The1897Petersfieldby-election was held on 8 June 1897 after the death of the incumbentConservative MPWilliam Wickham. The seat was retained by the Conservative candidateWilliam Graham Nicholson.

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | William Graham Nicholson | 3,748 | 53.0 | N/A | |
| Liberal | John Bonham-Carter | 3,328 | 47.0 | New | |
| Majority | 420 | 6.0 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 7,076 | 83.5 | N/A | ||
| Conservativehold | Swing | N/A | |||