Middlesex- the forgotten county?

[Louisa]

I'm starting this thread because I want to pay tribute to Middlesex. It ceased to exist as of 1965 on the creation of greater London, which pretty much ate all of the area up to create urban NW London sprawl. Some small rural remainders were chopped up and shared between Surrey, Hertfordshire and Berkshire. Does anyone know what if any cultural aspects of Middlesex still exist? Are the post codes still in existence? Is there a cricket team still? Do any EDF folk hail from a former part of the county? Is anyone old enough to remember the original boundaries?

Louisa.

[Mick Mac]

Cricket purposes only. Great thread Louisa.

[StraferJack]

I remember looking at the back of my EMI LPs back in the 80s and seeing the address as being in Hayes, Middlesex

ah but this explains that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesex#Former_postal_county

[moneysaver99]

Middlesex is a forgotten county but I know there are lots of talented people within that are annoyed we have to class ourselves as just London.

[Nigello]

Russell Grant is very big....on this topic. He's very knowledgeable about it and other, traditional counties.

[david_carnell]

Having met the man in this capacity I can also confirm he's as big a twat as you would imagine.

[Townleygreen]

There are still postal addresses that use Middlesex...like Teddington, Twickenham, Harrow, etc etc

[Loz]

I now live in Middlesex (Ealing area) and I can confirm that, apart from the odd institution like Middlesex Uni and the cricket club, it pretty much does not exist any more.

[El Pibe]

Having seen last night's PPB by the English Democrats I can honestly blame the EU for the loss of middlesex, and Sharia LAw obviously!!

[ruffers]

Townleygreen Wrote:

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> There are still postal addresses that use

> Middlesex...like Teddington, Twickenham, Harrow,

> etc etc

People might write it but it's not part of the postal address as far as the post office is concerned to my knowledge - the address is town and postcode.

[BrandNewGuy]

In terms of cultural aspects, Alan Tyler does a fine song called "Middle Saxon Town" about his childhood in Harrow. Lots of local colour.

http://www.virginmedia.com/music/browse/alan-tyler/songs/1979670

His long-time band The Rockingbirds are playing at The Lexington tomorrow - should be good.

[Townleygreen]

Townleygreen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There are still postal addresses that use

> Middlesex...like Teddington, Twickenham, Harrow,

> etc etc

ruffers wrote:

People might write it but it's not part of the postal address as far as the post office is concerned to my knowledge - the address is town and postcode.

I wasn't suggesting that is was needed to get some post delivered, but nevertheless those places are not in London postal areas but are officially classified as Middlesex, like Beckenham is officially Kent.

[Loz]

Townleygreen Wrote:

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> I wasn't suggesting that is was needed to get some post delivered, but nevertheless those places are

> not in London postal areas but are officially classified as Middlesex, like Beckenham is

> officially Kent.

It's not official, as there is no official place called Middlesex any more (unlike Kent, which has a county council). And some part of the old Middlesex, like Ealing, do have West London postal codes (e.g. W13, W9, W4) and much of the rest NW postal codes. The rest of it has Uxbridge (UB], Harrow (HA), Watford (WD) and Enfield (EN) codes.

[indiepanda]

There's a university there, though I have to admit it's further north than I would have imagined Middlesex to go as it's in Hendon. The university has a real tennis court, which is the only reason I know it's there.

[Townleygreen]

Loz said

It's not official, as there is no official place called Middlesex any more (unlike Kent, which has a county council). And some part of the old Middlesex, like Ealing, do have West London postal codes (e.g. W13, W9, W4) and much of the rest NW postal codes. The rest of it has Uxbridge (UB], Harrow (HA), Watford (WD) and Enfield (EN) codes.

It isnt unofficial either! Those 4 places are all entitled to use Middlesex, dating from the day they were incorporated in the (then) new county of Greater London. It's a historical county and all over the country people - if they so wish - can include the old county's name in their addresses.

And if they don't so wish, they can just put the post code.

[Townleygreen]

indiepanda said

There's a university there, though I have to admit it's further north than I would have imagined Middlesex to go as it's in Hendon. The university has a real tennis court, which is the only reason I know it's there.

Middlesex as a historical county extends from the Thames to the northern edge of Greater London - Barnet, Enfield, Harrow, Uxbridge, Hendon, Colindale, Southgate, Wembley, Edmonton, Finchley, are all in it (amongst many others).

[Loz]

Townleygreen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It isnt unofficial either! Those 4 places are all entitled to use Middlesex, dating from the day

> they were incorporated in the (then) new county of Greater London. It's a historical county and all

> over the country people - if they so wish - can include the old county's name in their addresses.

Do you have a source for this?

[maxxi]

Makes me think of 70s kids' television. Back then the address Magpie always gave out at the end of the show (for unrequited love letters to Susan Stranks) was Thames Television, Teddington Lock, Middlesex.

I think it was also the punchline for a few of Larry Grayson's jokes.

[MrsMcC]

Note to oneself - stick to looking for garden furniture in For Sale forum rather than coming on here after too much vino!! Sorry Louisa not at all what you were looking for, stand by what I said though! I'm from Edgware, souless place, Middlesex best forgotten although my Mum still likes it on her address HA8! Biggest up South London, best place I've ever lived, Brixton, Tulse Hill, Penge, God love ya. Best blokes (married one), pubs, parks and yes I've had a good Tuesday night!! Believe me Sarf rocks everytime :)

[El Pibe]

Wasn't middlesex university formerly Neasden World of Carpets?

[sedm]

I grew up in Teddington and always used Middlesex as part of my postal address... only recently realised that it didn't exist!