In 1832 the county of
Devon, in south western England, was divided for Parliamentary purposes between this constituency and
North Devon. In 1868 the Devon county constituencies were re-arranged into North, South and
East Devon divisions. Each of these divisions returned two members of Parliament.
In 1885 the three constituencies were again redrawn, so that Devon was represented by eight single member County constituencies (there were also three borough constituencies, two of which returned two members and the third one member). The county was split between the new smaller constituencies of
Ashburton (alternatively the Mid Division),
Barnstaple (the North-Western Division),
Honiton (the Eastern Division),
South Molton (the Northern Division),
Tavistock (the Western Division),
Tiverton (the North-Eastern Division),
Torquay and
Totnes (the Southern Division). The constituencies in this redistribution are normally referred to by the distinctive place name rather than the alternative compass point designation, so the South Devon division is considered to have been abolished in 1885.
1832–1868: The Hundreds of Axminster, Clyston, Colyton, Ottery St. Mary, East Budleigh, Lifton, Exminster, Teignbridge, Haytor, Coleridge, Stanborough, Ermington, Plympton, Roborough, and Tavistock, and
Exeter Castle, and the parts of the hundred of Wonford that are not included in the city of
Exeter.[2]
1868–1885: The Hundreds of Black Torrington, Ermington, Lifton, Plympton, Roborough, Stanborough and Coleridge, and Tavistock.[3]
Proposed
The re-established constituency will be composed of the following (as they existed on 1 December 2020):
The District of South Hams wards of: Allington & Strete; Blackawton & Stoke Fleming; Charterlands; Dartington & Staverton; Dartmouth & East Dart; Kingsbridge; Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford; Marldon & Littlehempston; Salcombe & Thurlestone; South Brent; Stokenham; Totnes; West Dart.
The Borough of Torbay wards of: Churston with Galmpton; Collaton St. Mary; Furzeham with Summercombe; King’s Ash; St. Peter’s with St. Mary’s.[4]
It will be formed from the current seat of
Totnes, with only minor changes to its boundaries.