Cleadon
CLEADON, a township, in the parish of Whitburn, union of South Shields, E. division of Chester ward, N. division of the county of Durham, 3½ miles (N. by W.) from Sunderland; containing 257 inhabitants. Cleadon, or, as anciently written, Clivedon, Tower, which was taken down at the close of the last century, is mentioned so early as 1587, and was a square building of two stages, leaded, and with a spiral stone staircase to the top; it was attached to the east end of the present old mansion, and commanded a very extensive prospect. Limestone is obtained; and near Marston rock is found a species of indurated marl, in thin laminæ, very pliant, and hence termed flexible limestone.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.