In 1885 the seat was established as a division of the parliamentary borough of Tower Hamlets.

The constituency was on the north bank of the River Thames.

It was bordered by the constituencies of: City of London to the west; Hoxton & Bethnal Green South West to the north; and Stepney & St George's in the East to the east.

In 1900 the constituency became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the autumn of 1914, the following candidates had been selected;