Norfolk Politics and Government -

Members of Parliament, or Knights of the Shire
for the County of Norfolk Constituencies, 1540-1837

Below are the names of the Members of Parliament (MPs) for the County of Norfolk constituencies only. They exclude the constituencies of Norwich, King's Lynn, Thetford, Yarmouth, and Castle Rising.

They are from The poll for two knights of the shire for the western division of the county of Norfolk, 1-2 August 1837 [Norwich, Matchett, Stevenson and Matchett, 1837], pages 216-219.

See also the Politics and Government page.

These pages are for personal use only. They may not be copied, and the links within them may not be harvested for use on your own web pages. Please see the Copyright Notice.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
February 2010

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A LIST of the KNIGHTS of the SHIRE for the County of NORFOLK, from the Reformation in 1542, to the
Restoration in 1660.

[We have no regular account before 1542; but we find that in 1540, Sir Nicholas Hare, Knight, Member for Norfolk, was Speaker of the House of Commons. - Blomefield, in his history, vol.1. p.757, states, that John Wodehouse represented this county in four different Parliaments, viz. 1409, 1413, 1414, and 1416.] - Counties first sent Members to Parliament in 1258.

(Henry 8th) Jan. 16th, 1542.	Sir Roger Townshend, Knight
(Edward 6th) Nov. 8, 1547.	Sir Edward Knyvet, Knight Nicholas Le Strange
March 1, 1553.	Robert Lord Dudley Thomas Lord Fitzwalter
(Q. Mary) Oct. 5, 1553.	Sir Richard Southwell, Knight Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Knight
April 2, 1554.	Sir Richard Southwell, Knight Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Knight
(Philip & Mary) Nov. 12, 1554.	Sir Richard Southwell, Knight Sir John Shelton, Knight [In Blomfield's History of Norfolk, v.I. p.760, the Representatives of the County for this Parliament are stated to have been Sir Wm. Wodehouse, Knt. and Sir Nicholas Le Strange.]
Oct. 21, 1555.	Sir John Clere, Knight John Appleyard, Esq.
Jan. 20, 1557.	Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Knight Sir Wm. Wodehouse, Knight
(Q. Elizabeth) Jan. 23, 1558.	William Wodehouse Nicholas Le Strange
Jan. 11, 1562.	Sir Wm. Wodehouse, Knight Sir Edward Warner, Knight
April 2, 1571.	Sir Christopher Heydon, Knight Sir William Butts, Knight
May 8, 1572.	Henry Wodehouse, Esq. Francis Windham, Esq. [Robert Bell, Esq. Member for Lynn was Speaker, and continued to 1581, when he was made Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.]
Nov. 23, 1585.	Sir Drew Drury, Knight Nathaniel Bacon, Esq.
Oct. 29, 1586.	Thomas Farmer, Esq. William Gresham, Esq.
Feb. 4, 1588.	Sir Henry Wodehouse, Knight Christopher Heydon, Esq.
Nov. 19, 1592.	Edward Coke, Esq. Speaker Nathaniel Bacon, Esq.
Oct. 24, 1597.	Sir Roger Townshend, Knight Henry Gawdy, Esq.
Oct. 7, 1601.	Sir Bassingborn Gawdy, Knight Sir Henry Gawdy, Knight
(James 1st) March 19, 1603.	Nicholas Bacon, Esq. Sir Charles Cornwallis, Knight
April 5, 1614.	Nathaniel Bacon, Esq. Sir Charles Cornwallis, Knight
Jan. 30, 1620.	Sir Hamond Le Strange, Baronet Drugo Drewry, Esq.
Feb. 19, 1623.	Sir Thomas Holland, Knight Sir John Corbett, Bart.
(Charles 1st) Feb. 6, 1625.	Sir Edward Coke, Knight Sir Robert Bell, Knight
June 21, 1625.	Sir Edward Coke, Knight Sir Edward Drury, Knight
March 16, 1628.	Sir Roger Townshend, Bart. John Heveningham, Esq.
April 13, 1640.	Sir John Holland, Bart. Sir Edmund Moundeford, Knight
Nov. 3, 1640.	Sir John Potts, Bart. Sir Edmund Moundeford, Knight And on their Deaths, Sir John Palgrave, Bart. Sir John Hobart, Bart. [This was afterwards styled the Long Parliament.]
(Oliver Cromwell) July 5, 1653.	Robert Jermy Tobias Frere Ralph Wolmer Henry King William Burton [No Representatives for any Cities or Boroughs (except London) sat in this Parliament.]
Sept. 3, 1654.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. Sir William Doyley, Knight Sir Ralph Hare, Bart. Thomas Weld, Esq. Robert Wilton, Esq. Thomas Sotherton, Esq. Philip Wodehouse, Esq. Robert Wood, sen. Esq. Philip Bedingfeld, sen. Esq. Tobias Frere, Esq.
Sept. 17, 1656.	C. Fleetwood, Lord Dep. of Ireland Sir John Hobart, Bart. Sir William Doyley, Knight Sir Ralph Hare, Bart. Sir Horatio Townshend, Bart. Philip Wodehouse, Esq. Robert Wilton, Esq. Robert Wood, Esq. John Buxton, Esq. Thomas Sotherton, Esq. [In these two last Parliaments, Thetford and Castle Rising sent no Members - only Norfolk, Norwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn. Lynn and Yarmouth first sent Members in the 23rd of Edward 1st; Thetford in 1st of Edward 6th; and Castle Rising 5th of Philip and Mary.]
Jan. 27, 1658.	Sir Horatio Townshend, Bart. Sir William Doyley, Knight

KNIGHTS of the SHIRE for the County of NORFOLK, from the Restoration in 1660 to the present time, with
the number of Votes polled at each Contested Election.

(Charles 2d) 1660.	Sir Horatio Townshend, Bart. Thomas Lord Richardson [This was called a Convention Parliament.]
1661.	Thomas Lord Richardson Sir Ralph Hare, Bart.
1668.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. (2740) Sir Roger Kemp, Bart. (2732) Sir Nevile Catelyn, Knt. (1987) Sir William Cooke, Bart. (1743) [This Sir Wm. Cooke was no ways allied to the COKES of Holkham. He was of an old Tory family, and lived at Broome-hall near Bungay; his wife was a Stuart, allied to the then Royal Family. He had six daughters, one of whom (Mrs. Gurdon) was great grandmother to T.T. Gurdon, Esq. of Letton. Sir Wm. Cooke was buried in the family vault at Letton, where there is a very elegant monument to his memory.]
1670.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. (1620) Sir Nevile Catleyn, Knt. (1530) Sir Roger Kempt, Bart. (1434) Sir Thomas Hare, Bart. (1074)
1672.	Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2996) Sir Peter Gleane, Bart. (2984) Sir John Hobart, Bart. (2047) Sir Wm. Cooke, Bart. (1974)
1676.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. (3440) Sir Peter Gleane, Bart. (3412) Sir Thomas Hare, Bart. (1733) Lord Paston (1147)
1678.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. (3120) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2087) Sir Wm. Cooke, Bart. (1730)
Oct. 21, 1680.	Sir John Hobart, Bart. (3559) Sir Peter Gleane, Bart. (3202) Sir Christ. Calthorp, Knt. (2517) Sir Nevil Catelyn, Knt. (2549)
1681.	Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (3496) Sir Thomas Hare, Bart. (3427) Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (672) Sir John Holland (494)
1684.	Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (3415) Sir Thomas Hare, Bart. (3416) Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (692) Sir John Holland, Bart. (410)
1686.	Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (3027) Sir John Holland (2040) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2002)
(James 2d) 1688. THE CONVENTION PARLIAMENT.	Sir Wm. Cooke, Bart. (1995) Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (1798) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (1670) Sir Roger Potts, Bart. (1153)
(Wm. 3d & Mary 2d.) 1689.	Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2794) Sir Wm Cooke, Bart. (2771) Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (1372)
(William alone) 1695.	Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. Sir Jacob Astley, Bart.
1698.	Sir Wm. Cooke, Bart. (3107) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2960) Sir Henry Hobart, Bart. (2244) Lord Paston (2000)
1700.	Hon. Roger Townshend (2077) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (1838) Horatio Walpole, Esq. (1374) Lord Paston (1000)
(Queen Anne) 1701.	Sir John Holland, Bart. (2863) Hon. Roger Townshend (2770) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (1788)
July 29, 1702.	Sir John Holland, Bart. (2702) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2681) Sir Wm. Cooke, Bart. (2662) Sir Edward Ward, Bart. (2650)
1705.	Sir John Holland, Bart. Hon. Roger Townshend
1708.	Sir John Holland, Bart. Ash Windham, Esq.
1709.	Sir John Holland, Bart. re-elected, (having accepted a place.)
Oct. 11, 1710.	Sir John Wodehouse, Bart. (3217) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (3200) Ash Windham, Esq. (2783) Robert Walpole, Esq. (2397)
Sept. 9, 1713.	Sir Edmund Bacon, Bart. Sir Jacob Astley, Bart.
(George 1st) Feb. 18, 1714-15	Thomas De Grey, Esq. (3183) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (3059) Sir Ralph Hare, Bart. (2840) Erasmus Earle, Esq. (2635)
April 1, 1722.	Thomas Coke, Esq. Thomas De Grey, Esq.
(George 2d) Aug. 23, 1727.	Sir Thomas Coke, Bart. (created Baron Lovell) Sir John Hobart, Bart. (created Baron Hobart)
1728.	[The above being made Peers.] Sir Edmund Bacon, Bart. Harbord Harbord, Esq.
May 22, 1734.	Sir Edmund Bacon, Bart. (3224) William Wodehouse, Esq. (3153) William Morden, Esq. (3147) Robert Coke, Esq. (3081)
March 23, 1736.	Armine Wodehouse, Esq. vice William Wodehouse, Esq. dec.
May 13, 1741.	Edward Lord Coke (son of the Earl of Leicester) Armine Wodehouse, Esq.
July 1, 1747.	Hon. George Townshend Armine Wodehouse, Esq.
May 8, 1754.	The same.
(George 3d) April 1, 1761.	Hon. George Townshend Sir Armine Wodehouse, Bart.
April 11, 1764.	Thomas De Grey, jun. Esq. vice Rt. Hon. Geo. Townshend (created Marquis Townshend)
March 23, 1768.	Sir Edward Astley, Bart. (2977) Thomas De Grey, Esq. (2754) Sir Armine Wodehouse, Bart. (2680) Wenman Coke, Esq. (2610) [Sir Armine Wodehouse died in 1777, having represented Norfolk for 32 years.]
Oct. 26, 1774.	Sir Edward Astley, Bart. Wenman Coke, Esq.
May 8, 1776.	Thomas William Coke, Esq. vice Wenman Coke, Esq. dec.
Sept. 20, 1780.	Sir Edward Astley, Bart. Thomas William Coke, Esq.
April 14, 1784.	Sir John Wodehouse, Bart. Sir Edward Astley, Bart. [Mr. Coke declined a Contest two days before the Election.]
June 24, 1790.	Sir John Wodehouse, Bart. Thomas William Coke, Esq.
June 2, 1796.	The same.
Nov. 15, 1797.	Jacob Henry Astley, Esq. vice Sir John Wodehouse, Bt. (created Baron Wodehouse)
July 12 to July 20, 1802.	Thomas William Coke, Esq. (4317) Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart. (3612) Hon. John Wodehouse (3517) [The poll continued eight days.] At this Election, the total number of voters polled amounted to 7251, being 1719 more than voted in the sharp contest of 1768 (but of the 7251, 478 were afterwards scrutinized and disallowed.) At this election the perhaps unparalleled circumstance occurred of two persons voting in succession for one freehold, which look place by the death of the first voter, who was father of the second.
Nov. 13 to Nov. 19, 1806.	Right Hon. Wm. Windham (3722) Thomas Wm. Coke, Esq. (4118) Hon. John Wodehouse (3365) [The poll continued six days.] The preceding Election having been declared void under the Treating Act,
March 4, 1807.	Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart. Edward Coke, Esq, (of Derby)
May 12, 1807.	Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart. Thomas Wm. Coke, Esq.
Oct. 14, 1812.	Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart. Thomas Wm. Coke, Esq.
	On the death of Sir J.H. Astley, Bart.
May 19 to 23, 1817.	Edmond Wodehouse, Esq. (3896) Edward Roger Pratt, Esq. (3321) [This Election lasted five days.]
June 23, 1818.	Thomas Wm. Coke, Esq. Edmond Wodehouse, Esq. [Re elected.]
(Geo. 4th) March 13, 1820.	The same.
June 19, 1826.	The same.
(Wm 4th) Aug. 6, 1830.	Thomas Wm. Coke, Esq. Sir Wm. J.H.B. Folkes, Bart. [Without opposition. E. Wodehouse, Esq. having declined a Contest.]
May 6, 1831.	The same re-elected. [This short Parliament was dissolved Dec. 3, 1832, when Mr Coke retired from the representation of Norfolk.]

SINCE THE REFORM ACT. (1832.)

[By this Act, Castle Rising was disfranchised and two additional Members given to the County, which was now divided into two districts, each division sending two Representatives.]

West Norfolk Division. Dec. 15, 1832 - (at Swaffham).	Sir Wm. J.H.B. Folkes, Bart. Sir Jacob Astley, Bart.
East Norfolk Division. Dec. 20 & 21, 1832 - (at Norwich).	Wm. H. Windham, Esq. (3304) Hon. George Keppel (3261) N.W. Peach, Esq. (2960) Lord Henry Cholmondeley (2852)
West Norfolk Division. Jan. 15 & 16, 1835 - (at Swaffham).	Sir Wm. J.H.B. Folkes, Bart. (2299) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2134) Wm. Bagge, Esq. (1880)
East Norfolk Division. Jan 20 & 21, 1835 - (at Norwich).	Lord Walpole (3188) Edmond Wodehouse, Esq. (3474) William Howe Windham, Esq. (3089) Richard H. Gurney, Esq. (2887)
(Victoria I.) West Norfolk Division. Aug. 1 & 2, 1837 - (at Swaffham).	Wm. Bagge, Esq. (3178) W.L.W. Chute, Esq. (2877) Sir Wm. J.H.B. Folkes, Bart. (2838) Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. (2713)
East Norfolk Division. Aug. 8 & 9, 1837 - (at Norwich).	Edmond Wodehouse, Esq. (3645) H.N. Burroughes, Esq. (3523) Wm. Howe Windham, Esq. (3238) R.H. Gurney, Esq. (2978)

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