The constituency was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 for the 1885 general election.
The constituency of Dulwich was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, as one of nine covering the enlarged parliamentary former borough of Lambeth.
After that it became a marginal seat, with Labour winning slightly more times than the Conservatives.
[3] 1918–1950: The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell wards of Alleyn, College, Hamlet, Ruskin, and St John's.
1974–1997: The London Borough of Southwark wards of Alleyn, Bellenden, College, Lyndhurst, Ruskin, Rye, The Lane, and Waverley.