The first election to Pembrokeshire County Council, was held in January 1889.[1] It was followed by the 1892 election. The county was divided into numerous single member wards with two or more councillors elected to represent Tenby and Pembroke Dock.
Overview of the result
1889 was a landmark year 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 Liberal triumph in Pembrokeshire was not as complete as in other Welsh counties but was nevertheless significant. In the north of the county a number of landed gentry were defeated including James Bevan Bowen of Llwyngwair, former MP for the county of Pembrokeshire. There were only nine unopposed returns, most of whom were Liberals.
Ward Results
Ambleston
Ambleston 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | David Morris | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Amroth
Amroth 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Sackville Herbert Owen | 191 | | |
| Liberal | R. Phillips | 87 | | |
Majority | 104 | | |
Turnout | 277 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Begelly
Begelly 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Henry Seymour Allen | 161 | | |
| Conservative | R. H. Buckby | 78 | | |
Majority | 83 | | |
Turnout | 239 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Burton
Burton 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Sir Owen H. P. Scourfield, Bart | 287 | | |
| Liberal | James James | 97 | | |
Majority | 190 | | |
Turnout | 384 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Camrose
Camrose 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | W.J. Owen | 152 | | |
| Conservative | R.P.L. Penn | 111 | | |
Majority | 41 | | |
Turnout | 263 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Carew
Carew 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | H. G. Allen, Q.C. | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Clydey
Clydey 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Lemuel Jones | 174 | | |
| Conservative | J. Vaughan Colby | 72 | | |
Majority | 102 | | |
Turnout | 246 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Castlemartin
Castlemartin 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Earl Cawdor | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Eglwyswrw
Eglwyswrw 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | T. Williams | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Fishguard
Fishguard 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | J. Worthington | 218 | | |
| Liberal | William James | 77 | | |
Majority | 142 | | |
Turnout | 295 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Haverfordwest St Mary's
Haverfordwest St Mary's 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | S. Thomas | 275 | | |
| Conservative | E. White | 133 | | |
Majority | 142 | | |
Turnout | 408 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Haverfordwest, Prendergast and Uzmaston
Haverfordwest, Prendergast and Uzmaston 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Thomas James | 123 | | |
| Liberal | Rev J. Jenkins | 121 | | |
| Independent | Henry Davies | 6 | | |
Majority | 2 | | |
Turnout | 250 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Haverfordwest, St Thomas and Furzy Park
Haverfordwest, St Thomas and Furzy Park 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | R. T. P. Williams | 204 | | |
| Liberal | William Williams | 86 | | |
Majority | 118 | | |
Turnout | 290 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Haverfordwest St Martin's
St Martin's 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Thomas | 101 | | |
| Conservative | E. Vaughan | 95 | | |
Majority | 6 | | |
Turnout | 196 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Kilgerran
Kilgerran 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Evans | 158 | | |
| Conservative | E. Gower | 149 | | |
Majority | 9 | | |
Turnout | 307 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Lampeter Velfrey
Lampeter Velfrey 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev Lewis James | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanfyrnach
Llanfyrnach 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | E.H. James | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanwnda
Llanwnda 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | W. Williams | 187 | | |
| Conservative | E. Perkins | 57 | | |
| Conservative | C. Mathias | 25 | | |
Majority | 130 | | |
Turnout | 269 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Llawhaden
Llawhaden 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | William Jones | 175 | | |
| Liberal | Richard John | 133 | | |
Majority | 42 | | |
Turnout | 308 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) |
Llangwm
Llangwm 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | R. Carrow | 171 | | |
| Conservative | W.J. Avery | 33 | | |
Majority | 138 | | |
Turnout | 204 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanstadwell
Llanstadwell 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | J.H. Coram | 232 | | |
| Liberal | D. A. L. M'AIpin | 133 | | |
Majority | 99 | | |
Turnout | 365 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) |
Maenclochog
Maenclochog 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Rev W. Griffiths | 175 | | |
| Independent | J. P. Bushell | 85 | | |
| Liberal | David Davies | 49 | | |
Majority | 90 | | |
Turnout | 309 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Manorbier
Manorbier 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | C. W. R. Stokes | 159 | | |
| Liberal | W. Gibbs | 111 | | |
Majority | 48 | | |
Turnout | 270 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Mathry
Mathry 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | T. E. Thomas | 208 | | |
| Conservative | J. Reynolds | 48 | | |
Majority | 160 | | |
Turnout | 256 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Milford
Milford 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Dr Griffith | 237 | | |
| Liberal | J. Ll. Davies | 132 | | |
Majority | 105 | | |
Turnout | 369 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Monkton
Monkton 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Col. Morgan J. Saurin | 175 | | |
| Liberal | W. Carey Rees | 89 | | |
Majority | 86 | | |
Turnout | 261 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Nevern
Nevern 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Griffiths | 192 | | |
| Conservative | James Bevan Bowen | 167 | | |
Majority | 25 | | |
Turnout | 359 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Newport
Newport 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Dr D. Havard | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Narberth North
Narberth North 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | R. Ward | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Pembroke (two seats)
Pembroke 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | R. George | 347 | | |
| Liberal | Dr W.J. Morrison | 293 | | |
| Liberal | H. Mathias | 261 | | |
| Conservative | Rev D.P. Davies | 143 | | |
Turnout | 1,044 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Pembroke Dock (five seats)
None of the candidates were said to have openly run on political lines and no meetings took place during the campaign.[1]
Pembroke Dock 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | D. Hughes Brown | 926 | | |
| Liberal | W. E. Seccombe | 865 | | |
| Liberal | J. Williams | 824 | | |
| Liberal | Isaac Smedley | 706 | | |
| Conservative | Dr J.F. Stamper | 595 | | |
| Liberal | J. Davie | 529 | | |
| Liberal | S. Jenkins | 426 | | |
| Conservative | Rev J.S. Allen | 323 | | |
| Liberal | A.E. Owen | 263 | | |
Turnout | 5,457 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
St David's
St David's 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | D. P. Williams | 204 | | |
| Conservative | W. D. Propert | 135 | | |
Majority | 69 | | |
Turnout | 369 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
St Dogmaels
St Dogmaels 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | J. Rees | 159 | | |
| Conservative | E. C. Phillips | 154 | | |
Majority | 5 | | |
Turnout | 314 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
St Ishmaels
St Ishmaels 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Lord Kensington | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
St Issels
St Issels 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | C. R. Vickerman | 236 | | |
| Conservative | Major J. Birtwhistle | 27 | | |
Majority | 209 | | |
Turnout | 263 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Slebech and Martletwy
Slebech and Martletwy 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Sir Charles Philipps | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Staynton
Staynton 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | J.T. Fisher | 156 | | |
| Liberal | J. George | 85 | | |
Majority | 71 | | |
Turnout | 241 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Tenby (two seats)
Tenby 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | W. H. Richards | 250 | | |
| Liberal | Mathias Thomas | 236 | | |
| Conservative | N.A. Roch | 157 | | |
| | J.A. Jenkins | 126 | | |
| Conservative | B.G. Gifford | 52 | | |
Turnout | 821 | | |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Walwyn's Castle
Walwyn's Castle 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Independent | W. Howell Walters | 150 | | |
| Conservative | Capt. Goldwyer | 80 | | |
Majority | 70 | | |
Turnout | 230 | | |
| Independent win (new seat) |
Whitchurch
Whitchurch 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | John Thomas | 205 | | |
| Conservative | G. D. Harries | 120 | | |
Majority | 85 | | |
Turnout | 325 | | |
| Liberal win (new seat) |
Wiston
Wiston 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Conservative | Captain Higgon | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
| Conservative win (new seat) |
Election of Aldermen
In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 16 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 (with the number of votes cast recorded in each case). A second vote was held to determine which aldermen should retire in three years.[2]
Elected for six years
- H. Allen, Liberal (elected councillor for Carew) 42
- Lord Kensington, Liberal (elected councillor for St Ishmaels) 42
- J. Bevan Bowen, Conservative (defeated candidate at Nevern) 31
- Jno Thomas, Llether 30, Liberal
- W. Gibbs, Hodgeston 29, Liberal
- W. Williams, Haverfordwest 27, Liberal
- N.A. Roch, Tenby, Conservative (defeated candidate at Tenby) 24
- Captain Higgon 23, Conservative (elected councillor for Wiston)
Elected for three years
- W.E. Seccombe, Liberal (elected councillor for Pembroke Dock) 32
- G.P. Brewer, Narberth 29, Liberal
- R, Thomas, Trebover 29, Liberal
- W. Evans, Bletherston 28, Liberal
- Ben Rees, Granant 28, Liberal
- H. Jno Thomas, Lochturfin 28, Liberal
- W. Watts Williams, St David's 28, Liberal
- Sir Charles Philipps, Conservative (elected councillor for Slebech and Martletwy) 22
By-elections
Five vacancies were caused by the election of aldermen.
Pembroke Dock by-election
The election to replace the Mayor of Pembroke was fought on political lines.[3]
Pembroke Dock by-election 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | Thomas George Seccombe | 751 | | |
| Conservative | William Henry Gibby | 587 | | |
| Liberal | Albert Edward Owen | 27 | | |
St Ishmaels by-election
The election which followed the elevation of Lord Kensington was not fought on political lines.
St Ishmaels by-election 1889 Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Liberal | James Thomas | 173 | | |
| Liberal | John George | 66 | | |
References
- ^ a b "County Council Elections". Pembrokeshire Herald. 18 January 1889. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- ^ "Pembrokeshire County Council. Election of Aldermen". Pembrokeshire Herald. 25 March 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ "The County Councils". Pembrokeshire Herald. 15 February 1889. p. 2. Retrieved 7 November 2016.