Norfolk: Gazetteers and Directories

William White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883

GENERAL HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
OF THE
COUNTY OF NORFOLK

(Page 30)

PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF THE COUNTY AND OF THE BOROUGHS

Before the passing of the Reform Bill, in 1832, Norfolk sent twelve representatives to Parliament, namely, two for the county, two for the city of Norwich, and two for each of the boroughs of Yarmouth, Lynn, Thetford, and Castle Rising; but by that Act Castle Rising was disfranchised, and the county was divided into two divisions, each sending two knights to Parliament.

Thetford and Yarmouth have since been disfranchised, the former by 31-32 Vict. c. 48 s. 43, and the latter by 30-31 Vict. c. 102 s. 12; and the county was further divided by the Reform Act of 1867 into West, South, and North divisions, each returning two members.

The following table shows the area of each division and borough, with their population in 1881 and the number of electors in 1883.

Area Inhabited houses Population Electors 1883 North Norfolk 318,269 26,673 116,714   6,454 South Norfolk 414,510 25,473 113,091   7,417 Norwich (City *)     7,472 19,779   87,843 15,691 West Norfolk 612,696 23,540 108,702   6,544 King's Lynn (Borough *)     3,226   3,974   18,475   2,950

See also White's History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk 1883.

Copyright © Pat Newby.
November 2006