Built predominantly on sandstone, grindstone and clay, it is bordered by Sheriff Hill/Deckham to the east, Saltwell/Bensham to the west, Harlow Green to the south and Shipcote to the north.

More recently, it was formally incorporated into the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead by the Local Government Act 1972 which took effect on 1 April 1974.

[3] Once described as a "windswept, barren and treacherous heath",[2] it took its name from nearby Gateshead and the fact that the area was "a fell or common contigious to it".

[6] In 1771, the number of settlers on Gateshead Fell increased as a result of the 'Great Flood of 1771', during which the rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees all burst their banks, causing people to lose their homes.

[8] When theologian John Wesley arrived in a blizzard in 1785, he found a "pathless waste of white"[3] inhabited predominantly by tinkers, gypsies, pitmen and quarrymen.

[10] Progress was slow, with the last allotment disputes not settled until 1822,[9] but by the time of completion, Gateshead Fell was entirely enclosed and effectively consigned to history.

[12] The divisions of Gateshead Fell have remained more or less settled, so that the villages created by enclosure have survived, almost entirely intact, to the present day.

[14][17] Despite the cessation of the Sheriff's March in 1838,[18] Clements' establishment became "the social centre of the growing village, where concerts, dinners and meetings of all kinds were held".

[19] The relative tranquility of the village, coupled with scenic views of surrounding hills and countryside, attracted rich industrialists from nearby Newcastle–upon–Tyne, seeking an alternative to the dirt and noise of industrial Newcastle and Gateshead.

[23] One such property, Heathfield, was a mansion located on Durham Road which was built and owned by a wealthy chemical manufacturer who kept bears in his substantial adjoining grounds.

[19] Through the early 20th century, the village continued to expand towards Gateshead,[24] though even in the interwar–years "children could play marbles on Durham Road in perfect safety".

[19] However, by the turn of World War II in 1945, Gateshead itself has expanded so much that the urban sprawl had removed much of the scenic panorama which had delighted settlers in the suburb a century earlier.

[24]The village changed little in either character or structure after the end of World War II,[25] though in 1965 plans were drawn for the further development of Durham Road which drew criticism from residents.

[26] By 1974, when the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead was formed, Low Fell had transformed from those early, village days and was by that time a bustling suburb with a considerable independent commercial hub attracting a high volume of vehicular traffic.

[19] That character is relatively unchanged today, but Low Fell remains one of the most attractive places to live in the North East of England, retaining a distinctive village feel and containing a thriving community of shops, restaurants, schools and churches.

It had previously formed part of the Gateshead East and Washington West constituency which was abolished by boundary changes prior to the 2010 UK General Election.

Mearns, a member of the Labour party, replaced former incumbent Sharon Hodgson MP, who successfully campaigned for election in the newly formed constituency of Washington and Sunderland West.

[12] Although neighbouring Sheriff Hill thrived through an influx of heavy industry, built upon a colliery and pottery particularly,[53] by 1827 new allotment owners on Low Fell had spent heavily to improve land so that sod cottages were a rarity and the last remaining pit heaps had been removed.

[12] The result was that numerous wealthy individuals were drawn to the area and it was this influx which helped shape and grow the early settlement, as opposed to the more usual means of growth allied to work and industry.

[54] The 1880s were a decade of considerable building in the village, fueled by the completion of a tramway with nearby Gateshead in 1883[55] and this brought some light industry to the area; in the same year Mawson & Swan built their dry plate works in Kells Lane and this proved to be the first of several light industries to locate in that area.

[24] Today the Durham Road area is "a vibrant commercial hub with thriving shops, bars and restaurants"[57] as well as some banks and small offices.

[67] Described as "a large, unlovely polychrome villa",[68] Underhill is triple gabled, and built of roughly dressed sandstone, and was the first private residence in the world to be lit by electric light.

This fine early 19th century, symmetrical, ashlar and sandstone property[70] was the family home of the Dodds sisters, and is also a Grade II listed building.

Immediately adjacent to the Literary Rooms is a Grade II listed[76] South African War memorial, dated 1903, and signed 'Morrison'.

[73] Located close to the main shopping centre on Durham Road lies Whinney House, a large villa built in 1865 by local resident Edward Joicey.

[81] Costing £13,000[82] and paid for "by the laudable benevolence of Edward Joicey",[83] the foundation stone of St Helen's was laid on 29 October 1873 and the church was consecrated on 29 August 1876.

Sir Joseph Swan is famous for being the inventor of the incandescent light–bulb (though also instrumental in improvements to photographic film and rechargeable batteries),[94] lived at Underhill, 99 Kells Lane in Low Fell between 1869 and 1883.

He pioneered the use of radiometric dating of minerals and was the first earth scientist to grasp the mechanical and thermal implications of mantle convection, which led eventually to the acceptance of plate tectonics, and has a blue plaque outside his childhood home on Primrose Hill.

[100] Socialist singer/songwriter Alex Glasgow, the so–called "bard of Tyneside",[101] is best remembered for writing and singing the theme tune to the BBC television classic When the Boat Comes In.

[121] The Dryden School on Shotley Gardens caters for students aged 11–19 with severe or profound multiple learning difficulties[122] and was rated 'Outstanding' in 2015.