BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

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Appendices A, B, C, D, and E provide analogous, but somewhat
contrasting views of regional
performances for London; Lancashire;
Dorset; the North and East Ridings, Yorkshire; and West Riding,
Yorkshire, respectively. 5
Since the 1885-86 expansion was so extensive in scale,
affecting virtually the entire country, it obscures the distinctive
early patterns of formation.
upon analyzing the 1888 Roll.
Nor does the picture differ significantly
An examination of the regional and
social
influences governing the first year of Habitation formation,
however, does reveal a great deal about the geographic and social class
appeal of the League during its initial
phase of operation.
IV
Grand Council minutes provide the identification numbers of
thirty-six associations which sent representatives to the first annual
Grand Habitation held in July, 1884.6
Of these, only thirty appear on
my computerized listing of the 1888 Rolls.?
They covered eight
5
Graphs for Scotland and Wales have not been included in the
appendices because of their general similarity to the national trend,
the key difference being the somewhat delayed introduction of
Habitations in these regions.
1884.
6 Minutes of the Grand Council of the Primrose League, 12 July
7
The parliamentary Divisions represented by these thirty
Habitations included the following. The London metropolitan
administrative county contained eight associations located in the
district of Westminster, Chelsea, St. George's, Hanover Square, the
Strand, South Kensington (2), and Fulham. The next largest
concentration of Habitations was in Surrey. Primrose members were