Parliament created this seat under the Reform Act 1867, the part of the second Reform Act that covered England and Wales, which defined its components as the:[1]
Municipal Borough of Stalybridge
The remaining portion of the township of Dukinfield
Township of Stalley
The District of the Local Board of Health of Mossley
So much of the Municipal Borough of Stalybridge as it not included in the said Parliamentary borough.[2]
The seat was abolished by the Representation of the People Act 1918, with the majority of its electorate being included in the new constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde. A small area which was now part of the municipal borough of Mossley in Lancashire was added to the new constituency of Mossley.
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;