Within the boundaries of the historic county of Cheshire, in 1290, Gatley was known as Gateclyve, which in Middle English means "a place where goats are kept".

An open field system existed around Gatley in the late 17th century, but the practice of common farming seems to have fallen into disuse when William Tatton allowed tenants to buy their own land.

[3] In the mid 19th century, Gatley Carrs was described as "a scene of such singular and romantic beauty, and so thoroughly unique in its composition, that we know nothing in the neighbourhood to liken it to".

In 1934 house building began on "High Terrace" of the Mersey (the development behind the Horse and Farrier pub, running down to the railway line) and also about that time Cheadle and Gatley UDC purchased 19 acres (77,000 m2) to use as a refuse tip.

There was a major system of land drains identified on the 1934 map including a sluice and non-return outfall gate to protect Gatley Carr from flooding when the Mersey burst its banks.

Gatley Carrs then fell to the management of the Mersey Valley Countryside wardens until it was handed to Stockport MBC in the late 1990s.

(This shouldn't be confused in scale with the cotton mills such as those at Styal: it appears to have been a place for hand weaving and was later converted into a farmhouse, so it was a very modest affair).

The mansion High Grove House was built for a member of a wealthy hatting family of Yorkshire and Manchester.

[3] Three Gatley men were in the garrison defending the hall: Ralphe Savage, Robert Torkinton and John Blomiley.

In the following summer, 1819, soldiers formed square in front of the Horse and Farrier public house in Gatley with the aim of arresting the Luddite ringleaders.

It is separated from its slightly larger neighbour, Cheadle, by the A34 and from Didsbury in Manchester by the M60 motorway and the River Mersey.

To the south, Gatley borders onto Heald Green, with Grasmere Road and Yew Tree Grove marking the southern boundary.

By the 1560s, the Tattons, who also owned Northenden and other local land, became full lords of the manor and held court over the area.

A polished stone found in Gatley suggests some human presence in the Neolithic or early Bronze Age.

[2] In 1286, Gatley was a hamlet within the manor of Stockport Etchells, contained at least six households (around 30 individuals): probably a significant growth from levels in the late 11th century.

[2] An Etchells Court of Survey document, probably from the late 16th century, gives Gatley as having 16 tenants (households) including Thomas Whitelegg (the largest holding, 25 acres), Roberte Gooddyer, Arnoulde Baxter and Roger Royle.

[3] Cheadle and Gatley Urban District saw the highest population growth of anywhere in Stockport in the inter-war period.

Most notable is the relatively high Jewish population, over ten times higher than the English and Stockport averages.

Gatley railway station is on the Styal Line, which runs between Longsight (Slade Lane Junction) and Wilmslow.

In 1898, Mr Potts began to operate a service to Stockport with a single (horse drawn) omnibus, continuing until the arrival of the electric tram in 1904.

Electric trams began to run in Stockport in 1902, with the service to Gatley (terminating at the Horse and Farrier) opening in March 1904.

The LNWR railway station at Cheadle allowed travel via Edgeley to Manchester, but closed as early as 1917 due to competition with the electric tram between Gatley and Stockport.

In 2005, the auditoriums (situated at the rear of the building) were demolished leaving only the front facade and foyer area still standing.

By 2010, two planning applications had been placed to build sheltered housing on the vacant land where the auditoriums were and to create a supermarket at the front.

In August 2015, the current owners, Dickens Property Group, then submitted a new planning application for a supermarket and residential buildings at the site, similar to the plans previously submitted but this time maintaining all of the art deco front facade while demolishing the adjoining buildings and constructing new ones in their place.

In contrast to the Recreation Ground, it has been designed to be a tranquil nature spot with tended lawns and plants, several memorial benches, and a path that extends through the park.

At the south-western end of the village, close to the boundary of Manchester, is Gatley Hill House, next to which is the William Scholes Park which includes several large playing fields partitioned by small woodland areas.

Gatley Carrs is a local nature reserve[27][28] at the north-west corner of the area (bounded to the north and west by the M56 motorway and the Stockport-Altrincham railway line).

It is a celebration of village life and includes a carnival parade and a family fun day which are held on the first Sunday in July each year.

It runs in March for one week each year with something for every age and taste, including classical, jazz, brass, choral as well as local indie, acoustic and rock.