Greenwich was a constituency in south-east London, which returned at first two, then (from 1885) one member (MP) to the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It existed from 1832 to 1997. Elections used the first past the post system; when this elects more than one member, it is sometimes called plurality-at-large voting.
History From 1832 until 1885 it was a two-member constituency. Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 associated with the Reform Act 1884, its area was reduced overall (although it gained Kidbrooke) and it was reduced to one seat. For the 1997 general election, it was merged with part of the former Woolwich constituency to form the Greenwich and Woolwich seat.
Its history is dominated by the area's strong maritime tradition. Its most prominent claim to fame was as the seat of William Ewart Gladstone between 1868 and 1880, and it also achieved prominence in the 1987 Greenwich by-election, when the SDP won a surprise victory.
Boundaries 1832–1885: the parishes of Greenwich; Deptford St Nicholas and Deptford St Paul; and the most populous parts of Charlton and Woolwich.Short form of the Act A Practical Treatise on the Qualifications and Registration of Parliamentary Electors in England and Wales: With an Appendix of Statutes and Forms Elliot, George Percy, S. Sweet, London (1843) detailed as: "From the Point at which the Royal Arsenal Canal at Woolwich joins the Thames, along the said Canal to the southern extremity thereof; thence in a straight Line to the south-western corner of the Ordnance Storekeeper's House; thence in a straight Line, in the Direction of a Stile in the footpath from Woolwich to Plumstead Common, over Sand Hill, to the Boundary of the Parish of Woolwich; thence, southward, along the boundary of the parish of Woolwich to the point at which the same meets the Boundary of the parish of Charlton; thence westward along the Boundary of the parish of Charlton to the point at which the same turns southward near the Dovor Road; thence along the Dovor Road to the nearest point of the boundary of the parish of Greenwich; thence Westward, along the boundary of the parish of Greenwich to the point at which the same turns abruptly to the south, close by the Dovor Road, thence in a straight line, in a westerly direction, to the nearest point of the boundary of the parish of Greenwich, thence westward along the boundary of the parish of Greenwich to the point at which the same meets the boundary of the parish of Saint Paul Deptford; thence southward along the boundary of the parish of Saint Paul Deptford to the point at which the same meets the Thames; thence along the Thames to the point first described." The boundaries were thus in the schedules of the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832.http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10078880/boundary Old map of St Paul Deptford should how it in the 19th century reached the Thames but briefly in the west, beyond smaller St Nicholas, Deptford.
1885–1918: The parishes of Greenwich, St Nicholas Deptford, Charlton, and Kidbrooke.
1918–1974: The Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich.
1974–1983: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath, Charlton, Eastcombe, Hornfair, Kidbrooke, Marsh, Park, Trafalgar, Vanbrugh, and West.
1983–1997: The London Borough of Greenwich wards of Blackheath, Charlton, Ferrier, Hornfair, Kidbrooke, Rectory Field, St Alfege, Trafalgar, Vanbrugh, and West.
Between 1983 and 1997, the constituency formed the western part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Members of Parliament MPs 1832–1885 ElectionFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond party 1832 James Whitley Deans Dundas Whig Edward George Barnard Radical 1835 John Angerstein Whig 1837 Matthias Wolverley Attwood Conservative 1841 James Whitley Deans Dundas Whig 1851 by-election David Salomons Radical 1852 by-election Houston Stewart Whig 1852 Peter Rolt Conservative Montague Chambers Radical Feb 1857 by-election Sir William Codrington Whig Mar. 1857 John Townsend Radical Feb. 1859 by-election David Salomons Radical 1859 William Angerstein Liberal Liberal 1865 Sir Charles Tilston Bright Liberal 1868 William Ewart Gladstone Liberal 1873 by-election Sir Thomas Boord Conservative 1880 Baron Henry de Worms Conservative1885 Representation reduced to one member
MPs since 1885 ElectionMemberParty 1885 Sir Thomas Boord Conservative 1895 Lord Hugh Cecil Conservative 1906 Richard Jackson Liberal Jan 1910 Ion Hamilton Benn Conservative 1922 George Hume Conservative 1923 Edward Timothy Palmer Labour 1924 Sir George Hume Conservative 1929 Edward Timothy Palmer Labour 1931 Sir George Hume Conservative 1945 Joseph Reeves Labour 1959 Richard Marsh Labour 1971 by-election Guy Barnett Labour 1987 by-electionRosie Barnes SDP 1988 'Continuing' SDP 1990 Independent Social Democrat 1992 Nick Raynsford Labour1997 constituency abolished
Election results Elections in the 1830s
Elections in the 1840s
Dundas was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, requiring a by-election.
Elections in the 1850s Barnard's death caused a by-election.
Dundas resigned after being appointed Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet, causing a by-election.
Rolt resigned, causing a by-election.
Townsend resigned after becoming a bankrupt, also leading to his suspension from the House of Commons.
Elections in the 1860s
Gladstone's appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury caused a by-election.
Elections in the 1870s Salomons' death caused a by-election.
Elections in the 1880s
Elections in the 1890s
Elections in the 1900s
Cecil was a free-trader and Benn was a supporter of tariff reform
Elections in the 1910s
Elections in the 1920s
Elections in the 1930s
Elections in the 1940s
Elections in the 1950s
Elections in the 1960s
Elections in the 1970s
1979 notional result Party Vote % Labour 19,201 52.4 Conservative 12,172 33.2 Liberal 3,893 10.6 Others 1,385 3.8Turnout36,651Electorate
Elections in the 1980s
swings relative to 1983 election, not 1987 by-election
Elections in the 1990s
The swing for Rosie Barnes is relative to her performance in the 1987 general election.
References
Bibliography
British Parliamentary Election Results 1885–1918, compiled and edited by F.W.S. Craig (Macmillan Press 1974) Debrett’s Illustrated Heraldic and Biographical House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886 Debrett’s House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1901 Debrett’s House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1918