1892 Cardiganshire County Council election explained

Election Name:1892 Cardiganshire County Council election
Country:Wales
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Party Colour:yes
Majority Seats:33
1Blank:Councillors
2Blank:Aldermen
Last Election1:50/64
Seats Before1:50/64
Seats1:52/64
1Data1:39
2Data1:13
3Data1:2
Last Election2:13/64
Seats Before2:13/64
Seats2:10/64
1Data2:7
2Data2:3
3Data2:3
Party3:Liberal Unionist
Seats3:2/64
1Data3:2
2Data3:0
3Data3:1
Seats4:0/64
1Data4:0
2Data4:0
Council control
Posttitle:Council control after election
After Election:Liberal

The second election for the Cardiganshire County Council took place in March 1892.[1] It was preceded by the inaugural 1889 election and followed by the 1895 election.

Overview of the result

To some extent the euphoria of 1889 had passed three years later and the whole atmosphere was marked by less excitement. The result, however, was virtually identical to that of the inaugural election.

Boundary changes

One feature was that the multi-member seats, which existed in urban areas in the first elections, were divided so that all councillors were now elected to represent single member wards.

Candidates

There were far more unopposed returns than three years previously.[2]

Of the eight retiring aldermen, only Jenkin Jenkins and Llewellyn Edwards, both of whom were made aldermen as defeated candidates in 1889, sought election.

Outcome

The Liberals retained a substantial majority on the council.

Most contests were again on party lines although there were several instances of Liberals opposing each other. The Conservatives had a few successes, notably at New Quay where Captain Longcroft of Llanina triumphed following divisions amongst local nonconformists.

The two retiring aldermen who sought election had mixed fortunes. Jenkins won at Llanfihangel Ystrad but Edwards was again defeated at Llanbadarn, this time by solicitor Hugh Hughes.

In contrast to the initial elections, all eight aldermen selected in 1892 were elected members of the Council. The Conservatives were again allocated three places, although two of those selected had captured their seats from the Liberals at the recent election. Their elevation allowed the defeated Liberal candidates to be returned unopposed at the ensuing by-elections (see below).

Ward results

Aberaeron

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Aberarth

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Aberbanc

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Aberporth

The ward was known as Blaenporth at the previous election but there was no boundary change.

Aberystwyth Division 1

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Aberystwyth Division 2

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Aberystwyth Division 3

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Aberystwyth Division 4

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Borth

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Bow Street

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Cardigan South

Cwmrheidol

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Devil's Bridge

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Goginan

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Lampeter Borough

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Llanarth

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Llanbadarn Fawr

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Llanddewi Brefi

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Llandygwydd

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Llandysul South

Llandysiliogogo

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Llanfair Clydogau

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Llanfarian

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Llanfihangel y Creuddyn

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Llanfihangel Ystrad

Jenkin Jenkins, defeated in 1889 but subsequently made an alderman, successfully held the seat by a small margin.-->

Llangoedmor

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Llangeitho

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Llangrannog

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Llanilar

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Llanrhystyd

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Llanllwchaiarn

Llansantffraed

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Llanwnen

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Llanwenog

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Lledrod

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Nantcwnlle

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New Quay

There were boundary changes at Llanllwchaiarn and New Quay as the previous two-member ward was divided into two single-member wards. Liberal candidates held both seats in 1889.

Penbryn

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Strata Florida

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Taliesin

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Talybont

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Trefeurig

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Tregaron

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Troedyraur

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Ysbyty Ystwyth

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Election of aldermen

In addition to the 48 councillors the council consisted of 16 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the elections, eight aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.[3]

One retiring alderman was re-elected:

In addition, seven new aldermen were elected:

The following aldermen were not re-elected:

Aldermanic vacancies, 1892-98

Colonel Davies-Evans decided not to accept a place on the aldermanic bench soon after the election. The Conservatives proposed that their nominee, David Lloyd, should occupy the vacancy but the Liberals were divided on the issue. In the ballot, Lloyd was elected by 19 votes against 18 for T.H.R. Hughes.[4] As a result, the following appointment was made for six years in May 1892.

1892 by-elections following the election of aldermen

Six of the eight vacancies were filled unopposed and there were two contested elections.[5] The Liberals captured all eight sets, including the three held by the Conservative or Unionist aldermen.

Cilcennin by-election

John Davies, elected in 1889, but defeated at the initial election, was returned unopposed.

Llanddewi Brefi by-election

D.J. Williams, who formerly represented Tregaron won a narrow victory.[6]

Llanfihangel Ystrad by-election

Walter Davies had been narrowly defeated at the initial election. Jones was described as a working class candidate.[7] -->

Llangoedmor by-election

Following W.O. Brigstocke's election as alderman, David Samuel Jones of Llwyngrawys was elected unopposed.-->

Llanwenog by-election

Following Colonel Davies-Evans's election as alderman his son was expected to contest the vacancy. However, he did not stand and Timothy Jones of Coedlanaufach, a farmer and Liberal, was returned unopposed.[8]

Trefeurig by-election

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Troedyraur by-election

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By-elections between 1892 and 1895

New Quay by-election 1892

There was also a by-election in New Quay following the death of Captain Longcroft within a few days of the election. In a close contest, Sir Marteine Lloyd of Bronwydd, famously defeated in 1889, narrowly defeated the former councillor John Owen Davies, holding the seat for the Conservatives.

Lledrod by-election 1892

Roderick Lloyd (elected alderman in 1889) resigned on being appointed county surveyor and the Rev John Owen was elected in his place. In the resulting by-election two candidates were nominated. William Bebb withdrew too late to avoid an election but received no votes at the ensuing ballot.[9]

Llangeitho by-election 1892

This by-election followed the death of Robert Joseph Davies

Aberystwyth Division 3 by-election 1892

A by-election took place on 29 November 1892 following the death of John James. The Liberals retained the seat.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Contested Elections. 27 November 2013. Cambrian News. 11 March 1892.
  2. News: Cardiganshire County Council Elections. 24 June 2014. Aberystwyth Observer. 10 March 1892.
  3. News: Cardigan County Council. 7 March 2014. Cambrian News. 18 March 1892.
  4. News: Cardigan County Council. 20 September 2014. Cambrian News. 13 May 1892.
  5. News: County Council Bye-Elections. 13 September 2014. Aberystwyth Observer. 7 April 1892.
  6. News: Cynghor Sirol Ceredigion. 20 April 2015. Brython Cymreig. 15 April 1892.
  7. News: Y Cynghor Sirol. 22 April 2015. Brython Cymreig. 25 March 1892.
  8. News: Llanwenog. 14 September 2014. Aberystywyth Observer. 7 April 1892.
  9. News: Llanilar. 21 September 2014. Brython Cymreig. 10 June 1892.
  10. News: County Council Election. 23 April 2015. Cambrian News. 2 December 1892.