When the mine was deepened and extended in the 1910s, further housing to accommodate the workforce was built to the south of the pit in an area known as Boldon New Town.

The Boldons form part of the suburban fringe of South Tyneside and are completely surrounded by green belt.

The wood is popular with the local community and provides a habitat for animals such as pheasants, squirrels, woodpeckers and otters.

Colliery Wood provides six new paths, which are also suitable for cycling and link to East Boldon, and Brockley Whins and Whiteleas in nearby South Shields.

The flats are flooded from each October to March, attracting a wide array of bird life and a large population of common frogs.

West Boldon Lodge, constructed by the National Grid, is situated amongst a range of habitats, including wetland, grassland and woodland.

[5] The nearest National Rail stations are at Heworth and Sunderland, which are stops on the Durham Coast Line between Newcastle, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough; services are operated by Northern Trains.

[6] Bus services are provided predominantly by Stagecoach North East; routes link the area to South Shields, Cleadon, Heworth, Gateshead and Newcastle.

Full back Jack Shreeve moved from the Villa to Charlton in 1935 and was a colleague of Bartram's in their 1947 FA Cup winning team.

Other notable sportsmen from Boldon are cricketers Simon Brown and current England rugby youth player Robert Bell, Darlington striker Shaun Reay and Spennymoor Town midfielder Jamie Chandler.

[8] There are private tennis and golf clubs at Dipe Lane as well as other pursuits on offer within local schools, community centres and parks.