Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Disused mine shaft, one of many in the area visible as circular crop marks on aerial photographs. Dating is uncertain, but coal mining is known to have been carried out in the area from at least the early 17th century and is very likely to have been practiced earlier. Small workings of this sort may have been exploited up to the late 19th century.

Post-enclosure farmstead. Originally known as Cleadon Cottage in the early 19th century. By 1839 it was owned by Robert Walter Swinburne a South Shields glass manufacturer. The 1839 tithe plan shows it principally as a west wing with an attached north service wing and adjacent L shaped block. In 1845 alterations and additions were carried out by John Dobson for R W Swinburne, glass manufacturer, with the addition of a south wing and the entrance and its approach moved to the north. Local dressed magnesian lime-stone with plinth, quoins, frieze, cornice and parapet and fairly low pitched hipped Welsh slate roof with corniced stone chimneys.
Two storeys, 2 north bays by 6 west bays by 8 south bays. The 2 end bays on the south front have an attic storey above the parapet with hipped roof. Stone eared architraves and cills to windows, some on first floor altered to form emergency doors. The pedimented entrance porch has a projecting Edwardian doorway added. To the east of the entrance a 2 storey, 5 bay service wing, rendered. Elliptical headed arched passage in east end bay. Hipped slate roof. Plain architraves to windows. Inside an imposing staircase and entrance hall with decorative plasterwork.
Edwardian in manner. Later James Kirkley carried out major works including a vast palm house. Sunderland Corporation bought it in 1918 and from 1921 to 1978 it was used as a hospital.
"It is not beautiful, it is not even distinguished. It is not elegantly detailed nor of fine proportions. It is neither an exciting building nor impressive. It lacks elegance, comfort and charm" said architect Peter Elphick at the enquiry into the demolition of Cleadon Cottage. His words helped to seal the fate of the house, which was demolished in 1982.