Together with Bramhall North, Bramhall South, Cheadle Hulme North, Cheadle Hulme South, Heald Green and Stepping Hill Wards it made up the Cheadle Parliamentary Constituency.
The ward contained the Cheadle College, which is part of the Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College.
The Cheadle and Gatley Urban District existed between 1886 and 1974 and had covered a larger area than the later Cheadle and Gatley ward.