Eleven ships were ordered to this design in 1893 under the Spencer Programme, and were laid down 1896–1900.

The Pelorus class ships displaced 2,135 tons and had a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

Most served in minor roles on overseas or colonial patrol work, not with the main battlefleets.

They had reciprocating triple expansion steam engines and were equipped with different types of boiler which were trialled in these cruisers.

Some had Normand water-tube boilers which could give 7,000 horsepower (5,200 kW) for limited periods of time with forced draught and 5,000 horsepower (3,700 kW) under natural draught.