Wilton (UK Parliament constituency)

Wilton was the name of a parliamentary borough in Wiltshire. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1295 to 1707, then in the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It had two Members of Parliament (MPs) until 1832, but from 1832 to 1885 only one member, as a result of the Reform Act 1832 where it also absorbed the former rotten borough of Old Sarum. In 1885 the borough was abolished, but the name of the constituency was then transferred to a new county constituency electing one Member from 1885 until 1918.

Boundaries
1885–1918: The Borough of Salisbury, the Sessional Divisions of Amesbury, Hindon, and Salisbury, and the civil parishes of Figheldean, Fisherton-de-la-Mere, Milston, and Wily.

Stonehenge was within the constituency from 1885 until the seat disappeared in 1918, since when it has been in the Salisbury seat.

Elections in the 1840s
Harris succeeded to the peerage, becoming 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1850s
A'Court resigned after being appointed a Special Commissioner of Property and Income Tax in Ireland, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1870s
Antrobus resigned, causing a by-election.

Elections in the 1880s
Herbert was appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, requiring a by-election.



Elections in the 1910s


General Election 1914–15:

Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
 * Unionist: Charles Bathurst
 * Liberal: Charles Leach