User:Ykraps/Dorset's Historical Constituencies

Prior to the Great Reform Act, the county constituency covering Dorset was a single entity that elected two Members of Parliament (MPs), traditionally known as knights of the shire, to the House of Commons. After the 1832 act, Dorset representation was increased to three MPs until 1885 when the constituency was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act, and replaced by four, single-member divisions: North Dorset, South Dorset, East Dorset and West Dorset.