Historically, Deckham was a village in County Durham and was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972.

Whilst once the site of a coal mine, there is today no major employer in Deckham, which is considered a residential suburb of Gateshead.

It indicates that, by the middle of the 19th century, there was a small settlement[1] which was part of Gateshead Fell; a wild and treacherous area of common land[2] notable for the criminality of the tinkers and hawkers who lived there.

[3] Ordnance survey mapping illustrates the sparsity of buildings in 1860; the area contained little except Deckham Hall, a few other dwellings and two public houses[4] at the point where the old turnpike road[note 1] branched off towards Carr's Hill.

[6][7] It is evidenced in 1614 and belonged to Thomas Deckham,[8] who died the same year and bequeathed it to his granddaughter[9] with "three pounds for the bringing home of water" to the poor people of the area.

[7] It changed hands regularly between the families Wooler, James and Bowker,[7] in the centuries after Deckham's death and varied in size whilst doing so.

[15] By this time, Deckham Hall was in a state of disrepair and was notable to residents for its resemblance to a haunted house "because of its air of gloom and the strange echoes to be heard on windy nights".

[24] Whilst many retail units are in a state of deterioration,[25] and despite a report describing recent housing development on the east side of Old Durham Road as "poorly handled and unsightly",[26] the area remains "interesting and lively".

At the western edge there are stone remnants of an old, rural settlement,[27] but the remainder, grouped around Edgeware and Kingston Roads, consists of bland, repetitive social housing arranged on long, curved streets which combine to create an environment which is anonymous, claustrophobic and disorientating.

Around the Old Durham Road the surviving mix of small shops and meeting places generate some impression of communal spirit, but the poor condition of many properties and the dominance of the public realm by traffic serve to stunt it.

It developed primarily for its ease of access to the turnpike road, the principle route between Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne which ran through it.

[35] There is a good provision of hardware stores, fast–food outlets and hairdressers, a butcher's shop, a greengrocer and a supermarket, but there is no bakery, bank nor building society and the Post Office has closed.

Deckham occupies an elevated position, especially at its north end which sits on a ridge,[41] and some parts are steeply sloped– notably those which border Sheriff Hill to the south.

It was previously in the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency which was abolished by boundary changes before the 2010 UK General Election.

Mearns' success in 2010 followed of Sharon Hodgson, who in the 2005 UK General Election polled over 60% of the votes cast[52] whilst in 2001, Joyce Quin was returned with a majority of 53.3%.

Described by English Heritage as "perhaps the last surviving example of an unspoilt, 2–flat dwelling of high quality but modest size", they were built in the latter part of the 19th century from sandstone ashlar and slate.

[64][65] This "bold and remarkably simple"[65] church consists of a nave, vestry, bell tower and porch, is built in sandstone[66] and remains in very good condition.

[72] The Church is a member of the Assembly of God denomination of Pentecostalism[70] and hold weekly Sunday worship, a prayer service on Mondays and a children's group on Wednesdays.

[4] The Shakespeare Inn is on Split Crow Road and Mount Pleasant Working Mans Club is described by one official document as "intrusive"[75] though it hosts several local housing discussion groups.

[82][83] The facilities are utilized by the Route 26 Community Project; a registered charity based at the centre[84] which aims to work towards the betterment of lives in Deckham and neighbouring wards.

[85] The project works with Gateshead Council and the Gateshead Housing Company to provide a community cafe promoting healthy eating (the 'T–Junction'), a gymnasium, indoor sports hall, outdoor Five-a-side football pitches and a meeting place for resident groups.

[87][88] The project hosts the 'Carnival on the Hill/Deckham Festival'; a collaborative enterprise between Route 26, Gateshead Council and Home Group which offers free activities, such as go-karting and children's soft play, against the backdrop of a steel band.

[89] The second Deckham Festival was held on 3 September 2011 and attracted over one thousand visitors, including Mayor of Gateshead and BBC local weatherman Paul Mooney.

[90][91] Based in what was Deckham Village Hall, Gateshead Older People's Assembly is a charity working to provide opportunities for over 50s to improve their health and maintain their independence.

In Deckham, the charity runs a thriving wellness hub which welcomes hundreds of older people each week.

[97] The suburb is served by several bus services, such as the Cityrider 56[98] which continues into Sunderland, the 57[99] which terminates at Wardley and the East Gateshead Rider 58.

Buses serving Deckham are operated by Go North East and Gateshead Central Taxis under the administration of Nexus.

Some children of primary–school age, particularly those living in the east of Deckham, attend nearby Carr Hill Primary School instead.

[110] Deckham compares unfavourably with the wider Gateshead area in respect of adults with educational qualifications.