East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency) facts for kids

East Grinstead was an area in the United Kingdom that elected people to speak for its residents in Parliament. Think of it like a special district that sends a representative to the government.

This area first became a "parliamentary borough" in 1307. Back then, it sent two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. These MPs were chosen using a system where people voted for as many candidates as there were seats.

Later, in 1832, this old system for East Grinstead was stopped. But the name came back in 1885! A new law created a different kind of East Grinstead area, which then sent just one MP to Parliament.

When this area was finally stopped as a parliamentary constituency in 1983, its land was split up. Parts of it became new areas called Mid Sussex and Wealden.

What Were the Boundaries of East Grinstead?

How the Area Changed Over Time

The exact borders of the East Grinstead parliamentary area changed several times over the years. This happened as populations grew and new towns developed.

East Grinstead's Shifting Borders

• 1885–1918: The area included parts of Cuckfield, East Grinstead, and Uckfield.
• 1918–1950: It grew to include urban districts like Burgess Hill and Hayward's Heath, plus more rural areas.
• 1950–1955: The boundaries changed again, adding some parishes from the Battle Rural District.
• 1955–1974: The parishes from Battle Rural District were removed.
• 1974–1983: In its final years, the area covered the urban district of East Grinstead and the rural district of Uckfield.

Who Represented East Grinstead in Parliament?

Meet the MPs from East Grinstead

Over hundreds of years, many different people served as MPs for East Grinstead. These individuals were chosen by the people living in the area to represent their interests in Parliament.

Early MPs (1307–1832)

In the early days, East Grinstead sent two MPs to Parliament. Many names are known from this long period, showing how important it was for the area to have its voice heard. Some notable families, like the Sackvilles and Pelhams, had members who served as MPs for East Grinstead.

MPs from 1885 to 1983

After the area was revived in 1885, it sent one MP to Parliament. Here are some of the people who held this important role:

• George Gregory (Conservative): He was the first MP for the new East Grinstead area in 1885.
• Alfred Gathorne-Hardy (Conservative): He took over in 1886.
• George Goschen (Conservative): Became MP in 1895 and later became a Viscount.
• Charles Corbett (Liberal): He was the first Liberal MP for East Grinstead, elected in 1906.
• Henry Cautley (Conservative): He became MP in 1910 and served for a long time, even becoming a Baron.
• Ralph Clarke (Conservative): He won a special election in 1936.
• Evelyn Emmet (Conservative): She became MP in 1955 and was later made a Baroness.
• Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative): He was elected in 1965 and was the last MP for East Grinstead before the area was changed. He later represented the Wealden area.

How Were MPs Elected in East Grinstead?

Understanding the Election Results

Elections are how people choose their representatives. In East Grinstead, voters cast their ballots for the person they wanted to send to Parliament. The tables below show how many votes each candidate received in different elections.

Election Results: A Closer Look

• 1885 General Election: George Gregory (Conservative) won with 57.8% of the votes.
• 1886 General Election: Alfred Gathorne-Hardy (Conservative) won with 63.7% of the votes.
• 1892 General Election: Alfred Gathorne-Hardy (Conservative) won again with 62.9% of the votes.
• 1895 General Election: George Goschen (Conservative) won with 56.5% of the votes.
• 1900 General Election: George Goschen (Conservative) won again with 56.4% of the votes.
• 1906 General Election: Charles Corbett (Liberal) won with 51.4% of the votes, a big change!
• January 1910 General Election: Henry Cautley (Conservative) won with 64.2% of the votes.
• December 1910 General Election: Henry Cautley (Conservative) won again with 62.7% of the votes.
• 1918 General Election: Henry Cautley (Unionist) won with 67.0% of the votes.
• 1922 General Election: Henry Cautley (Unionist) won with 71.0% of the votes.
• 1923 General Election: Henry Cautley (Unionist) won with 68.8% of the votes.
• 1924 General Election: Henry Cautley (Unionist) won with 64.6% of the votes.
• 1929 General Election: Henry Cautley (Unionist) won with 57.9% of the votes.
• 1931 General Election: Henry Cautley (Conservative) won with a huge 87.2% of the votes.
• 1935 General Election: Henry Cautley (Conservative) won with 78.4% of the votes.
• 1936 By-election: Ralph Clarke (Conservative) won with 79.6% of the votes.
• 1945 General Election: Ralph Clarke (Conservative) won with 57.1% of the votes.
• 1950 General Election: Ralph Clarke (Conservative) won with 55.1% of the votes.
• 1951 General Election: Ralph Clarke (Conservative) won with 60.3% of the votes.
• 1955 General Election: Evelyn Emmet (Conservative) won with 61.5% of the votes.
• 1959 General Election: Evelyn Emmet (Conservative) won with 62.3% of the votes.
• 1964 General Election: Evelyn Emmet (Conservative) won with 53.2% of the votes.
• 1965 By-election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 55.0% of the votes.
• 1966 General Election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 53.2% of the votes.
• 1970 General Election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 61.2% of the votes.
• February 1974 General Election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 53.3% of the votes.
• October 1974 General Election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 53.2% of the votes.
• 1979 General Election: Geoffrey Johnson-Smith (Conservative) won with 62.0% of the votes.

Images for kids

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  George Goschen

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  Charles Corbett

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  E.M. Crookshank

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  Evan Durbin