | –1.4 | ||
| Registered electors | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +18.7 | |||
Elections in the 1920s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Frederick Hall | 15,009 | 48.8 | −9.7 | |
| Labour | C. A. Smith | 9,309 | 30.3 | +3.8 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 6,442 | 20.9 | +5.9 | |
| Majority | 5,700 | 18.5 | −13.5 | ||
| Turnout | 30,760 | 72.1 | −6.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 42,638 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −6.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Frederick Hall | 15,611 | 58.5 | +5.1 | |
| Labour | C. A. Smith | 7,068 | 26.5 | New | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 4,017 | 15.0 | −31.6 | |
| Majority | 8,543 | 32.0 | +25.2 | ||
| Turnout | 26,696 | 78.9 | +17.6 | ||
| Registered electors | 33,833 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | +18.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Frederick Hall | 10,855 | 53.4 | −14.2 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 9,488 | 46.6 | +14.2 | |
| Majority | 1,367 | 6.8 | −28.4 | ||
| Turnout | 20,343 | 61.3 | −2.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 33,185 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −14.2 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionist | Frederick Hall | 14,046 | 67.6 | −11.3 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 6,733 | 32.4 | +11.3 | |
| Majority | 7,313 | 35.2 | −22.6 | ||
| Turnout | 20,779 | 64.0 | +13.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 32,486 | ||||
| Unionist hold | Swing | −11.3 | |||
Elections in the 1910s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Unionist | Frederick Hall | 12,039 | 78.9 | |
| Liberal | C. R. Cooke-Taylor | 3,219 | 21.1 | ||
| Majority | 8,820 | 57.8 | |||
| Turnout | 15,258 | 50.2 | |||
| Registered electors | 30,377 | ||||
| Unionist win (new boundaries) | |||||
| C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government. | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Frederick Hall | 7,796 | 58.7 | +0.4 | |
| Liberal | Evan Spicer | 5,495 | 41.3 | −0.4 | |
| Majority | 2,301 | 17.4 | +0.8 | ||
| Turnout | 13,291 | 80.7 | −7.5 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,478 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +0.4 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bonar Law | 8,472 | 58.3 | +6.9 | |
| Liberal | Evan Cotton | 6,054 | 41.7 | –6.9 | |
| Majority | 2,418 | 16.6 | +13.8 | ||
| Turnout | 14,526 | 88.2 | +3.7 | ||
| Registered electors | 16,478 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +6.9 | |||
Elections in the 1900s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Bonar Law | 6,709 | 55.3 | +3.9 | |
| Liberal | David Williamson | 5,430 | 44.7 | −3.9 | |
| Majority | 1,279 | 10.6 | +6.8 | ||
| Turnout | 12,139 | 79.4 | −5.1 | ||
| Registered electors | 15,286 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.9 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Frederick Rutherfoord Harris | 6,639 | 51.4 | N/A | |
| Liberal | David Williamson | 6,282 | 48.6 | N/A | |
| Majority | 357 | 2.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 12,921 | 84.5 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 15,286 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Frederick Rutherfoord Harris | 5,819 | 57.0 | N/A | |
| Liberal | Charles Masterman | 4,382 | 43.0 | New | |
| Majority | 1,437 | 14.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 10,201 | 75.5 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 13,515 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Blundell Maple | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
Elections in the 1890s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Blundell Maple | 5,258 | 70.7 | +7.8 | |
| Liberal | Charles Clarke | 2,176 | 29.3 | −7.8 | |
| Majority | 3,082 | 41.4 | +15.6 | ||
| Turnout | 7,434 | 62.2 | −12.8 | ||
| Registered electors | 11,960 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.8 | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Blundell Maple | 5,318 | 62.9 | N/A | |
| Liberal | Arthur Clayden[16] | 3,138 | 37.1 | N/A | |
| Majority | 2,180 | 25.8 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 8,456 | 75.0 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 11,277 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
Elections in the 1880s
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Blundell Maple | 4,021 | 60.6 | N/A | |
| Liberal | James Henderson[17] | 2,609 | 39.4 | New | |
| Majority | 1,412 | 21.2 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 6,630 | 83.9 | N/A | ||
| Registered electors | 8,972 | ||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | N/A | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Morgan Howard | Unopposed | |||
| Conservative hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | John Morgan Howard | 4,406 | 61.9 | ||
| Liberal | George Collins | 2,712 | 38.1 | ||
| Majority | 1,694 | 23.8 | |||
| Turnout | 7,118 | 79.4 | |||
| Registered electors | 8,963 | ||||
| Conservative win (new seat) | |||||