See also: Number of Westminster MPs. This is a list of former parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom, organised by date of abolition. It includes UK parliamentary constituencies that have been abolished, including those that were later recreated, but does not include constituencies that were merely renamed.
The date of creation of a constituency, in some cases, goes back to English and Welsh seats in the Parliament of England and the Scottish constituencies in the Parliament of Great Britain.
In some cases, constituencies in the unreformed House of Commons first received a summons to send representatives to Parliament at a date considerably earlier than the date after which they consistently received a summons. These cases are indicated in a note.
No account is taken, in this article, of the temporary redistribution of constituencies used for the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments in the 1650s. See First Protectorate Parliament for a list of those constituencies.
See main article: 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
See also: Fifth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies.
| Created | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Barnsley West and Penistone | 1983 | |
| 1997 | ||
| Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath | 1997 | |
| Blackpool North and Fleetwood | 1997 | |
| Bradford North | 1918 | |
| Brent East | 1974 | |
| Brent South | 1974 | |
| Eccles | 1885 | |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 1997 | |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1997 | |
| Knowsley North and Sefton East | 1997 | |
| Lancaster and Wyre | 1997 | |
| Meirionnydd Nant Conwy | 1983 | |
| Normanton | 1885 | |
| Poplar and Canning Town | 1997 | |
| Rugby and Kenilworth | 1983 | |
| Sheffield Hillsborough | 1918 | |
| Tyne Bridge | 1983 | |
| Vale of York | 1997 | |
The Scottish UK Parliamentary constituencies were reorganised following the creation of the Scottish Parliament, in order to remove the traditional over-representation put in place to compensate for the lack of national representation.
The Boundary Commissions' Fourth Periodical Review was completed in 1995. It recommended various changes, although most of the abolitions resulting from these took place in Scotland.
Due to the rapid expansion, the town of Milton Keynes, the Boundary Commission for England exceptionally recommended in 1990, between reviews, that it should be divided between two new constituencies.
The Boundary Commissions' Third Periodical Review was completed in 1983, fourteen years after the previous review. It proposed wider changes than the two earlier reviews and abolished a large number of constituencies, although many constituencies were simply renamed to conform to local government districts created in 1974.
The Boundary Commissions' Second Periodical Review was completed in 1969, but not implemented until the February 1974 election. Many of the constituencies it abolished were in inner city areas, which were losing population.
The Boundary Commissions completed their First Periodical Reviews in 1954, as required by the 1944 act. These reviews controversially recommended further abolitions and creations, including the abolition of some constituencies created only in 1950.
| Created | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beverley | 1950 | First creation 1563–1870; Third creation 1983-97 | |
| Birmingham Erdington | 1918 | Revived 1974 | |
| Blackburn East | 1950 | Reunited as Blackburn | |
| Blackburn West | 1950 | ||
| Bradford Central | 1885 | ||
| Broxtowe | 1918 | Revived 1983 | |
| Croydon East | 1950 | ||
| Croydon North | 1918 | ||
| Croydon West | 1950 | ||
| Droylsden | 1950 | ||
| Fulham East | 1918 | Rowspan=2 | Divided between Fulham and Barons Court |
| Fulham West | 1918 | ||
| King's Norton | 1918 | ||
| Glasgow Camlachie | 1885 | ||
| Glasgow Tradeston | 1885 | ||
| Hackney South | 1885 | ||
| Hammersmith South | 1918 | ||
| Kingston upon Hull Central | 1885 | Strictly Kingston upon Hull Central. Revived 1974-1983 | |
| Leeds Central | 1885 | Revived 1983 | |
| Leeds North | 1885 | ||
| Manchester Clayton | 1918 | ||
| Midlothian and Peebles | 1950 | ||
| Nottingham East (1950 to 1955) | 1885 | Revived 1974 | |
| Nottingham North West | 1950 | ||
| Reading North (1950 to 1955) | 1950 | Revived 1974 to 1983 | |
| Reading South (1950 to 1955) | 1950 | Revived 1974 to 1983 | |
| Sheffield Neepsend | 1950 | ||
| Walsall | 1832 | Split into Walsall North and Walsall South |
The Boundary Commissions completed their Initial Review of Parliamentary Constituencies in 1947. This recommended a number of changes in order that the populations of constituencies ordinarily varied no more than 25% from an electoral quota.
The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 established four Boundary Commissions. Their first task was to review the largest constituencies in the country and recommend division as appropriate. Many of these constituencies were in the population growth areas around London.
| Created | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | 1885 | Split into Blackpool North and Blackpool South | |
| Coventry | 1470 | First represented 1298; Split into Coventry East andCoventry West | |
| Ealing | 1885 | Split into Ealing East and Ealing West | |
| Harrow | 1885 | Split into Harrow East and Harrow West | |
| Hendon | 1918 | Split into Hendon North and Hendon South. Reunited 1997 | |
| Ilford | 1918 | Split into Ilford North and Ilford South | |
| Tamworth | 1563 | Revived 1997; Merged into Lichfield and Tamworth |
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 provided for a reduced representation from the whole of Ireland. As a result of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and subsequent legislation, Southern Ireland became the Irish Free State and ceased to have representation in the House of Commons and only the reorganisation of constituencies in Northern Ireland took effect.
The Representation of the People Act 1918, in addition to finally enfranchising women, provided for a redistribution of seats with the aim of equalising electorates, particularly where these had changed significantly since 1885. Many smaller seats were abolished while some larger ones were divided.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 disenfranchised boroughs with populations of less than 15,000, while several large towns and counties were subdivided into single member constituencies.
| Constituency | Created | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beverley | 1563 | Disenfranchised for corruption. First creation 1295-by 1307. Third creation 1950–55. Fourth creation 1983–97. | |
| Bridgwater | 1295 | Disenfranchised for corruption. Second creation from 1885. | |
| Cashel | 1801 | Disenfranchised for corruption | |
| Sligo (Borough) | 1801 | Disenfranchised for corruption |
The Reform Act 1867 disenfranchised the remaining boroughs with populations under 10,000 and subdivided some county constituencies.
| Created | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 1708 | Divided into East Aberdeenshire and West Aberdeenshire | |
| Arundel | 1295 | Second creation 1974-97 | |
| Ashburton | 1640 | First creation 1298. Third creation 1885–1918. | |
| Ayrshire | 1708 | Divided into North Ayrshire (abolished 1918) and South Ayrshire (abolished 1983) | |
| North Cheshire | 1832 | ||
| South Cheshire | 1832 | With North Cheshire, redistributed to form East Cheshire, Mid Cheshire and West Cheshire | |
| Dartmouth | 1351 | First creation 1298 | |
| North Essex | 1832 | Split into East Essex and West Essex. Second creation from 1997. | |
| Great Yarmouth | 1298 | Also known as Yarmouth (Norfolk). Second creation from 1885. | |
| Honiton | 1640 | First creation 1301-by 1307. Third creation from 1885. | |
| South Lancashire | 1832 | ||
| Lancaster | 1523 | First creation 1295-by 1376. Third creation 1885–1997. | |
| Lanarkshire | 1708 | Divided into North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire | |
| Lyme Regis | 1295 | ||
| East Norfolk | 1832 | ||
| Peeblesshire | 1708 | United with Selkirkshire to form Peebles and Selkirk | |
| Reigate | 1295 | Second creation from 1885. | |
| Selkirkshire | 1708 | United with Peeblesshire to form Peebles and Selkirk | |
| South Staffordshire | 1832 | Split into East Staffordshire and West Staffordshire. Reestablished 1983 | |
| Thetford | 1529 | ||
| Totnes | 1295 | Second creation 1885–1983. Third creation from 1997. | |
| Wells | 1295 | Second creation from 1885. |
St Albans and Sudbury were both disenfranchised for corruption. After some delay, their seats were redistributed by a special act of Parliament. Two were given to create new parliamentary boroughs, while the other two were given to the West Riding of Yorkshire, which was thereafter divided into two constituencies.
| Year | Created | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1865 | West Riding of Yorkshire | 1832 | two divisions | |
| 1852 | St Albans | 1553 | Disenfranchised for corruption. First created 1311-by 1326. Third creation from 1885. | |
| 1844 | Sudbury | 1559 | Disenfranchised for corruption. Second creation 1885–1950. |
The Reform Act 1832 saw the abolition of a wide range of rotten boroughs in England. There were also a few changes to Scottish constituencies.
| Created | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Burghs | 1708 | Components split into Aberdeen and part of Montrose Burghs |
| Aldborough | 1558 | |
| Aldeburgh | 1571 | |
| Amersham | 1625 | First creation 1300-by 1307 |
| Anstruther Easter Burghs | 1708 | Components became part of St Andrews Burghs |
| Appleby | 1295 | |
| Bere Alston | 1584 | |
| Bishop's Castle | 1584 | |
| Bletchingley | 1295 | |
| Boroughbridge | 1553 | |
| Bossiney | 1547 | |
| Brackley | 1547 | |
| Bramber | 1467 | First creation 1295-by 1441 |
| Callington | 1584 | |
| Camelford | 1547 | |
| Castle Rising | 1558 | |
| Cheshire | 1545 | two divisions |
| Clackmannanshire | 1708 | Merged with Kinross-shire to form Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (abolished 1918) |
| Corfe Castle | 1572 | |
| Cornwall | 1290 | two divisions |
| Cromartyshire | 1708 | Merged with Ross-shire to form Ross and Cromarty (abolished 1983) |
| Cumberland | 1290 | two divisions |
| Derbyshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Devon | 1290 | two divisions |
| Downton | 1467 | First creation 1295-by 1441 |
| Dunwich | 1298 | |
| County Durham | 1675 | two divisions |
| Dysart Burghs | 1708 | Components became part of Kirkcaldy Burghs |
| East Grinstead | 1307 | |
| East Looe | 1571 | |
| Elginshire | 1708 | Merged with Nairnshire to form Elginshire and Nairnshire (abolished 1918) |
| Essex | 1290 | two divisions |
| Fowey | 1571 | |
| Gatton | 1450 | |
| Glasgow Burghs | 1708 | Also known as Clyde Burghs. Components split into Glasgow and part of Kilmarnock Burghs |
| Gloucestershire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Great Bedwyn | 1295 | |
| Hampshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Haslemere | 1584 | |
| Hedon | 1547 | First creation 1295 |
| Heytesbury | 1449 | |
| Higham Ferrers | 1558 | |
| Hindon | 1449 | |
| Ilchester | 1621 | First creation 1298 |
| Kent | 1290 | two divisions |
| Kinross-shire | 1708 | Merged with Clackmannanshire to form Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire (abolished 1918) |
| Lanark Burghs | 1708 | Strictly Linlithgow Burghs |
| Lancashire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Leicestershire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Lincolnshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Lostwithiel | 1305 | |
| Ludgershall | 1295 | |
| Milborne Port | 1628 | First creation 1298-by 1307 |
| Minehead | 1563 | |
| Mitchell | 1547 | Also known as St Michael's |
| Nairnshire | 1708 | Merged with Elginshire to form Elginshire and Nairnshire (abolished 1918) |
| New Romney | 1371 | |
| Newport (Cornwall) | 1529 | |
| Newton (Lancashire) | 1559 | |
| Newtown (Isle of Wight) | 1584 | |
| Norfolk | 1290 | two divisions |
| Northamptonshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Northumberland | 1290 | two divisions |
| Nottinghamshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Okehampton | 1640 | First creation 1301-by 1307 |
| Old Sarum | 1360 | First creation 1295 |
| Orford | 1512 | First creation 1298-by 1307 |
| Plympton Erle | 1295 | |
| Queenborough | 1571 | |
| Ross-shire | 1708 | Merged with Cromartyshire to form Ross and Cromarty (abolished 1983) |
| St Germans | 1563 | |
| St Mawes | 1563 | |
| Saltash | 1547 | |
| Seaford | 1641 | First creation 1298-by 1307 |
| Shropshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Somerset | 1290 | two divisions |
| Staffordshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Steyning | 1467 | First creation 1298-by 1307. Second creation by 1327–1442. |
| Stockbridge | 1563 | |
| Suffolk | 1290 | two divisions |
| Surrey | 1290 | two divisions |
| Sussex | 1290 | two divisions |
| Tain Burghs | 1708 | Enlarged and renamed Wick Burghs, also known as Northern Burghs (abolished 1918) |
| Tregony | 1559 | First creation 1295 |
| Warwickshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Wendover | 1625 | First creation 1301-by 1307 |
| Weobley | 1628 | First creation 1295 |
| West Looe | 1547 | |
| Whitchurch | 1584 | |
| Wiltshire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Winchelsea | 1366 | |
| Wootton Bassett | 1447 | |
| Worcestershire | 1290 | two divisions |
| Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) | 1584 | |
| Yorkshire | 1290 | three divisions |
The disenfranchisement of boroughs was almost unknown in the unreformed House of Commons. Apart from a few special cases in the 16th century and the temporary redistribution of constituencies for the First and Second Protectorate Parliaments in the 1650s, no borough was disenfranchised until Grampound. The Cornish borough was abolished in 1821 in an effort to avoid the more sweeping reforms that later came with the Reform Act 1832.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1547 | Disenfranchised for corruption 1821. Its two seats were transferred and added to Yorkshire from 1826. | |
| 1319 | Merged with Weymouth to form Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in 1572 | |
| 1348 | Merged with Melcombe Regis to form Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in 1572 | |
| 1536 | Borough in France, re-conquered by the French in 1558 | |
| 1542 | Borough constituency in Anglesey, altered to Beaumaris from 1553 | |
| 1513 | Borough in France (now Belgium), returned to French rule in 1519 | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1467, but were not enfranchised in that year.
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1467 but were not enfranchised in that year.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | Second creation 1472-1950 | |
| 1295 | Sometimes known as Grimsby. Second creation from 1472. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1472-1950 | |
| 1295 | Second creation from 1472 | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1378, but were not enfranchised by 1442. They were seldom, if at all, represented afterwards, until restored to the list of those regularly in receipt of writs of summons in later years.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | Second creation 1467-1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1467-1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1545-1885 | |
| By 1327 | First creation 1298-by 1307. Third creation 1467–1832. | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1328 but were not enfranchised by 1377. They were seldom, if at allm represented afterwards, until restored to the list of those regularly in receipt of writs of summons in later years.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| By 1327 | First creation 1298-by 1307. Third creation 1624–1974. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1523–1868. Third creation 1885–1997. | |
| 1302 | Also known as Windsor. Second creation 1447–1974. Third creation from 1997. | |
| 1362 | Second creation 1453–1885. Third creation from 1950. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1529–1950. Third creation from 1983. | |
| 1295 | Represented intermittently until 1337. | |
| 1311 | Second creation 1553–1852. Third creation from 1885. | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1308 but were not enfranchised by 1327. They were seldom, if at all, represented afterwards, until restored to the list of those regularly in receipt of writs of summons in later years.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | Second creation 1554-1918 | |
| 1305 | Second creation 1334-1885 | |
| 1307 | Second creation 1547-1983 | |
| 1295 | Second creation from 1545 | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments before 1302 but were not enfranchised by 1307. They were seldom, if at all, represented afterwards, until restored to the list of those regularly in receipt of writs of summons in later years.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1300 | Second creation 1625-1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1563–1870. Third creation 1950–55. Fourth creation 1983–97. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1604–1950.. | |
| 1301 | Second creation 1625-1885 | |
| 1298 | Second creation by 1327-by 1377. Third creation 1624–1974. | |
| 1301 | Second creation 1640–1868. Third creation from 1885. | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1628-1832 | |
| 1301 | Second creation 1640-1832 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1512-1832 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1641-1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1467-1918 | |
| 1298 | Second creation by 1327–1442. Third creation 1467–1832. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1950-74 | |
| 1301 | Second creation 1625-1832 | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the parliaments of 1298, but seldom, if at all, represented afterwards, until restored to the list of those regularly in receipt of writs of summons in later centuries.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1298 | Second creation 1640–1868. Third creation 1885–1818. | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1470-1945 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1351-1868 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1621-1832 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1641-1885 | |
| 1298 | Second creation 1442-1918 | |
| 1298 | First creation 1295. Third creation 1621–1918. Fourth creation 1950–74. | |
A number of boroughs were represented in the Model Parliament of 1295, but were seldom, if at all, represented afterwards. Some boroughs originally included in the 1295 parliament were restored to the list of those always summoned in later centuries or the same name was used for a constituency after 1832.
| Constituency | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1586–1918 | |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | ||
| Basingstoke | 1295 | Second creation from 1885 |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1950–1974. Third creation from 1983. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1640–1918 | |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1832–1974 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1885–1918 | |
| 1295 | Part of Isle of Ely 1918–1983. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1547–1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1832–1983 | |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1641–1885 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1360–1832 | |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1298. Third creation 1621–1918. Fourth creation 1950–74. | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1553–1983 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1330–1974 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1547–1885 | |
| 1295 | ||
| 1295 | Second creation 1559–1832 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1885–1918 | |
| 1295 | Second creation 1628-1832 | |
| 1295 | Split into Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) 1584–1832 & Newport (Isle of Wight) 1584–1885. | |
| 1295 | ||