1898 Glamorgan County Council election

The Glamorgan County Council election, 1898 was the fourth contest for seats on this authority. It was preceded by the 1895 election and followed by the 1901 election. Glamorgan was by far the largest county in Wales in terms of population. Glamorgan County Council had been established by the 1888 Local Government Act, and the first elections held in early 1889. The county of Glamorgan was at this time becoming heavily industrialised, although some areas such as the Vale of Glamorgan remained essentially rural. The rise of nonconformist liberalism, especially since the 1860s, throughout Wales, had challenged the prevailing influence of the landed gentry. However, even in 1889, the traditional forces remained influential and no working men were elected to the Council. This changed in 1892 with the unopposed return of David Morgan in Aberdare and the success of Isaac Evans in Resolven.

Overview of the result

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As in most parts of Wales, the Liberal Party was once again triumphant and won a majority of the seats. In 1895 there were more unopposed results than in previous elections and the Conservatives made some headway, reflecting the position in the United Kingdom as a whole where the party took power that year.

Results are drawn from a number of sources. The include an account of unopposed returns in the Evening Express,[1] and results from the same newspaper[2] as well as the Cambrian[3] and Pontypridd Chronicle.[4]

Boundary changes

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There were no boundary changes at this election.

Retiring aldermen

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All eleven retiring aldermen were Liberals. Gwilym Jones, W.H. Mathias, J.C. Meggitt, Herbert Evans and the Rev Aaron Davies all sought re-election. Jones and Mathias were returned unopposed while Meggitt's only opponent withdrew before polling day. Herbert Evans was opposed by the sitting Liberal councillor whom he eventually narrowly defeated (see Cwmavon, below). Aaron Davies was defeated at Pontlottyn. At Aberdare, David Price Davies was also nominated but withdrew rather than face a contest with the sitting councillor.

Contested elections

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Results

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Aberaman
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Davies 481
Independent Thomas Rees 375
Majority 106
Liberal hold Swing
Aberavon 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Morgan Smith* unopposed

Prior to the election it became apparent that Evans, the sitting councillor and the retiring alderman, David Price Davies, both coveted the seat. Davies however withdrew before the poll.

Aberdare Town 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John William Evans* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
 
John Claxton Meggitt

The sitting councillor, John Cory, had withdrawn in favour of retiring alderman John Claxton Meggitt. The defeated candidate withdrew before polling day.[2]

Barry 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Claxton Meggitt** 507
W. Thomas 56
Liberal hold Swing

Blaengwawr

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[1]
Blaengwawr 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Howell* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
[2]
Cadoxton 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Dr P.J. O' Donnell 514
Conservative Dr E. Treharne* 367
Majority 147
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
[1]
Bridgend 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent John Morgan Randall Unopposed
Independent gain from Liberal Swing

Jenkin Hill recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.[2]

Briton Ferry 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jenkin Hill 506
Conservative Dr E. Valentine Pegge* 315
Majority 191
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Caeharris 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Pritchard Martin unopposed

A narrow victory.[4]

Caerphilly 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative H.E. Morgan Lindsay* 846
Liberal Edward Edwards 843
Majority 3
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing

W.R. Davies took the place of Henry Lewis, who did not seek re-election after one term. Davies was chosen as a candidate after a public meeting of local Liberals where both candidates agreed to abide by the vote.[5]

Cilfynydd 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Roberts Davies Unopposed
Liberal win (new seat)
Coedffranc 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J. Newell Moore* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
[1]
Coity 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Howell* Unopposed
Liberal hold
Cowbridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative R.T. Bassett unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Cwmavon

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Two Liberals, a sitting alderman and sitting councillor, opposed each other.

Cwmavon 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Herbert Evans** 471
Liberal Llewellyn Griffiths* 451
Majority 20
Liberal hold Swing

Thomas Thomas recaptured the seat he lost three years previously.[2]

Cyfarthfa 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab Thomas Thomas 515
Liberal Thomas Davies 266
Majority
Lib-Lab gain from Liberal Swing

[1]

Cymmer 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Morgan Williams* Unopposed
Liberal hold
Dinas Powys 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Oliver Henry Jones* Unopposed
Conservative hold
Dowlais
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Jenkins* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Dulais Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Evan Evans Bevan* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

David Thomas JP, who had ousted fellow Liberal Morgan Williams in 1895, did not seek re-election due to ill-health leading to a contrast between the Rev Silas Charles, Congregational Minister and Thomas Samuel, grocer.[4]

Ferndale 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rev Silas Charles 778
Liberal Thomas Samuel 629
Gadlys 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Charles Kenshole unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Garw Valley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal John Thomas* unopposed

Gellifaelog

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Gellifaelog
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Evan Lewis* unopposed
Gelligaer
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Henry William Martin unopposed
Gower 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
George E. Gordon 314
John Holland 192
Richard Hopkin James 129
Kibbor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Henry Lewis* unopposed
Llandaff
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Robert Forrest* unopposed

Llandeilo Talybont

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[1]
Llandeilo Talybont 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Harries* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llansamlet

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[1]
Llansamlet 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative John Jordan Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Llantrisant

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Llantrisant
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Blandy Jenkins* unopposed
Llwydcoed 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Rees Hopkin Rhys unopposed

Llwynypia and Clydach

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Llwynypia and Clydach
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Richard Lewis unopposed
[1]
Gowerton and Penderry 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Samuel Thomas* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

The same two candidates had faced each other in 1895. On that occasion, Barrow had won and was elected as alderman for a three-year period. Jenkin Jones was then returned at a by-election.

Maesteg
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jenkin Jones* 972
Liberal James Barrow** 842

Margam

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Margam 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Edward Knox unopposed
Merthyr Town
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.W. Lewis 706
Liberal Alfred Edwards 597

Merthyr Vale

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Merthyr Vale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Prosser 538
Liberal Walter Bell 523
Majority 15

Morriston

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Morriston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Williams unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Mountain Ash
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Morris 549
Liberal Samuel Evans 459
Liberal John Lewis 316
Majority 90
Liberal hold Swing
Neath (North) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Hopkin Morgan unopposed
Unionist hold Swing

At the previous election, Trick had stood as a Conservative.

Neath (South) 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent W.B. Trick Unopposed N/A N/A
Independent gain from Liberal
[1]
Newcastle 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas J. Hughes* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
[1]
Ogmore 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative J.I.D. Nicholl* Unopposed
Conservative hold Swing

Ogmore Valley

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[1]
Ogmore Valley 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewellyn* Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing
Oystermouth 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Sir John Jones Jenkins Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal Unionist hold

Penarth North

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[1]

Penarth North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.B. Shepherd* 377
J.L. Norris 240
Liberal hold Swing

Penarth South

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Penarth South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Frederick Henry Jotham unopposed

Penrhiwceiber

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Penrhiwceiber
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Dr. R. W. Jones unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Morris appears to have defected to the Unionists, leading to his defeat. This was considered to be the most significant contest in the valley but, owing to the support of colliery officials and leading tradesmen for the winning candidate, Elias Henry Davies, it was clear that Morris and been defeated before the close of the poll.[4] Davies was an active Congregationalist, freemason and president of the Rhondda Cymmrodorion.[6]

Pentre 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal E.H. Davies 643
Unionist Richard Morris* 457
Majority
Liberal hold Swing
Penydarren
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Davies* 516
Conservative T.E. Morgan 270
Majority 146
Pontardawe 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Frank Gilbertson 500
Liberal Dr Griffiths 478
Majority 22

Plymouth

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Plymouth 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Henry W. Lewis* 603
Conservative A. Daniel 440

Although a Liberal gain, the shock was the defeat of Alderman Aaron Davies.

Pontlottyn 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Alfred Phillips 570
Liberal Rev Aaron Davies** 355
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing
Pontypridd 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hopkin Smith Davies* 692
Independent Dr Hamlen Williams 605

Porth and Penygraig

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Porth and Penygraig
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal J. Jones Griffiths** 779
Conservative J.W. Jones 424
Majority 555
Liberal hold Swing
Resolven 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Evans unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

A repeat of the contest in 1895, with the same result.

Sketty 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Sir Robert Armine Morris* 498
Liberal Rev John Davies 405
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley

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Boundary Change

Swansea Valley 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Llewellyn Davies Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold

James Roberts had won the seat at a by-election following the death of the previous member, David Leyshon. His defeat was greeted with surprise by a crowd said to number 4,000 who had gathered to hear the result. Roberts said he was glad to think that he had been the means of overthrowing a member of a 'Pontypridd clique'.[4]

Treforest 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Samuel Evans 671
Liberal James Roberts* 614
Majority 57
Treherbert 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Morgan** Unopposed N/A N/A
Liberal hold

Treorchy

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Treorchy 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab Daronwy Isaac* Unopposed N/A N/A
Lib-Lab hold

Trealaw and Tonypandy

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[1]

Tonypandy 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal D.W. Davies 570
Liberal William Lawrence 398
Majority 172
Liberal hold Swing

Tylorstown and Ynyshir

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[1]

Tylorstown and Ynyshir 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.H. Mathias** Unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ystalyfera

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Ystalyfera 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Dr David Thomas* unopposed
Conservative hold Swing
Ystrad
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Clifford J. Cory* 804
J.B. Price 133
Majority 671
Liberal hold Swing

Election of aldermen

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In addition to the 66 councillors the council consisted of 22 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1898 election, there were twelve Aldermanic vacancies. These comprised the eleven vacancies due to retiring alderman with the twelfth being vacant following the death of Isaac Evans.

The following aldermen were appointed by the newly elected council.[7]

elected for six years

  • Gwilym Jones, Liberal, retiring alderman (elected councillor at Mountain Ash)
  • W.H. Mathias, Liberal, retiring alderman (elected councillor at Tylorstown and Ynyshir)
  • J.C. Meggitt, Liberal, retiring alderman (elected councillor at Barry)
  • Llewellyn Davies, Liberal (elected councillor at Swansea Valley)
  • T.J. Hughes, Liberal (elected councillor at Newcastle)
  • William Llewellyn, Liberal (elected councillor at Ogmore Valley)
  • J.W. Evans, Liberal (elected councillor at Aberdare Town)
  • William Howell, Liberal (elected councillor at Coity)
  • Rees Harris, Liberal (elected councillor at Llandeilo Talybont)
  • David Prosser, Liberal (elected councillor at Merthyr Vale)
  • Dr R.W. Jones, Liberal (elected councillor at Penrhiwceber)

elected for three years

  • Daniel Evans, Liberal (elected councillor at Resolven)

All eleven aldermen were Liberals, as were the retiring aldermen.

By-elections

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Following the return of J.W. Evans, David Price Davies and Thomas Thomas (councillor for the ward from 1892 until 1895) were nominated. However, Thomas withdrew allowing Davies to be returned unopposed.

Aberdare Town by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Price Davies* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Barry by-election

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John Cory had been a member of the county council since its formation, and served as alderman from 1889 until 1892. Captain Murrell, in returning thanks for his election, said he came forward as an independent candidate as a protest against the introduction of the foreign element into the representation of the district.[8]

Barry by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Unionist Captain Hamilton Murrell 595
Liberal John Cory* 568
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing

Coity by-election

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Coity by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Howell* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Llandeilo Talybont by-election

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Llandeilo Talybont by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rees Harries* unopposed

Merthyr Vale by-election

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Merthyr Vale by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal David Prosser 538
Liberal Walter Bell 523
Majority 153

Mountain Ash by-election

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Mountain Ash by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Morris 549
Liberal Samuel Evans 459
Liberal John Lewis 316
Majority 90
Liberal hold Swing

Newcastle by-election

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Newcastle by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas J. Hughes unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Ogmore Valley by-election

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Ogmore Valley by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal William Llewellyn* unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Penrhiwceiber by-election

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Following the election of Dr R.W. Jones as an alderman, Thomas Morris, who had represented Mountain Ash on the previous council, was elected.[9] Morris was opposed by another Liberal candidate, clerk to the Llanwonno School Board, who stood in opposition to Morris's links to the beer trade.[10] John Williams, checkweigher at a local colliery and a future Labour MP was a possible candidate but withdrew at an early stage.[11]

Penrhiwceiber by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Thomas Morris* 582
Liberal S. Shipton 484
Conservative W.N. Matthews 322
Liberal hold Swing

Resolven by-election

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Resolven by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Daniel Evans unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Swansea Valley by-election

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Swansea Valley by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Llewellyn Davies unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

Tylorstown and Ynyshir by-election

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Tylorstown and Ynyshir by-election 1898
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal W.H. Mathias** unopposed
Liberal hold Swing

By-elections 1898-1901

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Dowlais by-election

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A by-election was held in Dowlais ward in October 1899 following the elevation of Thomas Jenkins to the aldermanic bench. John Davies, the local miners' agent defeated an Independent candidate, a local chemist.[12]

Dowlais by-election 1899
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Lib-Lab John Davies 311
Independent R.P. Rees 295
Majority 16
Lib-Lab gain from Conservative Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The County Council Elections. Further Unopposed Returns". Evening Express. 2 March 1898. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e "County Council Elections". Evening Express. 8 March 1898. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  3. ^ "The County Council Elections". Cambrian. 11 March 1895. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Glamorgan County Council Elections". Pontypridd Chronicle. 11 March 1898. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  5. ^ "County Council Elections. Cilfynydd and Trallwn Liberals Meet". Glamorgan Free Press. 26 February 1898. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ^ Williams. Democratic Rhondda. p. 55.
  7. ^ "Glamorgan County Council". Cardiff Times. 19 March 1898. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Glamorgan County Council Bye-Elections". Evening Express. 7 April 1898. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Glamorgan County Council. Penrhiwceiber Bye-Election". Pontypridd Chronicle. 22 April 1898. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Etholiad Cynghor Sirol Penrhiwceibr, Abercynon, ac Ynysybwl". Tarian y Gweithiwr. 14 April 1898. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Ynysybwl and the County Council Contest ". Pontypridd Chronicle. 1 April 1898. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  12. ^ "County Council Election at Dowlais". Weekly Mail. 14 October 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 5 June 2019.

Bibliography

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