1889 Merionethshire County Council election

The first election to the Merionethshire County Council was held on 18 January 1889.[1] It was followed by the 1892 election. The county was divided into numerous single member wards with two councillors elected to represent some of the urban areas.

Overview of the result

1889 was a landmark years in the history of Welsh Liberalism, a coming of age symbolized by the triumph across Wales of Liberal candidates in the inaugural county council elections. The outcome was very similar to that in Cardiganshire.

Unopposed Returns

There were some unopposed returns.

Contested Elections

There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances. In most cases there were contests between Liberal and Conservative candidates.

The New Council

The first meeting of the council was held in Dolgellau.

Summary of Results

This section summarises the detailed results which are noted in the following sections. This was the inaugural county election and therefore no comparison can be made with the previous elections. One councillor was described as an Independent candidate but was also grouped in some reports with the Conservatives.

This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 42 councillors were elected.

Merionethshire County Council 1889: elected members
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 33
  Conservative 8
  Independent 1

This table summarises the position following the election of aldermen. Eight were elected from among the elected members and eight from outside the council. This brought the total number of councillors and aldermen to 56.

Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following election of new aldermen
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 43 10 +11
  Conservative 9 1 +1
  Independent 1 0

This table summarises the position following the by-elections for the three seats vacated following the election of aldermen. Technically these were new seats, taking the total number of councillors to 56. However, the Liberals defended three seats.

Merionethshire County Council 1889 : following by-elections
Party Seats Gains Losses Net gain/loss Seats % Votes % Votes +/−
  Liberal 46 3 0 0
  Conservative 9 0 0 0
  Independent 1

Results

Abercorris and Talyllyn (two seats)
Abercorris and Talyllyn 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morris Thomas 226
Liberal William Caradog Jones

192
Conservative Edward Williams 169

Aberdovey District
Aberdovey District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Webster 95
Liberal John Hughes Jones 89
Majority 6

Bala District

Richard Jones was a prominent figure in the public life of Bala, serving on many bodies. He was elected alderman at the first meeting of the Council but died suddenly in February, aged 65.[2]

Bala District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Jones unopposed

Barmouth Urban District

Lewis Lewis, gentleman, of Hillside, Barmouth, defeated John Robert Davies, gentleman, of Compton House, Barmouth.[1]

Barmouth Urban District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Lewis Lewis 160
Conservative John Robert Davies 109
Majority 51

Conglywal District

Robert Roberts, physician and surgeon, of Isallt, Blaenau Festiniog defeated Joseph Rhydwen Parry, Independent minister, of Manod Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[1]

Conglywal District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Roberts 163
Liberal Joseph Rhydwen Parry 129
Majority 34

Cynfal and Teigl District (two seats)

William Davies, farmer, of Caerblaidd, Ffestiniog and John Hughes, farmer, of Hafodfawrisaf, Maentwrog, were elected at the expense of George Henry Ellis, solicitor, of Penymount, Ffestiniog and Edward Henry Jonathan, draper, of Paris House, Four Crosses.[1]

Dolgelley Combined District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Davies 159
Liberal John Hughes 105
Independent George Henry Ellis 95
Liberal Edward Henry Jonathan 89

Cwmorthin and Ystradau (two seats)
Cwmorthin and Ystradau 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alexander Milne Dunlop unopposed
Liberal William Parry Evans unopposed

Dolgelley Combined District (two seats)
Dolgelley Combined District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Jones 300
Liberal Morris Jones 261
Conservative John Vaughan 218

Dolgelley Rural District
Dolgelley Rural District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Pugh 111
Conservative Richard Edward Lloyd Richards 95
Majority 16

Dyffryn
Dyffryn 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Pope unopposed

Gwyddelwern
Gwyddelwern 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Robert Edwards unopposed

Harlech District

Richard Thomas Jones, surgeon, of Penygarth Villa, Harlech defeated John Owen, farmer, of Brynartro, Llanfair.[1]

Harlech District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Thomas Jones 152
Conservative John Owen 141
Majority 11

Llanaber

Charles Williams of Hengwm, Llanaber defeated John Jones, farmer, of Llwyndu, Barmouth.[1]

Llanaber 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Charles Williams 50
Liberal John Jones 28
Majority 22

Llandrillo
Llandrillo 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Davies unopposed

Llandderfel
Llandderfel 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Jones unopposed

Llanegryn
Llanegryn 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Robert Maurice Wynne 151
Liberal John Evans 104
Majority 48

Llanfachreth
Llanfachreth 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Vaughan 136
Liberal Edward Griffith 91
Majority 45

Llanfor

Richard John Price of Rhiwlas defeated William Thomas Rowlands, farmer, of Tanycoed, Llanfor (L).[1]

Llanaber 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard John Price 141
Liberal William Thomas Rowlands 64
Majority 77

Llanfrothen

John Jones, gentleman, of Ynysfor, Llanfrothen defeated William Hughes, farmer, of Cwmcaeth, Nantmor, Beddgelert.[1]

Llanaber 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jones 142
Liberal William Hughes 74
Majority 68

Llansantffraid and Corwen Combined Districts (three seats)

William Ffoulkes Jones, timber merchant, of the Terrace, Corwen; Robert David Roberts, wholesale grocer, of Glandwr, Corwen, and Hugh Cernyw Williams, Baptist minister, of London Road, Corwen were elected at the expense of David Robert Jones, surgeon, of the Terrace, Bridge Street, Corwen and Horatio Edward Walker, surgeon, of Plasyndref, Corwen.[1]

Penrhyn and Talsarnau 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Ffoulkes Jones 341
Liberal Robert David Roberts

332
Liberal Rev Hugh Cernyw Williams 277
Conservative David Robert Jones 252
Conservative Horatio Edward Walker 162

Llanuwchllyn District
Llanuwchllyn 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Michael Daniel Jones 125
Conservative John Williams 117
Majority 8

Llanycil
Llanycil 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Edward Peters unopposed

Llwyngwril
Llwyngwril 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ellis Pughe-Jones unopposed

Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District (two seats)

John Parry Jones of the District Bank, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Robert Owen Jones, solicitor, of High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog were elected at the expense of Morris Jones, flour dealer, of Blaenbowydd House, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[1]

Maenofferen and Diphwys Combined District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Parry Jones 276
Liberal Robert Owen Jones 264
Independent Morris Jones 173

Maentwrog

William Edward Oakeley of Plas Tanybwlch defeated Griffith Ceidiog Roberts, nonconformist minister of Gwyndy, Maentwrog.[1] In what was described as the first Liberal meeting held at Maentwrog, in support of Roberts's candidature, Tom Ellis MP spoke for over an hour and a half.[3]

Maentwrog 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative William Edward Oakeley 134
Liberal Griffith Ceidiog Roberts 83
Majority 51

Mawddwy District
Mawddwy 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Jones 141
Conservative Henry Owen 105
Majority 36

Pennal
Pennal 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal James Meredith unopposed

Penrhyn and Talsarnau (two seats)

J. B. Jones, miller, of Brynyfelin and John Rowe, quarry manager, of Glasfryn View, Penrhyn, were elected at the expense of Edmund Morgan Roberts, farmer, of Cefntrefor- isaf, Talsarnau and John Morgan, grocer, of Canton House, High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog.[1]

Penrhyn and Talsarnau 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. B. Jones 223
Liberal John Rowe 219
Conservative Edmund Morgan Roberts 207
Liberal John Morgan 72

Rhiw and Bowydd (two seats)
Rhiw and Bowydd 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Griffith Williams unopposed
Liberal David Griffith Jones unopposed

Towyn Rural District
Towyn Rural District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev Griffith Evans unopposed

Towyn Urban District
Towyn Urban District 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry Haydn Jones unopposed

Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts (two seats)

John Humphreys, physician and surgeon, of Fronwynion-street, Trawsfynydd and Robert Hugh Pughe, farmer, of Brynllefrith, Trawsfynydd, were elected at the expense of David Tegid Jones, farmer, of Y Goppa and William Evans, draper, of Meirion House, Trawsfynydd.[1]

Trawsfynydd Eastern and Western Districts 1889
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Humphreys 162
Independent Robert Hugh Pughe 109
Liberal David Tegid Jones 107
Liberal William Evans 81

Election of Aldermen

In addition to the 42 councillors the council consisted of 14 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the election of the initial sixteen aldermen, half of the aldermanic bench would be elected every three years following the triennial council election. After the initial elections, there were sixteen Aldermanic vacancies and the following Alderman were appointed by the newly elected council:[4]

Only three of those elected were members of the council.[5]

Elected for six years

  • S. Pope, Liberal, (elected councillor at )
  • A. O. Williams, Liberal
  • J. Cadwaltwdr, Liberal
  • Edward Griffith, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llanfachreth)
  • Richard Jones, Plasyracre, Liberal (elected councillor at Bala)
  • Wm. Williams, Liberal
  • J. Hughes Jones, Liberal

Elected for three years

  • C. H. Wynn, Conservative
  • John Evans, Liberal
  • E. H. Jonathan, Liberal
  • Andreas Roberts. Liberal
  • Edward Peters, Liberal (elected councillor at Llanycil)
  • Rev G. Ceidiog Roberts, Liberal (defeated candidate at Maentwrog)
  • William Davies, Pant, Liberal

Aldermanic Vacancies 1889-1895

Richard Jones died suddenly in February 1889, creating an immediate vacancy.[2]

Therefore, the following appointment was made for the remaining six years in May 1892.

    By-elections

    Three by-elections were caused by the election of aldermen.

    Bala by-election

    Edward Watkin, land agent, Rhiwlas, standing as an Independent, defeated the Liberal candidate by fifteen votes. Richard Jones, who had been elected alderman, died three days later.[2]

    Bala by-election 1889
    Party Candidate Votes % ±%
    Independent Edward Watkin 147
    Liberal Evan Jones 132
    Majority 15

    References
    1. "Merioneth County Council Elections". Cambrian News. 25 January 1889. p. 8. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
    2. "Bala. County Council". Cambrian News. 22 February 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    3. "Senedd Meirion". Baner ac Amserau Cymru. Thomas Gee. 2 January 1889. p. 11. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
    4. "Merioneth County Council". Cambrian News. 8 February 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
    5. "Merioneth County Council". Cambrian News. 1 February 1889. p. 5. Retrieved 13 July 2015.

    Bibliography
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