It was created by the Local Government Act 1894 based on the Cheadle and Gatley urban sanitary district. It was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and now forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester.
The Cheadle and Gatley Urban District covered a much larger area than the current Cheadle and Gatley ward, including not only Cheadle and Gatley but also Cheadle Hulme and Heald Green (approximately the current SK8 postcode area).