Calne (UK Parliament constituency)

Calne was a parliamentary borough and later a constituency in Wiltshire, England, which elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1983.

History

Originally a parliamentary borough sending two members, Calne was reduced to one member in the Reform Act 1832. It was often considered a "pocket borough," controlled by powerful local families, most notably the Petty-Fitzmaurice family, Marquesses of Lansdowne, based at nearby Bowood House. The constituency's small electorate made it susceptible to influence. Notable MPs included Joseph Priestley and Lord Macaulay.

The constituency was abolished in the 1983 boundary changes. Its area was largely incorporated into the new North Wiltshire constituency.

Boundaries

The boundaries of the constituency varied over time, but generally encompassed the town of Calne and its surrounding rural areas.

Members of Parliament

A list of MPs who represented Calne is readily available in historical records of the UK Parliament. This list includes both the periods when Calne was a two-member borough and the later period as a single-member constituency. Key figures associated with Calne include those who were nominated and controlled by the Lansdowne family.

Elections

Elections in Calne were often uncontested, particularly before the reforms of the 19th century, reflecting the influence of the local landowner. The outcomes of elections reflected the political dominance of the Whig/Liberal factions associated with the Lansdowne estate, with relatively few Conservative victories during the constituency's lifespan.