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The Boldons are a group of three small villages in England - East Boldon, West Boldon and Boldon Colliery - bordering the north of Sunderland and the south of South Shields. They have a population of 13,271.

In the 19th century when coal mining began, a colliery developed at the foot of the hill. Since colliers (miners) needed to live close to their work, at the foot of the hill another village began to grow which became known as Boldon Colliery.

Until 1974 the area was administered by Boldon Urban District Council in County Durham but since then has been part of the borough of South Tyneside.

The mine closed down in 1983 but more jobs became available when an Asda supermarket opened in 1986. Further recent developments included Boldon Business Park. Boldon Colliery also has its own multi-screen cinema (currently operated by Cineworld), which is in close proximity to both McDonalds, Frankie & Benny's and Pizza Hut restaurants. The main school in the area is Boldon School, special sports college (formerly Boldon Comprehensive School). There is also a junior school and nursery (West Boldon Primary)

The Discovery Channel programme The Haunting produced an episode centred around the ghostly goings on at the Wheatsheaf Inn in West Boldon. The inn was reputedly haunted by the ghosts of a young girl and her murderer, which several people have seen.