At George I’s accession the chief interests at Appleby were those of the Tory earls of Thanet, who owned Appleby castle, and of two Whig Westmorland families, the Lowthers, Viscounts Lonsdale, and the Sandfords of Howgill castle. On 9 Oct. 1714 the bishop of Carlisle wrote to James Lowther:

Brigadier Stanwix has been happily instrumental in carrying one great point for Sir Richard Sandford at Appleby. His brother[-in-law] Nevinson seemed resolved to accept of the mayoralty, notwithstanding the due election (according to charter) of Mr. John Baynes. But the late mayor was at last persuaded to consider the hazard which he would be in by countenancing such illegal pretensions and therefore resigned his staff to Baynes.2

Sandford was returned unopposed with Thomas Lutwyche, a Tufton candidate, with whom he had sat for the borough since 1713. Re-elected unopposed in 1722 with Sackville Tufton, from 1729 7th Earl of Thanet, he died in 1723, when an attempt by the Tuftons to gain control of both seats was defeated by James Lowther. In 1725 Henry Lowther, 3rd Viscount Lonsdale, and Sackville Tufton, ‘in order to prevent further animosities and disputes, and to keep up and preserve a good understanding between them’, made an agreement providing that each was to recommend one Member; that they were to take turns in nominating the mayor, aldermen and councilmen; and that neither was to buy burgages without notice to the other. The agreement was observed by both parties, each returning one Member without opposition. It was renewed on Lonsdale’s death in 1751, but on Thanet’s in 1753 it was allowed to lapse.3