North Essex (UK Parliament constituency)

North Essex was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2010. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

The name was also used for the Northern Division of Essex, covering a much wider area and electing two members using the bloc vote system from 1832 until 1868.

History
The Northern Division of Essex was one of two Divisions, along with the Southern Division, created from the undivided Parliamentary County of Essex by the Reform Act of 1832. The constituency was abolished under the Reform Act 1867 (as amended by the Boundaries Act 1868) which divided Essex into three two-member Divisions (East, South and West).

The North Essex constituency was created for the 1997 general election following the Fourth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, mostly replacing the former seat of Colchester North. This was abolished for the 2010 general election by the Fifth Review, when it was largely replaced by the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex.

1832–1868
''See map on Vision of Britain website. ''
 * The Hundreds of Clavering, Dunmow, Freshwell, Hinckford, Lexden, Tendring, Thurstable, Uttlesford, Winstree and Witham.

On abolition, the Hundreds of Hinckford, Lexden, Tendring, Thurstable, Winstree and Witham were included in the new East Division of Essex; the Hundreds of Clavering, Dunmow, Freshwell and Uttlesford were included in the new West Division.

1997–2010

 * The Borough of Colchester wards of Birch Messing and Copford, Boxted and Langham, Dedham, East Donyland, Fordham, Great and Little Horkesley, Great Tey, Marks Tey, Pyefleet, Tiptree, West Bergholt and Eight Ash Green, West Mersea, Winstree, and Wivenhoe; and
 * The District of Tendring wards of Alresford, Thorrington and Frating, Ardleigh, Bradfield, Wrabness and Wix, Brightlingsea East, Brightlingsea West, Elmstead, Great Bentley, Great Bromley, Little Bromley and Little Bentley, Lawford and Manningtree, Mistley, St Osyth, and Tendring and Weeley.

The new constituency comprised rural areas of the Borough of Colchester, including West Mersea and Wivenhoe, and western parts of the District of Tendring, including Brightlingsea. Formed primarily from parts of the abolished constituencies of North Colchester and South Colchester and Maldon, with a small slice of the western part of Harwich, including St Osyth.

Abolition and the new Harwich and North Essex constituency
On abolition in 2010, the rural area to the south-west of Colchester was transferred to the new constituency of Witham. The remainder formed the new constituency of Harwich and North Essex, together with the town of Harwich and surrounding areas, previously part of the abolished Harwich constituency.

Elections in the 1860s

 * Caused by Du Cane's appointment as a Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

Elections in the 1850s

 * Caused by Beresford's appointment as Secretary at War.

Elections in the 1830s

 * Caused by Baring's elevation to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Ashburton