It elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) using the bloc vote system.
The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832, with effect from the general election in December 1832, when the former Essex constituency was divided into Northern and Southern divisions.
From 1868, it was reduced in size when Essex was redivided into the Eastern, Southern and Western divisions.
It was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 when the county was divided into eight single-member divisions.
[4] [7][8] The place for "holding of courts for election of members" from 1867 became Brentwood under the 1867 Act.