Burgage: Difference between revisions

Burgage was the basis of the right to vote in many boroughs sending [[Member of Parliament|members]] to the [[unreformed House of Commons|House of Commons]] before 1832. In these boroughs the right to vote was attached to the occupation of particular burgage tenements. These burgages could be freely bought and sold, and the owner of the tenement was entitled to [[conveyancing|convey]] the right to vote for the duration of the election to another person, their 'nominee', who could then vote. The vote of each person entitled to the franchise was a matter of public record. Therefore the owner could monitor their nominees' votes. By purchasing the majority of the burgages one rich person could acquire the right to elect a MemberMembers of Parliament (prior to 1832 most electoral districts elected two MPs).<ref>Paul, The History of Reform (1884), p. 74</ref> Such burgage boroughs were called [[pocket borough]]s. Most of the burgage boroughs had become pocket boroughs in this way by the time of the [[Reform Act 1832|Great Reform Act 1832]]. The practice was abolished by the 1832 Act, which applied a uniform voting right to all boroughs.