Prior to the creation of Tyne and Wear in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, the village was part of the historic County Durham.

It is situated on the south west of Cleadon Hills, an example of a Magnesian Limestone grassland home to a number of regionally and nationally rare species.

Although there is no direct evidence of Mesolithic habitation in Cleadon itself, flint scatters have been identified in surrounding sites including St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, suggesting hunting parties travelled through the area.

[1] It is likely that Neolithic (4,500-2,400BC) farmers were active in Cleadon, evidenced by further discoveries of flint, but the exact locations of any settlements remain unknown.

[5] Cleadon and Whitburn's entry in the Boldon Book refers to land ownership, dues, and services, suggesting that a complex administrative system had been in place a number of years before 1183.

Stray animals were collected from Cleadon and Whitburn moors, to the north and south of the village, by the Pinder and kept in the Pinfold until claimed by their rightful owner.

[10] In 1644 during the English Civil War, Cleadon was caught between the Royalist forces of Newcastle and the Parliamentarians of Sunderland, leading to the Battle of Boldon Hill.

[11] By the end of the 17th century, enclosure agreements grew throughout the Durham area, whereby copyhold tenants ensured properties were combined into more manageable fields.

Map of the County Palatine of Durham, published by Andrew Armstrong in 1754, depicts Cleadon Mill and features some of the key landowners of the village.

Cleadon House was the family home of John Dagnia, famed for the introduction in the 18th Century of lead crystal, the quality and brilliance of which was unparalleled in Britain at that time.

The glass was manufactured at West Panns in South Shields.A 15-acre pleasure garden was also constructed, featuring terraced lawns, a fruit wall, an ornamental lake and a grotto.

Only a section of the original estate wall, evidence of water features, and the Grade II listed grotto remain in modern-day Coulthard Park.

[17] The house and estate were bought by the Grey family of Howick; and by marriage passed to Sir James Pennyman, 6th Baronet.

Today, the former clay pits of Cleadon Brick and Tile Works have been flooded and form the Tilesheds Local Nature Reserve, which opened in 1997.

By the end of the 1800s, there were a variety of tradespeople in the village, including a nurse, a solicitor, a violin-string manufacturer, a hay dealer, a laundress, and numerous labourers.

It consisted of villa properties which extended across the three main roads to the west of Cleadon House, occupied by affluent citizens such as surgeons and managers.

Cleadon Hill Farm served as a landing ground for the 36 Squadron Royal Flying Corp which was in use from April 1916 until December 1917.

[44]Cleadon Hills Local Nature Reserve, located to the north-east of the village centre, is a nationally significant example of Magnesian limestone grassland and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

[45] It is home to wildflowers such as cowslips, wild thyme and autumn gentian that can grow due to the shallow magnesian limestone soil.

[46][47] The limestone landscape was formed by sediments that accumulated on the floor of the Zechstein Sea during Permian times, 290 to 248 million years ago.

[56] Cleadon Pumping Station was built for the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company to a design by Thomas Hawksley from 1859 to 1862.

[56] It was one of a group of pumping stations owned by the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company with others situated in Humbledon and Fulwell.

By 1860, more than one million gallons of water a day were being pumped from the Cleadon's station, and by 1862 it was the largest of the Company's ventures with more than twice the capacity of Fulwell and Humbledon.

The majority of residents (57.1%) were in employment with wholesale and retail trade and health and social work activities being the most common industries for the area.

[61][62] In the UK national parliament, Cleadon is part of the Jarrow constituency, represented by Labour MP Kate Osborne since 2019.

[70] The car park of the Britannia Inn is the site of a former field between the pub and historic mansion house Cleadon Meadows.

[76][77] It is commemorated by a blue plaque which reads:[78] An 18th Century garden ornament overlooking a formal pond originally in the grounds of Cleadon House.

Repointed by the Borough of South Tyneside as a contribution to the Cleadon 800 festival in 1983.Cleadon Church of England Academy is the village primary school.

21% of pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 at Cleadon Academy achieved at a higher standard in reading, writing and math.

Before a specific church was constructed, Wesleyan Methodist services were held in Cleadon in a farm cottage owned by John Burdon.