An urban district was a local government district that covered an urbanised area. They had an elected council (UDC) and shared the local government responsiblies along with county councils.
These urban districts (and rural districts) were first created in 1894 by the (Local Government Act 1894) as subdivisions of administrative districts. These reforms of local government started mainly in England and Wales. But within a few years Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland also adopted these reforms.
UDCs replaced the former system of urban sanitary districts or local boards (based on poor-law unions) the functions of which were taken over by the new UDCs. Their powers were extended and also had the responsibilities of parklands, cemeteries, water supplies and local planning.
The principal effects of the act were:
The urban district system (and RDCs) would have elected councils, as would parish councils. This would form a second tier of local government below the county councils.
The entitlement of women who owned property to vote in local elections, become poor-law guardians and sit on school boards.
All councillors would initially be elected for a three year term, but one third of the members would be required to stand for re-election each year (around April). However, UDCs had the power to retain the triennial election if a two-thirds majority of councillors were in favour ot it.
To be eligible for an election, a candidate was required to be on the electoral register and to have lived in the area for 12 months prior to the election.
All electors only had one vote, unlike in previous years where the ‘weighted’voting system was in place. This allowed some electors who owned more property than others to have multiple votes.
The elected chairman of the new Urban and Rural district councils automatically became a Justice of the Peace.
More interest was shown over this triennial election than is normally the case. There was one or two topics to arouse the interest of the ratepayers, notably that of the on-going issue with the sewage farm. The other being that too many farmers were on the council, four of them. But with an average vote of 464 each, this vindicated their inclusion. So, the result of the election shows that the ratepayers endorsed the action of their representatives in this matter.
All the old members who offered themselves up for re-election were returned. Maj. Berkeley and Edward Margetts did not seek re-election. They were replaced by Mr Barnett and Mr Carter.
Several motor-cars and carriages were lent by the conservatives candidates and supporters to ‘assist’ voters to the polling stations. The Liberals only had one motor-car plus two or three carriages for assistance, which probably didn’t help their cause. Charles Randall who was elected as a Liberal in 1904, had now switched to the Conservatives.
Polling took place as usual was at St. Nicholas schoolrooms, School Lane and three polling stations were used. Voters were allotted a station by the initial of their surname. Voting commenced at 8am until 8pm. Returning officer was Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.
This election was to fill two vacancies, one was due to the death of Mr Barnett, the other for the resignation of longstanding chairman, Edmund Bourne.
Polling took place at St. Nicholas Schoolrooms in School Lane, where three polling stations were used. There was a great absence of interest on part of the voters and if it were not for the energetic helpers bringing people in motor-cars and carriages, one would not have thought an election was being held at all.
The count was conducted on the day after the election (Tuesday 20th) at the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill. Results were declared at around 10am by acting returning officer, Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.
Both the two successful candidates are new to the council. Although, Mr Perkins had just missed out in the 1907 election.
‘Unattached’ candidate, Mr Swain, who finished bottom of the pile with a meagre 18 votes, apparently stated before polling; ‘I do not want my friends voting for me’. Well, Mr Swain, you got your wish and it looks like not many people who weren’t your friend, didn’t bother to vote for you either.
This election did not arouse much interest amongst the electorate, nor the parties for that matter. Prior to the election, the Unionists/Conservatives held just two meetings, and the Liberals none at all.
But in the end, three new members were elected, Berkeley, Chandler and Griffiths. Liberal, William Riley, was the only retiring member to lose his seat.
As part of his election address, Dr. William Growse voiced the opinion that a bridge should be placed over the ford. He later confessed that this remark may have lost the Conservatives many votes.
Kenilworth Ford – early 1900’s
Lord Leigh, Lord Seymour, Randall and Chandler sent out motor-cars to help with the election. While Berkeley, Growse and Weetman sent out carriages.
Three polling stations were used, all at the same place, St. Nicholas schoolrooms in School Lane.
The results were declared on the steps of the council house at 12.12pm on the following day (Tuesday) by Acting returning officer, Mr. J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst.
Only 16 candidates stood in this triennial election. The result being a gain of two seats for the Liberal Party, all six of their candidates being elected, including two new members, Hacking and Clarke. Indeed, this was Mr Clarke’s forth attempt at a KUDC election.
One noticable absentee from the election was George Bostock, who had been on the council since 1898. The reason giving was that he was leaving Kenilworth to live in Cubbington.
Votes recorded totalled 2,704 for the Liberals and 2,630 for the Conservatives.
For the very first time in a Kenilworth election, there were no public meetings held by either party in the town. There was very little use of any traps or carriages displaying any posters, and motor-cars were generally few and far between in bringing people to the polling stations. Voting did increase a little after 7pm, only one hour before polling closed but this is normal in local elections. Polling stations, as usual were at St Nicholas School in School Lane.
The count started at 9am on the following day (Tuesday 8th) at the council house at Upper Rosemary Hill, The declaration came at 11.30am and with the election being so underwhelming, only one member of the public was there to witness it.
Ernest Hadow, the temporary Council Clerk, carried out the duties of the returning officer due to the illness of Joseph Willington-Wilmshurst. Unfortunately, he died just over a month after the election, on 9th May, he was only 58. He had been the clerk of KUDC since its inception.
There were two principle parties involved in this election. The ‘Independents’, comprising of nine candidates, who in their joint address stated that they stood for ‘Economy and Efficency’. They also pledged themselves to supporting the housing scheme already in hand, improvements to sanitation, repairs and the up-keep of all the roads. Seven of their nine candidates were elected.
The other party of six candidates, calling themselves the ‘Local Trades and Labour Council’ were less successful. Mr Roberts (carpenter), Mr Southall (victualler and engineer), Mr Jeacock (billposter), Mr Crook (carpenter), Mr Constable (railway signalman) plus Mr Dencer (draper), who was their only successful candidate.
The remaining six candidates were of no specified party organisation. They were totally unattached to the two other groups. But this did not seem to put off voters, as four of their candidates were elected. However, John Clarke, who was elected in 1913 and remained on the council throughout the war, lost his seat
Two members from the old council, Growse and Perkins did not seek re-election. Arthur Street had been nominated to stand in the election but had to withdrew due to health problems. He had stood down as chairman in 1916 because of illness but remained on the committee throughout the war. Another nominee, Henry Rowen, of Whitemoor died following a short illness only two weeks before the election. He had worked at the Whitemoor Brickworks for 30 years, and 20 years as foreman.
The weather on election day was fine, and there seemed very little enthusiasm shown, except in the vicinity of the polling stations. The Independents and the Local Trades each had a committee room in School Lane and most of the candidates were present along the street. A few motor-cars were busy during the day, some of them flying small union jack flags but it wasn’t clear to people who they were supporting. There was an eagerness on the part of canvassers to secure the votes of ladies, who turned out well in comparison to the men.
It was stated in the local press that the ‘middle classes’ had mostly voted during the morning and afternoon but it was in the evening that the workmen, many of which worked in Coventry, recorded their votes.
The results were declared at 11.30am on the following day outside the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill. But with heavy rain falling, and a small crowd present, returning officer Mr Hadow, quickly read out the figures and decided that no speeches would be made.
Called the ‘Kenilworth’s Snow-Storm Polling Results’ by a local newspaper, due not only to the terrible weather but to the closely contested nature of the poll which ended with five new members being elected. So close was the voting, the final position was won by just one vote, Grindrod from the ‘Business Group’, just getting the better of rival Crouch, an Independent.
Supported by the Conservatives, the eleven business candidates only had two of their candidates fail to be elected. Former police inspector, William Parkinson topped the poll with 931 votes.
The Labour party fielded four candidates, but only one got elected. That being William Dencer, who was a member of the old council. He was first elected three years ago when he stood as a candidate for the group called the ‘Local Trades and Labour Council’.
There was only modest electioneering literature about the town, Clarke send out some leaflets as did the three British Legion candidates. The Labour party attached posters to motor-cars but these were quickly un-readable due to the snow, so that became a wasted exercise.
Four polling stations were used, all at St Nicholas School in School Lane. With the snow falling for most of the day it was felt this reduced the number of people who voted. Large numbers of women voted in this election, many for the first time. Following the declaration, the results were posted on the wall outside of the council house.
A total of 8,434 votes were recorded for the elected 12 members.
When the new members take up their positions on the council they will have one major problem to address, the £4.600 overdraft at the bank.
KUDC Councillors
9 Business Group (Parkinson, Hodges, Randall, Barwell, Gee, Jackson, Carter, Marriott, Grindrod)
2 Independents (Clarke, Hacking)
1 Labour (Dencer)
Chairman
1922-23 Edward Hodges
1923-24 Edward Hodges
1924-25 Edward Hodges
Council Clerk – Ernest Hadow
photo courtesy of Warwickshire County Records Office. (ref. PH (N) 600/147/3)
A group of present councillors (plus some new candidates) fought the election as ‘The Twelve’, somewhat similar to the 1922 election when they called themselves the ‘Business Group’. Who, were infact, supported by the Conservative Party. Their election cry being, ‘economy combined with efficency’.
Polling took place as usual at St. Nicholas School in School Lane from 8am to 8pm, where four polling stations were used inside the school. 27 candidates took part in the election.
There was a slow start to the polling with only about a hundred people voting in the first hour. But there was a steady stream of arrivals throughout the day despite the drizzling rain . The weather changed in the afternoon to a bright spring day, which may have encouraged more people to vote. Well, something aroused the electorate as 1700 votes were recorded, a local record.
The count took place at the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill at 9am on the following day (Tuesday 7th). Returning officer, Sholto Douglas, declared the results at the door of the council house at 1.30pm. No demonstrations of any kind took place. There was a large number of spoilt ballot papers, mainly due to people voting for more than maximum twelve candidates.
There was a strong vote in favour of the old councillors, which resulted in only two new members being elected, Hadow and Rotherham. They replaced, Hacking (not re-elected) and Jackson, who did not seek re-election due to retirement after 30 years on the council.
Dencer who was first elected at the 1919 election for the ‘Local Trades & Labour Council’ and again in 1922 as a Labour candidate, had now switched to the Conservatives.
The ‘Unattached’ group fielded nine candidates, but only one was elected, Ernest Hadow, who was standing for the first time in a Kenilworth election. He was the former KUDC clerk.
This by-election was called due to resignation of member, Dr. William Marriott, in July, who had left the town. His resignation came only four months after being re-elected at the triennial election. But it caused much disagreement amongst some of the members. The main issue being the cost of the election. The council clerk, Mr Platt had received the resignation and the required ‘fixed penalty’ of 10 shillings from Mr Marriott. Chairman, Cllr Barwell proposed that the seat was now vacant and was seconded by Cllr Gee. But Cllr Hadow protested saying that he didn’t see why the town should be put through the cost of another election. He felt that Mr. Marriott should not be allowed to resign at the cost of just 10 shillings when an election may cost up to £40. But any member has the right to resign, depending on their personnal circumstances, and with the next triennial election being well over two years away, the council had no chose but to hold a by-election. The chairman’s resolution was passed, with Cllrs Clarke and Hadow, voting against.
The contest, which did not excite much interest, and was basically a fight between Conservative and Labour. For Mrs Cole, of Crackley Cottages, it was the first time that a lady had stood in a Kenilworth election. She may well have regreted it as her opponent gained a majority of 484. Although Keeling had support from the Conservatives, rather oddly he decided to stand as an Independent. He had stood at the triennial election back in April (as a conservative) but came 13th in the poll, eleven votes short of being elected.
Polling took place not at the usual Central School in School Lane but at St. Nicholas school at the ‘Blundells’. Four polling stations were used for this election which in hindsight was far too many (and costly) as less than 20% of the electorate voted. Hence the polling was slow all day and only increased in the evening when people returned from work. The declaration, by the returning officer, Mr Platt was at 8.30pm, only 30 minutes after the polls had closed.
Ward System Suggestion
In the course of her election address, Mrs Cole stated; “I venture to urge that it is not unfair that Labour should have a share of representation on the local council in order that the ideas of the workers may be adequately voiced’. She also added; “I am in favour of an annual election as I consider three years between them too long. I favour the retirement of four members annually, who would be eligible for re-election. I am also in favour of the town being divided into four Wards: Central, South, West and East”.
Mrs Cole did eventually get her wish for the Ward system in Kenilworth but that take another nine years, being introduced in 1934. She never stood in a Kenilworth election ever again.
Polling day passed off uneventfully, and was very slow going. Many motor-cars were seen driving around the town which bore the slogan ‘Vote for the Twelve’. They stated in their manifesto; ‘We do not stand in the interests of any party, class or creed but distinctly and entirely independent in every way, believing that we can be of service to the town in promoting its well-being‘.
There were no surprising results, although John Clarke topping the poll was. He has always had a good following but in previous elections he had been half way down the list. He was the only candidate in the election who posted leaflets with his photograph and manifesto to all the electorate. This obviously did him no harm at all, with his jovial and kindly face.
William Dencer has now been elected to the council on four occasions, in 1919 for the Local Trades & Labour Council, in 1922 for the Labour Party, in 1925 as a Conservative but in this election he stood as an Independent and still got elected. It seems that he has finally got fed-up with party politics and just wanted to serve the town.
All candidates who stood for re-election from the old council were returned, many of them being part of the ‘Twelve’.
Hodges coming second, was no surprise to anybody as he always seems to be there or thereabouts. New member, Hiorns in third place, did extremley well, considering he was rejected at the 1925 election. Since then however, he has made himself better known to townsfolk. Carey-Hill as Kenilworth people will know, takes a great deal of interest in the Abbey ruins, was elected for the first time and was not unexpected, although he had failed to be elected three years ago.
One bone of contention was the final candidate elected, Alfred Keeling. He had left Kenilworth to live in Harbury before the election and that is probably why he only just scrapped through. He had failed in the 1925 election but was voted onto the council in a by-election in August of the same year. Rules stated that to be a candidate you must have lived in the district for 12 months prior to an election. But obviously the rules weren’t clear enough. Keeling had lived in the town for well over 12 months, years infact, before the election, but was not resident at the time of the election. Would this have been against the rules? But it looks like the County Council must have adjudicated on this matter because he remained on the council.
The counting took place at the council house in Upper Rosemary Hill on the following day. Results were declared in the early afternoon by returning officer, Sholto Douglas.
