NEHL - The Cleadon Park estate, with its mansion house designed by John Dobson which later became Cleadon Park Hospital, was acquired by the South Shields Corporation in 1918. The land was originally farmland, but was later subject to industrial exploitation. quarries and lime kilns littered the land. James Kirkley, a local coal magnate, commissioned the design of the park for his own pleasure. The mansion house noted above was his residence.

JH Morton & Son, who designed the Palladium nearby, were hired by Kirkley to design the gardens, palm house and terrace.

For the parks opening, the quarry was filled and levelled. From there tennis courts, three bowling greens and large playing fields were landscaped and constructed. Football was also played here, with Cleadon Park CP (a junior team) finding their home here in the mid 20th century.

Some of the sports facilities are still in use. All bowling greens are in situ but none are currently used after a starvation of government funding, while the tennis courts are still in situ.