The first election to the Carmarthenshire County Council was held in January 1889.[1] It was followed by the 1892 election.
Overview of the result
1889 was one of those 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.
Candidates and unopposed returns
Most of the seats were contested by Liberal and Conservative candidates. The number of unopposed returns was small.
Contested elections
There were a large number of contested elections and the majorities were small in most instances.
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. In some cases there is an ambiguity in the sources over the party affiliations and this is explained below where relevant.
This table summarises the result of the elections in all wards. 48 councillors were elected.
Ward results
Abergwili
Abergwili 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
D.L. Jones |
226 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
John Lloyd |
221 |
|
|
Majority |
5 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Bettws
Caio
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Thomas Jenkins |
235 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
H. Brunel White |
230 |
|
|
Majority |
5 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division)
Carmarthen Western Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Conservative |
D.H. Thomas |
170 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
W. de G. Warren |
132 |
|
|
Majority |
38 |
|
|
|
Conservative win (new seat) |
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division)
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
D. Rixon Morgan |
251 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
James Phillips |
182 |
|
|
Majority |
69 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Cenarth
Cilycwm
Conwil
Conwil 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Charles Jones |
265 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Thomas Davies |
121 |
|
|
Majority |
144 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Kidwelly
Laugharne
Laugharne 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
John D. Morse |
145 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
E. Falkener |
128 |
|
|
Majority |
17 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanarthney
Llandebie
Llandilo Rural
Llandilo Rural 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Thomas Powell |
351 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Herbert Peel |
202 |
|
|
Majority |
149 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llandilo Urban
Llandilo Urban 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
J.W. Gwynne Hughes |
174 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
John Thomas |
120 |
|
|
Majority |
54 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llandovery
Llanedy
Llanedy 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Evan Evans |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanegwad
Llanelly Rural and Ward No.1 (six seats)
Llanelly Ward No.2 (three seats)
Llanelly Ward No.3 (two seats)
Llanfihangel Aberbythick
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth
Llanfihangel-ar-Arth 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Evan Harries |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llangadock
Llangadock 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
James Jenkins |
270 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
W.N. Lewis |
213 |
|
|
Majority |
57 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llangeler
Llangeler 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
John Lewis |
268 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Arthur Howell Jones |
260 |
|
|
Majority |
8 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llangendeirne
Llangendeirne 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Evans |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llangennech
Llangennech 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
J. Glyn Thomas |
202 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Rev E.A. Davies |
111 |
|
|
Majority |
91 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llangunnor
Llangunnor 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
C.E. Morris |
190 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
D.E. Stephens |
169 |
|
|
Majority |
21 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanon
Llanon 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Rev W.E. Evans |
146 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
Major Edward Riley |
90 |
|
|
Majority |
56 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llansawel
Llansawel 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Conservative |
Sir J.H.W. Drummond, Bart. |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Llanstephan
Llanybyther
Mothvey
Mothvey 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
George Jones |
176 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
John Lewis |
136 |
|
|
Majority |
40 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Pembrey (two seats)
Quarter Bach
Quarter Bach 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Dr Howell Rees |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Rhydcymmerai
Rhydcymmerai 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Daniel Evans |
165 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
Thomas Price |
143 |
|
|
Majority |
22 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
St Clears
St Clears 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
T. Evans |
unopposed |
|
|
Majority |
|
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
St Ishmael
J. Lewis Philipps of Bolahaul, near Carmarthen, had been a prominent figure in county government for many years and was chairman of the Carmarthen Board of Guardians from 1861 until 1884.[2]
St Ishmael 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Conservative |
J. Lewis Philipps |
203 |
|
|
|
Liberal |
Evan Stephens |
180 |
|
|
Majority |
23 |
|
|
|
Liberal win (new seat) |
Trelech
Whitland and Llanboidy (two seats)
Election of Aldermen
In addition to the 51 councillors the council consisted of 17 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 seventeen 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.[3]
Elected for six years
- John James, Llandovery (from outside the Council) 40
- W.O. Brigstocke JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38
- David Randell MP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 38
- Dr J.A. Jones, Llanelly, Liberal (from outside the Council) 37
- Lewis Morris 37
- H. Nevill, Llanelli, Conservative (from outside the Council)
- T. Williams, Llwynhendy, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33
- D. Richards, Ammanford, Liberal (defeated candidate at Llandebie) 30
- Joseph Joseph, Liberal (from outside the Council) 27
- W.R. Edwards, Carmarthen, Liberal (from outside the Council)
Elected for three years
- Col. Gwynnne Hughes JP, Liberal (from outside the Council) 36
- hugh Nevill 36
- J. Lewis Philipps, Carmarthen, Conservative (elected councillor for St Ishmaels) 35
- Sir James Hills-Johnes, Conservative (defeated candidate at Caeo) 35
- W. de G. Warren, Tenby, Liberal (from outside the Council) 34
- Robert Scourfield, Llanstephan, Liberal (from outside the Council) 33
- D. Bowen, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council) 32
- J. Bagnall Evans JP, Liberal (defeated candidate at Whitland and Llanboidy) 31
- D. James, Bailibedw, Liberal (from outside the Council) 31
As in Cardiganshire the Liberals agreed that the Conservatives be allocated three aldermanic seats only.[3] Only John Lewis Philipps was an elected member of the Council.
Initially, Lewis Morris had been elected an alderman but he declined on the basis that he had no sufficient time at his disposal. He was then replaced by W.R. Edwards at the second meeting of the Council.[4]
Aldermanic Vacanies, 1889-1892
David Bowen died a few weeks after his election as alderman, The council resolved to replace him with another representative from the Llandeilo area to serve for the remainder of the three year term.[5]
- Morgan Davies, Llandeilo, Liberal (from outside the Council)
Two vacancies arose in early 1891 following the resignation of W de G Warren and the death of J. Lewis Philipps. The vacancies were filled as followed.[6]
- C.E. Morris, Liberal (elected member for Llangunnor)
- David Evans, Llanelli, Liberal
Morgan Davies died in February 1892, shortly before the end of his term as alderman.[7]
By-elections
In contrast to the position in other counties only one by-election was caused by the election of aldermen. This was in St Ishmaels where the Liberal candidate captured the seat.
St Ishmaels by-election
Following the election of John Lewis Philipps as an alderman, a Liberal candidate captured the seat after a contest that took place in heavy snow.[8]
St Ishmaels by-election 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
J. Lloyd Thomas |
276 |
|
|
|
Conservative |
D.T. Morris |
98 |
|
|
By-elections, 1889-1892
Llanarthney by-election, 1889
Thomas Davies, Bremenda, the member for Llanarthney, died in August 1889 as a result of injuries sustained falling off his horse.[9] Rev R.G. Lawrence of Middleton Hall, an unsuccessful candidate at the election held earlier in the year was returned unopposed.[10]
Llanarthney by-election 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Conservative |
Rev R.G. Lawrence |
unopposed |
|
|
Pembrey by-election, 1890
A by-election arose in the Pembrey ward following the appointment of William Howell as returning officer for the county.[11]
Carmarthen Western Ward (Upper Division) by-election, 1890
D. Rixon Morgan, the sitting member, resigned late in 1890. Professor D.E. Jones of the Presbyterian College, Carmarthen, was chosen as his replacement as Liberal candidate.[12]
Carmarthen Eastern Ward (Lower Division) by-election, 1889
Party |
Candidate |
Votes |
% |
± |
|
Liberal |
Professor D.E. Jones |
unopposed |
|
|
|
Liberal hold |
Swing |
|
|
References
Bibliography
Council elections in the preserved county of Dyfed |
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Carmarthenshire County Council | |
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Ceredigion County Council | |
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Pembrokeshire County Council |
- 1889
- 1892
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- 1898
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- 1922
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- 1931
- 1934
- 1937
- 1946
- 1949
- 1952
- 1955
- 1958
- 1961
- 1964
- 1967
- 1970
- 1995
- 1999
- 2004
- 2008
- 2012
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Dyfed County Council | |
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Carmarthen District Council | |
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Dinefwr Borough Council | |
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Llanelli Borough Council | |
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Preseli Pembrokeshire District Council | |
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South Pembrokeshire District Council | |
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