When voting was a privilege held by the few
The Herald|July 02, 2024
UP until the Reform Act of 1832, few people in this country could vote in parliamentary elections.
CHRIS ROBINSON
When voting was a privilege held by the few

In Plymouth, at the beginning of the 19th century, there were little more than two or three hundred ‘freemen’ who were empowered to vote.

The passing of the 1832 Act meant that virtually any man occupying a house worth £10 a year rent, whether freehold or leasehold, had the vote. There were great celebrations, however it still only meant that Plymouth had less than 1,500 voters out of a population of some 30,000 (one in 20). Furthermore, it was to be another 34 years before voters could vote privately, by secret ballot, and in the meantime voting went on as it had long done, at public meetings like these, conducted outside the Theatre Royal.

Plymouth had been sending representatives to Parliament since at least 1298, but for over 500 years here, as elsewhere in the country, the right of election was in the hands of a very few men. Sometimes the matter was determined by the mayor and corporation on their own, sometimes by the freemen, either with or without the corporate body. There were four kinds of freemen; honorary, hereditary, apprenticed and purchased.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE HERALDView all
Van Gogh oil protest pair are jailed
The Herald

Van Gogh oil protest pair are jailed

TWO Just Stop Oil activists have been jailed for pouring soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, after they came close to “destroying” the masterpiece.

time-read
1 min  |
September 28, 2024
Whittaker is wanted but happy to remain a Pilgrim
The Herald

Whittaker is wanted but happy to remain a Pilgrim

ARGYLE FORWARD HAS ASPIRATIONS TO PLAY HIGHER, BUT NOT JUST YET

time-read
4 mins  |
September 28, 2024
How Argyle played a role in Merson taking Walsall job
The Herald

How Argyle played a role in Merson taking Walsall job

EX-FOOTBALLER turned Strictly Come Dancing star Paul Merson made his name winning trophies with Arsenal and starring for England in the 1990s - but his ill-fated career as a manager proved less successful.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 28, 2024
Coming home to an Albion win cured my holiday blues!
The Herald

Coming home to an Albion win cured my holiday blues!

THANK goodness for that, we are finally back to enjoying the sweet taste of a home win, after sneaking a victory over Leicester Lions last weekend at the Brickfields Fortress.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 28, 2024
Dame Maggie dies, aged 89
The Herald

Dame Maggie dies, aged 89

OSCAR-WINNING actress Dame Maggie Smith has died, aged 89.

time-read
1 min  |
September 28, 2024
Guitarist denies fatal crash charge
The Herald

Guitarist denies fatal crash charge

GUITARIST Josh Klinghoffer, a former Red Hot Chili Peppers member who has also played with Pearl Jam, has pleaded not guilty through his lawyer to a misdemeanour manslaughter charge over the death of a pedestrian.

time-read
1 min  |
September 28, 2024
Mary's magic will sweep you away!
The Herald

Mary's magic will sweep you away!

THE cast has been announced for Disney’s Mary Poppins ahead of its arrival in Plymouth early next year.

time-read
1 min  |
September 28, 2024
Pension claims are up
The Herald

Pension claims are up

PENSION credit claims have hit almost 75,000 amid Government efforts to boost benefits take-up.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 28, 2024
Danger of Lebanon crisis 'escalating much wider'
The Herald

Danger of Lebanon crisis 'escalating much wider'

THE continuing tensions between Israel and the militant Lebanese Hezbollah group present a risk of spiralling out of control, the UK Defence Secretary has said.

time-read
1 min  |
September 28, 2024
Diamond days after struggle
The Herald

Diamond days after struggle

AFRICAN ADVENTURE ‘THE PERFECT TONIC'

time-read
2 mins  |
September 28, 2024