BOLDON, a parish in the eastern division of CHESTER
ward, county palatine of DURHAM, 4 miles (N.W.)
from Sunderland, comprising the villages of East and
West Boldon, and containing 733 inhabitants. The
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Durham, rated in the king's books at £24. 13. 4., and
in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham. The church,
which has a short spire, is dedicated to St. Nicholas.
There is ,a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists.
The village of West Boldon stands on an eminence, and
contains several respectable houses, some of which are
occupied in summer by families from Newcastle upon
Tyne and Sunderland, for the sake of enjoying the salubrity
of the air. The manor has been annexed time
immemorially to the see of Durham, and gave name
to an early survey of the possessions of the bishoprick,
called "Boldon Buke," being the first manor which
occurs in that record, and on account of the numerous
references in it to the services in this district. On
Boldon hills, in the spring of 1644-5, some severe conflicts
occurred between the army under the command of
the Marquis of Newcastle, and the Scots, who then held
possession of Sunderland. The parish abounds with
limestone. The Rev. Henry Blackett, who died rector,
in 1808, gave £ 10 per annum for the education of eight
poor children belonging to the parish.