Money For Old Rope

a novel by Dave Mort

The following is a true story:

In the late 1800's Bridport had its own M.P. before it became the West Dorset constituency. In the election of 1875 the Liberal candidate easily defeated the Tory candidate and became the Town's Member of Parliament. However five years later, at the next General Election, the result was mysteriously
reversed. This anomalous result went completely against the national trend, as
Gladstone's Liberal Government wiped out Disraeli's Prime Ministership.
So what had caused this sudden decline in the fortunes of the local Liberals?
Well it would appear that the local Brewery, which was then owned by Job Legg. had a lot to do with this alleged miscarriage of justice.
From the many letters of complaint and other correspondence of the time it seems that all Legg's pubs in the town, which was virtually all of them. were thrown open early in the morning and were free to those who promised to vote for the Tory candidate. These privileged patrons were then transported to the polling booths in carriages supplied by none other than Charles Warton, the Tory hopeful. The ruse appears to have worked as be did indeed win. One eye witness of the time described the town on that day as follows
'The state of the streets was something disgraceful. drunken men reeling about in all directions and not only men but also boys and girls. There must have been 150 who had promised the Liberals the vote that ended voting for Warton. It's a shame that it is possible for a representative of sneaks and drunkards to have a voice in running the country.

Charles Nicholas Warton was Bridport's M.P. for the next five years and he was to earn the sobriquet "Champion Blocker" for the "pertinacity with which he objected to bills."

When the house was sitting he kept himself awake in the small hours by taking snuff. V-Ic died in 1900 aged sixty-eight. It has been a safe Tory seat ever since.

Although all this is highly entertaining, it did occur to me that maybe it was time for a change in political allegiance for this West Dorset constituency. and with a general election looming, what better time than the present.

This bizarre incident in our Local History inspired me to write this book. Although it is based on this story. it is a work of fiction. My mischievous, satirical novel is an extrapolation of what life might have been like in the Town during those years. None of the characters contained in its chapters bear any serious resemblance to anybody living or dead, except for two. Bentley exists and is not a figment of my imagination and by the same token so does Tam. It is my pleasure to know both of them and count them amongst my friends.

Dave Mort

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