Garrat Elections

Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally published in 1785 by Francis Grose, described the Garrat Election as: A ludicrous ceremony, practiced every new parliament: it consists of a mock election of two members to represent the borough of Garret [sic] (a few straggling cottages, near Wandsworth, in Surrey).

The qualification of a voter is, having enjoyed a woman, in the open air, within that district: the candidates are commonly fellows of low humor, who dress themselves up in a ridiculous manner.

The minor political spectacle aroused some amusement and locals ended up parodying the affair in their mock election.

[3] The Garrat "elections" were chaired at Garratt Lane,[4] and were popular events, with up to 80,000 attendees and sponsorship from local innkeepers and pub keepers who profited from the occasion.

[4] The fame of the Garratt elections was spread by Samuel Foote's 1763 farce,[4] The Mayor of Garret,[3] and from 1768 candidates often came from London and its surroundings rather than just the Wandsworth area.

[1] After the death of Mayor Harry Dimsdale towards the end of the 18th century, the festival began to lose its drive and innkeepers no longer agreed to pay the expenses.

Beau Silvester merited himself with resisting the extra tax on ale and giving orders to increase the number of local pubs.