Weobley had a complicated franchise, akin to that of a burgage borough. About 1750 the leading interests were in Lord Weymouth, lord of the manor, who nominated the returning officer, and Mansell Powell, a shady attorney, who owned a majority of the vote houses. In the first half of the century the borough was much disputed, and there was a strong party bent on preventing it becoming close. Between 1750 and 1754 Weymouth, by his purchase of Powell’s vote houses, gained a commanding interest; which was confirmed at the general election of 1754. For the remainder of this period Weobley was a pocket borough of the Thynne family.