Counties and post codes

[Coldicote]

I read that for mailing purposes, counties will cease to be shown as part of a person's address. Many people are proud of their 'home county' and identify with it, and will not be happy that it becomes identified as just a post code. Naming counties also encourages one to take an interest in geography. Is it a good idea or a bad one?

[Prudie]

It's a bad idea typical of the constant progression towards loss of identity. I will continue to use my county and yes I am proud of it.

[jno]

I don't think I'd be a better person if I knew where Cumbria was. Counties used to have considerable powers; these days I think people's attachment to them is mostly sentimental. Fair enough, but I've never understood why people insist on using them when addressing a letter (and lots of websites ask you to enter them). Postcode's all the post office needs.

[hc4361]

When postcodes were first introduced we were told that we would in the near future address envelopes only with the person's name, house number and postcode.
I'm still waiting for that to happen.
My own county disappeared in 1972 but I have always refused to use West Midlands in my address.

[Buenchico]

Am I the only person who actually reads the 'Mail Made Easy' booklet, which is available from any Post Office?

The official Royal Mail guidelines for putting the correct postal address on an envelope have, for at least the past 25 years, always stated that no county name is necessary. (Indeed, when post codes were first introduced, there was great publicity given to the fact that county names should NEVER be used in a postal address).

Having spent the past quarter of a century trying to ensure that county names have been deleted from every mailing database which I've ever had contact with, I'm infuriated that some people are still trying to include them. GRRR!!!

Chris

[Buenchico]

For Hc4361:
There's no reason why you can't use the shortened form of address which you refer to. I always put the 'return address' on any package I send in the form of "23IP148AB" (which is perfectly good enough to tell the Royal Mail that I live at number 23 in the street with post code IP14 8AB). On a couple of occasions, packages I've sent have been unable to be delivered and they've found their way back to me with problems.

Chris

PS: Potential stalkers should note that the above address is a fictional example ;-)

[Prudie]

Just because Royal Mail said they're not necessary (which is pretty obvious if a postcode is on) doesn't mean we have to kowtow and follow instruction. Next we won't have to say UK but Europe.

[Buenchico]

That would suit me just fine,Prudie ;-)

I believe in the abolition of the Westminster government (and of all national governments within Europe) and in direct rule from Brussels, within a united (single state) Europe. I refuse to stand for the British National Anthem (which calls upon a god I don't believe in to 'save' a monarch whom I refuse to recognise) but I'll always stand for the European Anthem.

[Prudie]

Gosh! Well that explains your feelings about keeping counties. There's lots of us in the shires that won't be standing with you though.
Goodnight Chris :-))

[Buenchico]

Night night, Prudie ;-)

[Hopkirk]

DVLA haven'y used counties as long as I can remember.

Also some people put the wrong county name. For example when the West Midlands was created, some people continued to put Warwickshire as their county, bacause it sounded better.

[jno]

nobody's told Google Maps yet, Chris.

[Answerprancer]

I suggest an ongoing 'pact' to include the name of the county before the postcode - spread the word ! (I always include "Surrey" when I mail out to people)

[Buenchico]

Postcodes can also lead to people putting the wrong county on a letter, Hopkirk.

For example, some places in North Suffolk have a postal address which should include Norwich as the 'post town'. If the person sending the letter puts the correct county on for the actual delivery address, that will result in the address being written as ". . . Norwich, Suffolk". Given the likelihood of a postman in that area either being an Ipswich Town or Norwich City supporter, that's bound to cause annoyance either way ;-)

[Hopkirk]

I used to live in Elsenham, which is geographically in Essex.

However the postal address is 'Elsenham, near Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire'

[Buenchico]

Anyway, how far back do you go with the recognition of counties?

The UK's Supreme Court is housed in Middlesex Guildhall. Middlesex hasn't (officially) existed since 1965 but the Guildhall hasn't (officially) been in Middlesex since 1889. So does the Supreme Court sit in Middlesex or in Westminster?

[Gromit]

So, counties (well the ones that remain after Heath axed a load) are not about to be abolished. If you insist on using the county when addressing letters, your mail will still be delivered.

Has Britain got so insecure that a Royal Mail instruction book for addressing letters is enough to get the Daily Mail brigade to flip their lid?

[Hopkirk]

That's odd Chris. I also used to live in Staines, which has a postal address of Middlesex.

[Gromit]

The Metropolitan Borough in which I live, insist on using that name on official corespondence and return addresses. This is the only time I refuse to address something to a place called 'Tameside', and I use the county of Lancashire instead.

[mightyWBA]

I was born before the West Midlands was created,where I lived was Staffordshire,but then became part of a town that was in Worcestershire,then that became part of the West Midlands...Still confused :-S

[naomi24]

Like others, my postcode also indicates that my home is in a neighbouring county - which means I'm issued with a telephone directory that is useless to me because it covers the wrong area entirely.