Egremont (UK Parliament constituency)

Ironstone mining and a blast furnace employed many people and there were some inhabitants engaged in shipbuilding.

It was estimated that in the late nineteenth century, 1 in 11 of the adult male population of Cumberland worked in mining and 1 in 5 in heavy industry.

There were also a lot of small freehold farmers in the more rural parts of the constituency, who were thought to be the source of Conservative strength at elections.

The area usually returned Conservative Members of Parliament, but was prepared to elect a Liberal in a good year for that party.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;