Middlesex is on a lot of Tedddington addresses but considering the county technically has not existed since 1965 it may seem a bit strange to the younger generation.

So why is this the case? Well here's what we find out...

The History of Middlesex

Middlesex as a county was abolished in an administrative sense back in 1965 but the county's name can be traced back to 704!

Previously areas of what we now consider Central London such as Westminster were in Middlesex hundreds of years ago.

Eventually when London's boundaries were redrawn back in 1965 the entire county was either swallowed up by Greater London or redistributed into Surrey.

However the county still exists to this day in a ceremonial sense at least.

Where is Middlesex?

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Middlesex used to be anywhere with a Harrow, Uxbridge or Twickenham postcode.

So from Edgware to Staines and Northolt to Shepperton the county effectively encompassed what is now West London and parts of modern Surrey.

However after the creation of the 32 London boroughs the county was abolished or was it?

The Postal County of Middlesex

Now here's where things get a bit more complicated. Royal Mail used to divide the UK into postal counties.

In this aspect Middlesex was very much alive and well after 1965 - however even then this postal county system was abolished back in 1996 - a little bit more recent but still 24 years ago.

According to the Royal Mail, the former postal county data no longer forms part of postal addresses.

So this still begs the question why do places put Middlesex on their address?

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The Answer

The answer as to why is simply tradition.

Yes there is no real reason to put Middlesex in your address and if you took it out then it would not make any difference.

However people are still attached to the county and it gives people more of an identity than just being another part of greater London.

Plus the name of Middlesex is still in use across the area, whether it's Middlesex County Cricket Club based at Lords or Middlesex University in Harrow.

So you no longer need to put Middlesex in your address here at Nub News we like a bit of history so we say why not let the former county's name live on!