Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead

The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, in North East England. The borough forms the south west part of the county. It is named after its largest town, Gateshead, but also spans the towns of Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton; suburban areas include Felling, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell.

It is bordered by numerous local authorities including Newcastle upon Tyne to the north, Northumberland to the west, County Durham to the south, Sunderland to the south east, and South Tyneside to the east.

History

The district has some 190,000 inhabitants and lies between the historic county boundaries of Northumberland and County Durham. It along with South Tyneside was the division between Northumberland and County Durham. The county borough of Gateshead was combined along with the urban districts of Felling, Blaydon, Ryton and part of Chester-le-Street Rural District into the new Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. In 1986 the County Council of Tyne and Wear was abolished, and so Gateshead Council effectively became a unitary authority.

Gateshead

Coordinates: 54°57′N 1°36′W / 54.95°N 1.60°W / 54.95; -1.60

Gateshead is a large town in Tyne and Wear, England, and the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Part of County Durham until the creation of Tyne and Wear in 1974, the town lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne. Gateshead and Newcastle are joined by seven bridges across the Tyne, including the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. The town is known for its architecture, including the Sage Gateshead, the Angel of the North and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Residents of Gateshead, like the rest of Tyneside, are referred to as Geordies. Gateshead's population in 2011 was 66,382.

Etymology

Gateshead is first mentioned in Latin translation in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People as ad caput caprae 'at the goat's head'. This interpretation is consistent with the later English attestations of the name, among them Gatesheued (c. 1190), literally 'goat's head' but in the context of a place-name meaning 'headland or hill frequented by (wild) goats'. Although other derivations have been mooted, it is this that is given by the standard authorities.

Gateshead (UK Parliament constituency)

Gateshead is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its 2010 recreation by Ian Mearns of the Labour Party.

History

The previous incarnation of the seat existed from 1832 to 1950. Among famous representatives are James Melville KC who was Solicitor General for England and Wales before he died, while holding the seat, and international statesman Konni Zilliacus who assisted in creating peaceful bilateral relations during the Cold War, including though work at the United Nations.

Boundaries

Boundary Commission's 2007-8 review led to a revived constituency of Gateshead, using parts of the abolished Gateshead East and Washington West and Tyne Bridge seats.

The seat has electoral wards:

Members of Parliament

MPs 1832–1950

MPs since 2010

Elections