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 From John, a younger brother of this Sir Edward Stanhope of HenryvVIIth's day, are descended the Stanhopes of Horsforth, who, as we have seen, became settled at Cannon Hall through the marriage of Walter Stanhope to Ann, daughter of William Spencer, and their son Walter becoming heir to his maternal uncle John Spencer. This first Walter Spencer-Stanhope took an active part in the politics of his own county, and through his family connection with the Lowthers of Lowther Castle, was elected Member for Carlisle in 1774. He afterwards sat for Hull and for Hazlemere, and a second time for Carlisle from 1802 to 1812. "He spoke frequently in the House, and with much humour." A short account is given of his parliamentary life in Ferguson's "M.P.s of Cumberland and Westmoreland, 1660–1867." On the death of Pitt, he moved and divided the House of Commons on the Constitutional question raised by Lord Ellenborough's appointment to a seat in the Cabinet while he was still a Common Law Judge.

In the List of Members of the "University College Club," established in 1792, is the name of Walter S. Stanhope, who is given as having entered the College Nov., 1767, being of Cannon Hall, Yorks. and Grosvenor Square, London, and M. P. for Carlisle. His friend Sir Wm. Scott, afterwards Lord Stowell, was then the President, and among the names of the members are that of the President's brother, Lord Eldon, and those of many prominent men of the time.

Mr. Stanhope was an intimate friend of William Wilberforce. In Mr. Wilberforce's Life is the following extract from his diary: "[1775] Sept 3. To Spencer-Stanhope's (Cannon Hall)—he told me that B. had declared he would give £1,000 to turn me out. Sept. 8: Off to Huddersfield." In an account of a great political meeting held in the Castle Yard at York in 1795, described as "perhaps the largest assemblage of gentlemen and freeholders which ever met in Yorkshire," Mr. Stanhope is mentioned as having made one of the three good speeches, the other speakers being Col. Creyke and Mr. Wilberforce. There is an account in Mr. Wilberforce's diary of his helping his friend Mr. Stanhope in his contest for Hull in 1796; of there being no morning service at Brigg and "Stanhope filling my head with election matters;" of Sykes agreeing to support Stanhope;