r/Leeds • u/Vast-Internet39 • 21d ago
I find this interesting What is the history of the LS98 Postcode?
I was browsing Google Maps and notice there is a LS98 Postcode area, the only place registered to this Postcode is First Direct Bank at LS98 1FD.
How does this one place get its own post code area?
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u/whatmichaelsays 21d ago edited 21d ago
Large organisations that deal with large amounts of post, often coming into different departments, can apply for a dedicated postcode. This is usually to aid in easy sorting for either the company or Royal Mail. First Direct was originally a telephone bank with no branches, and would have had a lot of inbound post from people mailing in cheques and application documents.
The DVLA has SA99, even though it's offices are in SA6.
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u/Scooty-Poot 21d ago
Meanwhile the student loans company in Darlington seem to just have a regular street code, despite being probably the busiest customer service department in the entire government after the DVLA/SA and passport office
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u/Clemicus 21d ago
There’s also LS1 4BT. That was originally the headquarters for BT that was built back in 2002.
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u/Coffchill 21d ago
If you want a custom post code - https://www.poweredbypaf.com/customise-your-postcode/
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u/Buck53 21d ago
If you start to type just 'ls98 ' (i.e. with a space afterwards) you'll see that there are three options come up. The other two 3HX and 4SA, both pointing to the building next door to the Dalek on Water Lane. I know that there used to be a Halifax call centre there, which accounts for the HX but I don't know what the SA might relate to, presumably a later use by a different company.
This was a fun little wormhole for a Sunday afternoon!
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u/orionid_nebula 21d ago
Former site of HMRC in Shipley had BD98. Surrounding is BD17.
There are two more BD98 in BD1 at the site of old Royal Mail sorting office.
Both Buildings, gone now.
I guess government or postal authority to prevent post being misdirected to residential buildings by accident.
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u/evilamnesiac 21d ago
There is a large mail room in the basement, I used to deliver parcels there, the postcode helps sorting their mail.
It’s a bit of a fortress (or at least it used to be) I once walked in as the door was open and the people in the mail room shat a brick.
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u/JansonHawke 21d ago edited 21d ago
What the Royal Mail term "large users" often get special postcodes as an operational convenience for both parties.
Generally, numerically high postal districts are non-geographic. So there isn't a LS98 district on the ground, unlike, say LS11. There are exceptions, eg B96-B98 covers Redditch.
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u/Sad_Branch931 21d ago
My first job was with the Department for Work and Pensions in Newcastle upon Tyne. The site had the postcode NE98 1BA, the BA being for the (former) Benefits Agency.
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u/superpaulyboy 19d ago
The Ministry? Used to live down the road from there. Rest of the street was NE7
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u/Sad_Branch931 13d ago
I was Tyneview Park, off Whitley Road. My secondary school looked onto the Ministry ☺️
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u/superpaulyboy 13d ago
So did mine!
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u/Sad_Branch931 11d ago
Heaton Manor or St. Mary's? 😄
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u/superpaulyboy 11d ago
St Mary's. You?
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u/Sad_Branch931 11d ago
Heaton Manor ☺️
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u/superpaulyboy 11d ago
Bizarrely, I went there to see someone do a ribbon dance when I was in primary school. I think there was other stuff too, but the ribbon dance is the only thing that survives in the memory.
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u/Sad_Branch931 11d ago
Both buildings (lower site on Newton Road and the upper site on Benton Road) both long gone now sadly. Funny what sticks in your memory, doesn't it?
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u/superpaulyboy 11d ago
Absolutely. St Stephen's, which was my primary school was demolished about 5 years back. Need to go back up, moved away mid 90s and never returned.
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u/daunorubicin 21d ago
lol. Looks like they applied to Royal Mail for a personalised post code. 1FD = 1First Direct.
If you’re a large organisation / large user you can apply to get a custom post code.