Due to the steepness of Brixton Hill, it was difficult for two horses to pull a tram full of passengers. As a result, an Act of Parliament was obtained in 1890 to allow the London Tramways Company (formerly known as the Metropolitan Street Tramways Company) to build a cable line. This cable line would replace the existing horse tram service from Kennington to Brixton Water Lane and continue all the way up to Telford Avenue at the top of Brixton Hill.
The concept of cable traction was already in use in San Francisco, and it was first implemented in the UK on Highgate Hill in North London in 1884. The cable was composed of steel wire strands wrapped around a one-inch diameter rope, which extended almost six miles in length. This was twice the length of the actual route. The cable ran underground between the tram lines within a concrete conduit that had a small open slot along the rope. The small human-operated tractor or 'gripper' car utilised this slot to grip onto the cable and pull the passenger tramcar. If a tramcar was traveling from Brixton Hill to Westminster Bridge, the gripper car would be detached at Kennington and replaced by a pair of horses. Passengers remained in their seats during this transition. The cable moved continuously at a maximum speed of 8 miles per hour.
A special depot was constructed on Streatham Hill, opposite Telford Avenue, to house the cars, horses, and steam-powered winding gear for the cable. The cable service began operating in December 1892.
In 1894, another Act was obtained to extend the cable line southwards to the Tate Library on Streatham High Road, and this section was operational by the end of 1895.
The cable cars ran until 1904.
