Cleadon

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Cleadon
Coordinates: 54.9554° N 1.4008° W Cleadon shown within Tyne and Wear
Population	4, 500 [1]
OS grid reference	NZ384624
Metropolitan borough	South Tyneside
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SUNDERLAND
Postcode district	SR6
Dial code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
European Parliament	North East England
List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear

Cleadon is a suburban village in North East England in the county of Tyne and Wear. The estimated population of Cleadon is around 4,500 and there are a few shops but mostly expensive houses. Cleadon is a short walk from the local East Boldon Metro Station. The village is around 16 km (10 miles) from the city of Newcastle and about 8 km (5 miles) from the city of Sunderland. There has been a village on the site of Cleadon for over a thousand years. However, the village was called 'Claydon', before and during the Norman invasion (in 1066). This is because the earth is made of mostly clay which is a very useful building material. Since then, the village expanded but most of the village only had houses built on during the 20th century. Nearby villages or population centres include, East Boldon, Whitburn and Jarrow.

The famous author Charles Dickens resided in Cleadon for a short period in 'Cleadon House' on Front Street. Here Dickens gained much inspiration for the character of Miss Havisham in his novel Great Expectations. The description of her house is a description of Cleadon House. Although not certain, it is alleged that a man who lived in the house was stood-up at the alter and immediately ordered the clocks and reception at Cleadon House to be kept exactly the same as that at the moment he was to be married for a year - thus the inspiration for Miss Havisham.

Oliver Cromwell also famously resided for a short while in the Village during the English Civil War.

As well as these people, many more modern famous people have lived or still reside within Cleadon. These include, footballers such as Kevin Phillips, Stefan Schwarz, Michael Gray and the world-famous retired heaviweight boxer Frank Bruno has been known to regularly visit friends in the village. Many other famous people are rumoured to live in Cleadon but they keep their lives private to avoid public attention.

There are no doctor's surgeries in Cleadon. There are three pubs in Cleadon Village, the Britannia Inn, the Cottage Tavern and Sleepers. An air raid during WWII resulted in the death of a bull on Cleadon Farm and a cow was also injured. During another air raid during WWII, bombs destroyed a number of houses. This is the reason there are newer houses built in the 1950's and 60's among houses that were built before the Second World War.

Houses in the village date back to the 15th Century one which contains both a secret passage and priest hole. Alongside these impressive homes there are two historic pubs, and a traditional village pond which is a reminant of an ice age lake. The park in central Cleadon used to have a lake with the famous boathouse in Bluebell Wood at the end of the park which has long since fallen into disrepair. This building is often perceived to be a dungeon or prison due to its metal bars and menacing appearance.