News

Most of us take it for granted, but many do not know that the humble Postcode was actually born in Norwich half a century ago! During 2009 Allies Computing, the only Address Management company based in the area, will be commemorating the 50th birthday of this widely used data element.

Emma Gooderham, Managing Director of Allies Computing says "We are based at the heart of where it all began in 1959. Addressing has moved a long way since then, but the Postcode still remains an important aspect of everyday life for residents and businesses alike. It's surprising that such a significant event began here, yet not many people know about it".

Originally chosen by Postmaster General Ernest Marples due to its eight automatic mail sorting machines, Norwich was the testing ground for the world's first experiment with postal address codes. By 3rd October 1959, 150,000 private and business addresses in the city were given a six-digit postal code starting with NOR. Although the trial was subject to some initial teething problems further testing was carried out and, by 1974, 15 years later, the Postcode system successfully covered the whole of Britain.

Today Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (also known as PAF®) covers all 28 million addresses in the UK so has increased in size somewhat since its introduction! It's great to know that there are addressing experts at the place where it all started. All of Allies' PostCoder® software uses PAF® as their source data.