Right. Let's dissect this. A parliamentary constituency, you say? For the House of Commons, no less. Epping. A name that sounds like a gentle sigh, but the history is anything but. It existed from 1885 to 1974, a neat little slice of time, really. It was a single-member constituency, meaning one person held the reins, one voice to represent a swath of Essex. The first past the post system, naturally. Simple, brutal, effective. Like a well-placed jab.
History
This Epping seat didn't just appear from the ether. It was a product of the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. Before that, Essex was carved up differently, with three two-member divisions. This new arrangement, Epping among them, created single-member constituencies, a move that always tightens the grip of power, doesn't it? It was one of eight such divisions in Essex, a county that's seen its fair share of political shifts.
The constituency wasn't static. Boundaries, like reputations, can shift. In 1945, a rather significant amputation occurred. A large chunk of its electorate was lopped off to form the new constituency of Woodford. Then, in 1974, Epping itself ceased to be. It was dissected, its remnants forming parts of Chingford, Epping Forest, and Harlow. A bit like a body being dismembered and its parts repurposed. Rather grim, when you think about it.
But the name that echoes most in its history? Winston Churchill. The man, the myth, the Prime Minister. He held Epping for twenty-one years, from 1924 to 1945. Twenty-one years. A substantial tenure. He was the MP for this patch of Essex during a pivotal period, a period that saw global upheaval and his own ascendant political career. After 1945, he moved on to Woodford. Smart man. Always knew when to pivot.
And then there's John Arlott. Not a politician in the traditional sense, but a voice many recognized. The celebrated cricket commentator and journalist. He stood as the Liberal candidate in 1955 and 1959. A bit of colour in the proceedings, I suppose, though ultimately unsuccessful. It’s always interesting when the well-known step outside their usual arena. Often a prelude to disappointment, for them and their supporters.
Boundaries and Boundary Changes
The life of a constituency is a tale of lines on maps, and those lines are rarely permanent.
1885–1918: This was the initial configuration. It encompassed the Sessional Divisions of Epping, Harlow, and Ongar, along with a slice of the Sessional Division of Dunmow. It was carved out of the former West Essex division.
1918–1945: The boundaries shifted. The urban districts of Buckhurst Hill, Chingford, Epping, Loughton, Waltham Holy Cross, Wanstead, and Woodford were brought in. The Rural District of Epping was also included. This period saw it gain areas like Woodford and Wanstead, while shedding eastern and northern parts, including Chipping Ongar and places like Great Dunmow and Hatfield Broad Oak. A bit of territorial give and take, as always.
1945–1974: This was the final chapter. The constituency comprised the Municipal Borough of Chingford, the Urban Districts of Epping and Waltham Holy Cross, and the Rural District of Epping. The House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1944 initiated a review that led to a significant subdivision of Epping. The new Woodford constituency was created, taking in the Municipal Borough of Wanstead and Woodford, and the Urban District of Chigwell.
Abolition
The end came in 1974, as a result of the Second Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. Chingford, by then absorbed into the London Borough of Waltham Forest, became the Chingford seat. Harlow, which had grown from the Rural District of Epping, formed the basis of the new Harlow constituency. The remaining territories were absorbed into the newly formed Epping Forest constituency. A clean break, an erasure.
Areas Covered
A table. How… precise. It lays out the territorial evolution:
| Area | 1885 | 1918 | 1945 | 1955 | 1974 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Dunmow, Hatfield Broad Oak | Epping | Saffron Walden (part) | |||
| Chipping Ongar | Chelmsford (part) | ||||
| Chigwell | Brentwood and Ongar (part) | ||||
| Harlow | Epping | Epping | Epping | Harlow | Harlow |
| Chingford | Chingford | Chingford | |||
| Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Epping | Epping Forest | Epping Forest | Epping Forest | ||
| Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell | Woodford | Chigwell | |||
| Woodford | Walthamstow (part) | Woodford 1 | Wanstead and Woodford | ||
| Wanstead | Romford (part) |
*1 Renamed Wanstead and Woodford, with minor boundary changes, for the 1964 general election ( S.I. 1960/454 ).
Members of Parliament
The list of those who represented Epping reads like a small history of British political parties:
| Year | Member | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | Henry Selwin-Ibbetson | Conservative | |
| 1892 | Amelius Lockwood | Conservative | |
| 1917 by-election | Richard Colvin | Unionist | |
| 1923 | Leonard Lyle | Unionist | |
| 1924 | Rt Hon Winston Churchill | Constitutionalist | Prime Minister 1940–1945 |
| 1924 | Conservative | ||
| 1945 | Leah Manning | Labour | |
| 1950 | Nigel Davies | Conservative | |
| 1951 | Graeme Finlay | Conservative | |
| 1964 | Stan Newens | Labour | |
| 1970 | Norman Tebbit | Conservative | |
| 1974 | constituency abolished |
Election Results
The nitty-gritty of votes cast, percentages, and the ebb and flow of political fortunes.
Elections in the 1880s
The inaugural contest in 1885 saw Henry Selwin-Ibbetson of the Conservative Party secure the seat with 4,668 votes, a comfortable 61.5% of the vote. The Liberal candidate, Edmund Barnard, trailed with 2,915 votes. A decisive win for the Conservatives in this newly formed constituency. The following year, 1886, saw Selwin-Ibbetson returned unopposed. Unopposed returns are always a bit suspect, aren't they? Less a testament to overwhelming popularity, more a lack of viable opposition.
Elections in the 1890s
In 1892, Amelius Lockwood, another Conservative, took over. He won 4,536 votes against Spencer Barclay Heward's 2,738. A solid majority, though the percentage shifted slightly. Lockwood then enjoyed two unopposed returns in 1895 and 1900. The Liberal Party, it seems, was struggling to gain traction here.
Elections in the 1900s
The 1906 election saw a contest again. Lockwood, still Conservative, faced Spencer Barclay Howard (a different Barclay, it seems) for the Liberal Party. Lockwood secured 5,204 votes to Howard's 4,030. A win, but the Liberal vote had strengthened considerably.
Elections in the 1910s
The January 1910 election saw Lockwood increase his majority, winning 6,578 votes against Israel Alexander Symmons's 3,845. The Liberal vote declined fractionally. In December 1910, Lockwood held the seat again, with 5,990 votes to Symmons's 3,361. Turnout dipped significantly in this second election of the year.
Then came the First World War, suspending normal political life. Amelius Lockwood was elevated to the peerage in 1917, triggering a by-election. Richard Colvin of the Unionist Party was returned unopposed, as the Liberals, in wartime coalition, didn't field a candidate. This was a common, if somewhat unsporting, practice during the coalition years.
The 1918 general election, held after the war, saw a Unionist candidate, Richard Colvin, win a substantial victory with 14,668 votes. He was endorsed by the coalition government, indicated by the 'C'. The Liberal vote collapsed, and a new candidate from the "People's Progressive Coalition" also failed to make an impact.
Elections in the 1920s
In 1922, Richard Colvin retained the seat for the Unionists, but with a reduced majority. The Liberal candidate, Gilbert Granville Sharp, polled significantly higher. The following year, 1923, saw Leonard Lyle take the Unionist seat, but again, the Liberal vote was strong.
The 1924 election was a notable one. Winston Churchill, having lost his Westminster seat, stood as a Constitutionalist (a label often used by those aligning with the Conservatives in the post-war period) and won decisively with 19,843 votes. He defeated Gilbert Granville Sharp, who stood for the Liberals again. The Labour Party also fielded a candidate. Churchill’s return to Parliament here was a significant moment.
By the 1929 election, Churchill was a Conservative, and he held the seat, though his majority was considerably smaller. The Liberal vote remained strong, and Labour also gained ground.
Elections in the 1930s
The 1931 election was a landslide for the National Government, and Churchill, standing as a Conservative, saw his vote share and majority surge. He secured 35,956 votes against Arthur Comyns Carr's 15,670. A dominant performance.
In 1935, Churchill held Epping again, but his vote share and majority decreased slightly. The Liberal and Labour votes saw some fluctuations.
The Second World War again interrupted the electoral cycle. Preparations were made for an election, with Churchill as the Conservative candidate and Leon MacLaren for Labour. However, the war's prolongation meant the election was delayed.
Elections in the 1940s
The post-war 1945 general election brought a seismic shift. Leah Manning of the Labour Party secured a surprise victory, unseating the Conservatives. She won 15,993 votes to Roy Wise's 15,006. A narrow majority of just 987. A clear indication of the changing political landscape and a significant blow to the Conservatives, even if Churchill himself was elsewhere.
Elections in the 1950s
The pendulum swung back in 1950. Nigel Davies, a Conservative, regained the seat for his party, unseating Manning. He secured 24,292 votes to Manning's 20,385. The Liberal vote also saw a slight recovery.
In 1951, Graeme Finlay, another Conservative, held the seat for his party, increasing the majority. He won 27,392 votes against Manning's 22,598.
The 1955 election saw Finlay retain Epping, but the emergence of John Arlott as the Liberal candidate added a new dynamic. Finlay won 26,065 votes, Manning received 22,542, and Arlott garnered 7,528. The Liberal intervention had a clear impact, narrowing the gap between Conservative and Labour.
The 1959 election saw Finlay hold the seat again, with a slightly increased majority. Labour's candidate was now listed as Labour Co-op. Arlott's Liberal vote grew, but still not enough to challenge the main parties.
Elections in the 1960s
The 1964 election marked a significant shift. Stan Newens of the Labour Party gained the seat from the Conservatives, unseating Finlay. Newens secured 34,991 votes to Finlay's 31,753. The Liberal vote, represented by Nancy Seear, also saw an increase.
Newens held Epping for Labour in 1966, increasing his majority. The Conservative vote saw a slight decline.
Elections in the 1970s
The final election for the Epping constituency in 1970 saw a reversal. Norman Tebbit of the Conservative Party gained the seat from Labour, unseating Stan Newens. Tebbit won 43,615 votes to Newens's 41,040, a margin of 2,575 votes. This was the last hurrah for Epping as a parliamentary entity.