The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when the existing two-member Parliamentary Borough of Lambeth was divided into four single-member divisions.

[1][2] The seat, formally known as Lambeth, Brixton Division, comprised part of the civil parish of Lambeth, and was defined in terms of the wards used for elections to the parish vestry under the Metropolis Management Act 1855 as follows: The Representation of the People Act 1918 redrew constituencies throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

Accordingly, the constituency was defined as consisting of the following areas of the Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth: The final boundary change was made by the Representation of the People Act 1948, and came into effect at the 1950 general election.

The Brixton constituency was largely replaced by the new seat of Lambeth Central[2]Baggallay resigned after being appointed a Metropolitan Police Magistrate, causing a by-election.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;