Local government in and around Wolverhampton

Members of Parliament and general elections

In terms of parliamentary representation Wolverhampton formed part of the Staffordshire constituency. With the passing of the Great Reform Bill in 1832 the borough was entitled to send two representatives to Parliament. The parliamentary borough consisted of Wolverhampton, Bilston, Wednesfield, Willenhall and Sedgley.

The longest-ever serving member of parliament was from Wolverhampton : Charles Pelham Villiers represented the town for sixty years.

Statue of CP Villiers, Snow Hill (later removed to West Park) (U1/VIL/E/!)

Villiers stood for election for the Whig Party in Wolverhampton in January 1835. Having won that contest he was re-elected in 1837. Villiers campaigned hard for free trade, meeting with success in 1846 when the Corn Laws were repealed. The Cobden Club called Villiers the 'Father of Free Trade' at a celebration of fifty years of free trade in 1896. Villiers was popular in Wolverhampton, serving as its MP for sixty years. In 1879 his statue was erected at Snow Hill although in 1931 it was removed to West Park. The bandstand in West Park was also named after him. As well as being a member of parliament, Villiers served as a commissioner to the Royal Commission, enquiring into the operation of the Poor Law. From 1859 until 1866 he served as President of the Poor Law Board. He was known as the 'Father of the House of Commons' from 1890 until his death in January 1898. He is buried in plot no. 36848/140/PS at London's Kensal Green Cemetery.

Letter from the Duke of Cleveland to William Thacker esq., of Wolverhampton, concerning support for Charles Pelham Villiers in the forthcoming election, June 1837 (DX-66)

Election result poster, July 1837 (DX-634/236)

In 1885 the borough was split into three divisions - south, east and west - each returning one member to parliament. In 1918 Wolverhampton South was renamed Bilston. In 1948 the wards were divided into North East (Bushbury, Dunstall, Eastfield, Heath Town, Low Hill, Oxley, and St Peter's); and South West (Blakenhall, East Park, Graiseley, Merridale, Oxbarn, Parkfield, Penn and West Park).

List of election results 1832 - 1923
List of election results 1923 - 2001
List of surviving electoral registers 1832 - 1983

Below is a sample of some of the literature distributed during election campaigns from the 19th and 20th centuries:

Election results 1832

Click on the image to enlarge

Notice to electors 1837

Vote for Thorne! 1898

Peto for Prosperity! 1931

A message from Mr Brown 1935

Prior to 1872 there was no secret ballot. Poll books were produced after each election showing how people had voted.

Click on the image to enlarge

West Staffordshire Poll Book, Bilston district, 1868 (L324sr)