Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle was dominated by the Bonds of Creech Grange, three miles distant, Whigs, and the Bankeses of Kingston Lacy, lords of the manor and castle of Corfe, Tories. In 1715 the Bonds were able to capture both seats, probably through William Ockeden who owned a small property in the borough, out of which he granted 35 leases. A petition alleging ‘that multitudes of pretended votes [presumably these leaseholders] were allowed by the mayor’ as returning officer, was withdrawn. On Okeden’s death in 1718 the legality of these leases was challenged at the ensuing by-election, on which the mayor compromised by making a double return, ‘the difficulty being too weighty ... to take upon him to determine’. Without these votes John Bankes had a majority of two, but the House of Commons upheld their validity and Joshua Churchill was declared elected by 21 votes.1CJ, xviii. 31, 372; xix. 47, 63. Thereafter, by amicable arrangement, the Bankeses and Bonds each took one seat, without a contest.