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SY postcode area
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The SY postcode area, also known as the Shrewsbury postcode area,[2] is a group of 25 postcode districts in the West Midlands and Mid Wales, with small areas in North West England and North Wales. Together the districts cover most of Shropshire, north Powys, north Ceredigion, and part of south Cheshire. In addition, the SY7 and SY8 districts cover a small part of north Herefordshire, and the SY14 and SY20 districts also contain very small parts of Gwynedd and Wrexham County Borough respectively. The postcode area contains 32 post towns.
Key Information
Mail for the SY postcode area is processed at Chester Mail Centre, along with mail for the CH and LL postcode areas.
Post towns
[edit]- Aberystwyth
- Bishop's Castle
- Borth
- Bow Street
- Bucknell
- Caersws
- Church Stretton
- Craven Arms
- Ellesmere
- Llanbrynmair
- Llandinam
- Llanfechain
- Llanfyllin
- Llanidloes
- Llanon
- Llanrhystud
- Llansantffraid
- Llanymynech
- Ludlow
- Lydbury North
- Machynlleth
- Malpas
- Meifod
- Montgomery
- Newtown
- Oswestry
- Shrewsbury
- Talybont
- Tregaron
- Welshpool
- Whitchurch
- Ystrad Meurig
Coverage
[edit]The approximate coverage of the postcode districts:
| Postcode district | Post town | Coverage | Local authority area(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SY1 | SHREWSBURY | Shrewsbury (north and town centre) | Shropshire |
| SY2 | SHREWSBURY | Shrewsbury (east) | Shropshire |
| SY3 | SHREWSBURY | Shrewsbury (south and west), Bayston Hill | Shropshire |
| SY4 | SHREWSBURY | Baschurch, Bomere Heath, Nesscliffe, Shawbury, Wem | Shropshire |
| SY5 | SHREWSBURY | Atcham, Cressage, Criggion, Condover, Minsterley, Pontesbury, Ratlinghope, Westbury, Wroxeter | Shropshire, Powys |
| SY6 | CHURCH STRETTON | Church Stretton, Cardington | Shropshire |
| SY7 | BUCKNELL | Bucknell, Lingen | Shropshire, Herefordshire |
| CRAVEN ARMS | Craven Arms, Clun Valley, Diddlebury, Leintwardine, Munslow, Tugford | ||
| LYDBURY NORTH | Lydbury North | Shropshire | |
| SY8 | LUDLOW | Ludlow, Brimfield, Clee Hill, Culmington, Leinthall Starkes, Richard's Castle, Stoke St. Milborough | Shropshire, Herefordshire |
| SY9 | BISHOPS CASTLE | Bishop's Castle, Wentnor | Shropshire |
| SY10 | OSWESTRY | Oswestry (outskirts), Gobowen, Llansilin, Llangedwyn, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, Pen-y-bont-fawr, Llanwddyn | Shropshire, Powys |
| SY11 | OSWESTRY | Oswestry (most of), St Martin's, West Felton | Shropshire |
| SY12 | ELLESMERE | Ellesmere, Dudleston Heath (Criftins), Welshampton, Lyneal, Colemere, Cockshutt, English Frankton, Tetchill, Hordley, Bagley | Shropshire |
| SY13 | WHITCHURCH | Whitchurch, Whixall | Shropshire |
| SY14 | MALPAS | Malpas, Tilston, No Man's Heath, Bickley, Hampton, Shocklach, Bulkeley, Bickerton, Cuddington Heath, Cholmondeley, Threapwood, Barton, Duckington | Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Wrexham |
| SY15 | MONTGOMERY | Montgomery, Abermule, Chirbury, Church Stoke | Powys, Shropshire |
| SY16 | NEWTOWN | Newtown, Tregynon, Bettws Cedewain | Powys |
| SY17 | CAERSWS | Caersws, Trefeglwys, Carno, Llanwnnog, Pontdolgoch, Clatter | Powys |
| LLANDINAM | Llandinam | ||
| SY18 | LLANIDLOES | Llanidloes, Llangurig, Van, Tylwch | Powys |
| SY19 | LLANBRYNMAIR | Llanbrynmair, Llan, Bont Dolgadfan, Dolfach, Talerddig, Staylittle, Pennant, Dylife | Powys |
| SY20 | MACHYNLLETH | Machynlleth, Corris | Powys, Gwynedd |
| SY21 | WELSHPOOL | Welshpool, Marton, Stockton | Powys, Shropshire |
| SY22 | LLANFECHAIN | Llanfechain | Powys, Shropshire |
| LLANFYLLIN | Llanfyllin | ||
| LLANSANFFRAID | Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain | ||
| LLANYMYNECH | Llanymynech | ||
| MEIFOD | Meifod | ||
| SY23 | ABERYSTWYTH | Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr, Penparcau | Ceredigion, Powys |
| LLANON | Llanon | ||
| LLANRHYSTUD | Llanrhystud | ||
| SY24 | BORTH | Borth | Ceredigion |
| BOW STREET | Bow Street, Pen-y-garn, Rhydypennau, Llandre | ||
| TALYBONT | Talybont | ||
| SY25 | YSTRAD MEURIG | Ystrad Meurig | Ceredigion, Powys |
| TREGARON | Tregaron | ||
| SY99 | SHREWSBURY | Jobcentre Plus | non-geographic |
Map
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "ONS Postcode Directory Version Notes" (ZIP). National Statistics Postcode Products. Office for National Statistics. May 2020. Table 2. Retrieved 19 June 2020. Coordinates from mean of unit postcode points, "Code-Point Open". OS OpenData. Ordnance Survey. February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
- ^ Royal Mail, Address Management Guide, (2004)
SY postcode area
View on Grokipedia| Postcode District | Post Town |
|---|---|
| SY1–SY5 | Shrewsbury |
| SY6 | Church Stretton |
| SY7 | Craven Arms |
| SY8 | Ludlow |
| SY9 | Bishops Castle |
| SY10 | Oswestry |
| SY11 | Oswestry |
| SY12 | Ellesmere |
| SY13 | Whitchurch |
| SY14 | Malpas |
| SY15 | Montgomery |
| SY16 | Newtown |
| SY17 | Caersws |
| SY18 | Llanidloes |
| SY19 | Llanbrynmair |
| SY20 | Machynlleth |
| SY21 | Welshpool |
| SY22 | Llanfyllin |
| SY23 | Aberystwyth |
| SY24 | Borth |
| SY25 | Tregaron |
Overview
Description and Naming
The SY postcode area, also known as the Shrewsbury postcode area, is a group of 25 postcode districts designated SY1 through SY25 in the United Kingdom, with SY99 reserved for non-geographic use.[3][2] This designation centers on the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England, serving as the primary postal hub for the region.[4] The naming convention follows the standard UK postcode structure, where "SY" represents the outward code identifying the broader postal area, with subsequent numeric districts refining the sorting scope.[7] The primary purpose of the SY postcode area is to streamline mail sorting and delivery operations by delineating a specific geographic zone within the Royal Mail network, encompassing parts of western England and eastern Wales.[8] This system enables efficient routing of correspondence and parcels to local delivery offices, reducing processing times and errors in distribution.[9] The area is geographically centered at approximately 52.665°N 3.053°W, reflecting the midpoint of its coverage from Shrewsbury eastward and into Welsh border regions westward.[10] The SY postcode area was established during the nationwide implementation of the UK's alphanumeric postcode system in the 1970s, following initial trials in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with full coverage achieved by 1974.[11] This rollout integrated the SY districts into the broader framework designed by the General Post Office to modernize postal logistics across the country.[8]Key Statistics
The SY postcode area encompasses 25 postcode districts, serving as the primary subdivisions for mail delivery within the region. These districts are further divided into 87 postcode sectors, based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) data as of February 2025. The area also includes 32 post towns, which function as central hubs for postal addressing and sorting. In terms of postal volume and coverage, as of February 2025, the SY area contained approximately 14,618 live postcodes actively in use for geographic addresses, alongside a total of 17,564 postcodes when accounting for non-geographic or obsolete entries. The population served by these postcodes is estimated at around 342,140 residents, derived from linkages between the 2021 Census data and postcode geographies provided by the ONS. Geographically, the SY postcode area is predominantly rural, featuring key urban centers like Shrewsbury, and extends over approximately 2,341 square miles (6,064 km²) across parts of Shropshire and adjacent Welsh counties, emphasizing its role in covering expansive countryside alongside market towns.[3]| Statistic | Value | Notes/Source |
|---|---|---|
| Postcode Districts | 25 | Standard subdivision per Royal Mail structure; SY99 non-geographic [9] [2] |
| Post Towns | 32 | Central addressing hubs [9] [1] |
| Postcode Sectors | 87 | As of February 2025 ONS data [12] [13] |
| Live Postcodes | ~14,618 | February 2025 [14] [13] |
| Total Postcodes (incl. non-geographic) | 17,564 | February 2025 [14] [13] |
| Population Covered | ~342,140 | 2021 Census postcode estimates [15] |
| Area Span | ~2,341 sq mi (6,064 km²) | Primarily rural with urban foci like Shrewsbury [3] |
Territorial Coverage
Geographic Extent
The SY postcode area encompasses a trans-border region primarily covering most of Shropshire in England, along with significant portions of northern Powys and northern Ceredigion in Wales, as well as smaller areas in southern Cheshire, northern Herefordshire, and parts of Gwynedd and Wrexham in Wales.[16] This coverage reflects the area's extension across the England-Wales border, with approximately 63% in Shropshire, 21% in Powys, 10% in Ceredigion, and minor shares in the other counties, totaling an irregular footprint shaped by postal logistics rather than strict geographic or administrative lines.[16][12] The boundaries of the SY area extend from the Welsh borders eastward into inland England, incorporating the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the adjacent Welsh uplands such as the Cambrian Mountains in northern Powys.[17][18] Its irregular shape arises from the historical design of the UK postcode system, which prioritizes efficient mail sorting and delivery routes over natural or political boundaries, leading to non-contiguous pockets assigned to specific post towns based on proximity to sorting offices.[8][12] For instance, small enclaves in southern Cheshire and northern Herefordshire are included due to their alignment with Shrewsbury-based postal operations, despite not forming a continuous territory.[16] Terrain within the SY area is predominantly rural, featuring a mix of rolling countryside, dispersed market towns like Shrewsbury and Welshpool, and elevated hilly landscapes.[17][18] Key features include the pastoral Shropshire Plain in the north transitioning to the rugged Shropshire Hills and Long Mynd in the south, with river valleys such as the Severn Valley providing fertile lowlands amid steeper slopes and moorlands.[17] In the Welsh sections, northern Powys and Ceredigion contribute upland plateaus and broad valleys suited to grazing and forestry, enhancing the area's overall character of low-density, scenic countryside with limited urban development.[18] This diverse topography supports agriculture and tourism while overlapping with various local authority jurisdictions, as detailed elsewhere.[12]Local Authority Areas
The SY postcode area spans multiple local authority jurisdictions, primarily in England and Wales, reflecting its position along the national border. The largest portion falls under Shropshire Council, a unitary authority in England that administers the bulk of the postcode districts centered around Shrewsbury and surrounding towns. Other key authorities include Powys County Council in Wales, which covers extensive rural areas in mid-Wales, and Ceredigion County Council, responsible for coastal and upland districts in west Wales. Smaller segments lie within Cheshire West and Chester Council, Herefordshire Council, Gwynedd Council, and Wrexham County Borough Council, highlighting the area's fragmented administrative landscape.[16][19] Coverage varies by postcode district, with the majority aligned to Shropshire Council, particularly SY1 through SY13, which encompass urban and rural communities like Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Market Drayton. Districts SY15 to SY22 are predominantly under Powys County Council, including towns such as Newtown, Welshpool, and Llanfyllin. SY23 to SY25 fall mainly within Ceredigion County Council, serving Aberystwyth and Tregaron. SY14 extends into Cheshire West and Chester Council around Malpas, while SY7 and SY8 include pockets in Herefordshire Council near Ludlow. Marginal areas in SY20 touch Gwynedd Council, and parts of SY11 and SY13 border Wrexham County Borough Council. In terms of geographic coverage, approximately 63% of the SY area lies in Shropshire, 21% in Powys, 10% in Ceredigion, 3% in Cheshire West and Chester, 1% in Herefordshire, less than 1% in Gwynedd, and 1% in former Clwyd regions, primarily Wrexham County Borough.[16]| Postcode District | Primary Local Authority | Example Coverage Areas |
|---|---|---|
| SY1–SY5 | Shropshire Council | Shrewsbury |
| SY6–SY9 | Shropshire Council | Church Stretton, Ludlow, Bishops Castle |
| SY10–SY13 | Shropshire Council | Oswestry, Ellesmere, Whitchurch (with minor Wrexham extensions) |
| SY14 | Cheshire West and Chester Council | Malpas |
| SY15–SY22 | Powys County Council | Montgomery, Newtown, Welshpool (with minor Gwynedd extensions in SY20) |
| SY23–SY25 | Ceredigion County Council | Aberystwyth, Tregaron |
| SY7–SY8 (partial) | Herefordshire Council | Northern Herefordshire near Ludlow |
Postal Structure
Postcode Districts
The SY postcode area encompasses 26 postcode districts, designated as SY1 through SY25 along with the non-geographic SY99, which together support efficient mail processing at the Chester Mail Centre. These districts are delineated by Royal Mail primarily for optimizing sorting and delivery operations rather than adhering strictly to geographic or administrative boundaries, resulting in some Welsh communities being assigned to English post towns such as Shrewsbury. In total, the area includes 82 postcode sectors across these districts. The districts SY1 to SY5 form the core around Shrewsbury in Shropshire, with SY1 focusing on the town center and featuring 5 sectors (SY1 1–4 and SY1 9). SY2 covers northern Shrewsbury, SY3 southern suburbs including Bicton Heath and Bayston Hill, SY4 rural locales around Wem and villages like Baschurch (with 6 sectors), and SY5 areas such as Minsterley and Pontesbury. Districts SY6 to SY9 extend across southern Shropshire, where SY6 and SY7 serve Church Stretton, Craven Arms, and parts of Ludlow; SY8 is centered on Ludlow itself; and SY9 on Bishop's Castle. Northern districts SY10 to SY13 address the Shropshire-Welsh border vicinity, with SY10 and SY11 dedicated to Oswestry and adjacent spots like Gobowen, SY12 to Ellesmere, and SY13 to Whitchurch. The border districts SY13 to SY16 incorporate areas in Cheshire, including Whitchurch (SY13), Malpas in Cheshire (SY14), Montgomery (SY15), and Newtown in Powys, Wales (SY16). Further south, SY17 to SY25 primarily span Mid Wales, covering Caersws (SY17), Llanidloes (SY18), Llanbrynmair (SY19) and Machynlleth (SY20), Welshpool (SY21), Llanfyllin (SY22), Aberystwyth (SY23), Bow Street and Borth (SY24), and Tregaron with Ystrad Meurig (SY25). SY99 serves non-geographic purposes, such as dedicated addresses for large organizations or government entities in Shrewsbury, exemplified by Jobcentre Plus sites.Post Towns
The post town serves as a critical element in UK postal addresses, appearing in capital letters immediately after the thoroughfare or locality and before the postcode, to identify the principal sorting and delivery office responsible for mail distribution within the postcode district. In the SY postcode area, this designation ensures efficient routing of correspondence and parcels through designated centers, even when the recipient's location is geographically remote from the named post town. Royal Mail maintains these post towns as standardized units independent of local authority boundaries, facilitating automated sorting processes.[24] The SY area encompasses 32 post towns, some of which cover multiple postcode districts while others are specific to a single district; for instance, Shrewsbury handles SY1 through SY5 as well as SY99 for post office boxes. Certain districts, such as SY7 and SY24, are assigned to more than one post town to reflect localized delivery arrangements. This structure includes both English and Welsh post towns, like Montgomery (SY15), which serves areas including Abermule. All SY mail is processed via these post towns, with variations arising from historical overlaps, such as partial coverage in Ludlow (SY8).[16] The following table enumerates the postcode districts and their assigned post towns:| Postcode District | Post Town(s) |
|---|---|
| SY1 | Shrewsbury |
| SY2 | Shrewsbury |
| SY3 | Shrewsbury |
| SY4 | Shrewsbury |
| SY5 | Shrewsbury |
| SY6 | Church Stretton |
| SY7 | Bucknell, Craven Arms |
| SY8 | Ludlow |
| SY9 | Bishops Castle |
| SY10 | Oswestry |
| SY11 | Oswestry |
| SY12 | Ellesmere |
| SY13 | Whitchurch |
| SY14 | Malpas |
| SY15 | Montgomery |
| SY16 | Newtown |
| SY17 | Caersws, Llandinam |
| SY18 | Llanidloes |
| SY19 | Llanbrynmair |
| SY20 | Machynlleth |
| SY21 | Welshpool |
| SY22 | Llanfechain, Llanfyllin, Llanymynech |
| SY23 | Aberystwyth |
| SY24 | Borth, Bow Street |
| SY25 | Tregaron, Ystrad Meurig |
| SY99 | Shrewsbury |
Historical Development
UK Postcode System Origins
The origins of the UK postcode system trace back to the mid-19th century, driven by the need to handle increasing mail volumes following postal reforms in 1840. In 1857, Sir Rowland Hill, the architect of the uniform penny post, introduced the world's first postal districts in London to streamline sorting amid the capital's rapid population growth and issues with duplicate street names. These initial districts, such as EC (East Central) and WC (West Central), covered a 12-mile radius around central London and were denoted by compass directions, marking the earliest structured approach to geographic mail routing.[8][25][26] Efforts to expand this concept nationally gained momentum after World War II, culminating in a pioneering trial in Norwich in 1959. Selected for its modern sorting facilities equipped with eight new machines, Norwich tested the first alphanumeric postcodes, using a format like "NOR 20F" where the initial letters represented the post town and subsequent characters indicated streets or districts. Although adoption was initially low—with fewer than half of letters using the codes—the trial demonstrated the potential for automated sorting and paved the way for a nationwide system.[8][27][28] The full implementation unfolded across the 1960s and 1970s under the management of the General Post Office (GPO), later restructured as the Post Office Corporation. Starting with areas like Croydon in 1966, the rollout adopted a standardized alphanumeric format dividing each postcode into an outward code—for example, a one- or two-character area code like SY followed by a district numeral—and an inward code of numeric and alphabetic elements for precise local delivery. This structure was designed to be predominantly geographic, aligning with natural delivery routes and administrative boundaries, yet optimized for mechanical and later electronic sorting efficiency rather than strict population proportionality. The system encompasses 121 postcode areas in total, with SY designated as one of the provincial areas covering parts of Wales and England.[8][29][27] Key milestones included the completion of postcode assignment across England and Wales by 1974, marking the end of an eight-year national program that recoded even the original Norwich trial area. Following the Postal Services Act 2011 and subsequent privatization in 2013, responsibility for maintaining and assigning postcodes shifted to the now-private Royal Mail, ensuring continuity in the system's operation while adapting to modern demands like digital addressing.[8][29][30]Establishment and Evolution of SY Area
The SY postcode area was established in the early 1970s during the phased national rollout of the UK's alphanumeric postcode system, which began trials in 1959 and extended across provinces from 1966 to 1974, with the West Midlands and adjacent Welsh regions implemented around 1972. Named after Shrewsbury as the central post town and operational hub, the SY area was designed to cover rural and semi-urban localities in Shropshire and parts of Powys, facilitating mechanized sorting and delivery efficiency in a region spanning England and Wales.[8] Since its inception, the SY area has seen evolutionary adjustments primarily focused on operational streamlining rather than wholesale redesigns. No significant territorial alterations have taken place after 2000, reflecting the stability of the postcode framework post-national implementation. Mail processing for the SY area has undergone a notable shift for greater centralization. Originally managed at the Shrewsbury sorting office since the area's launch, operations were transferred in 2013 to the Chester Mail Centre (in the CH postcode area) as part of Royal Mail's network modernization to consolidate bulk handling and reduce regional redundancies; this change affected SY alongside parts of LL and other nearby codes.[31] Ongoing updates to the SY area remain minimal and targeted, with occasional boundary tweaks to incorporate new residential or commercial developments without disrupting established districts. The SY99 sector, introduced in 2002, serves special non-geographic purposes, including PO boxes and dedicated mail streams for entities like the Department for Work and Pensions at Castle Foregate in Shrewsbury.[32]Visual and Boundary Information
District Maps
The standard visual representation of the SY postcode area is provided by labelled maps of Royal Mail postcode districts, which depict indicative boundaries for districts SY1 through SY25 in red outlines, with post towns labelled in grey.[33] These maps utilize an equirectangular projection based on the WGS84 datum and are derived from Ordnance Survey open data, specifically employing Voronoi polygons constructed from median coordinates of unit postcodes in the Code-Point Open dataset to define district boundaries.[33][34] Key features of these maps emphasize the concentration of urban centers, particularly the cluster of districts SY1 to SY5 centered on Shrewsbury in Shropshire, illustrating the area's primary hub, while also showing the irregular extensions into Wales, such as districts SY16 to SY25 spanning from Newtown to Tregaron.[4] The Ordnance Survey Code-Point Open data underpins these visualizations by supplying precise geographic locations for over 1.7 million postcode units across Great Britain, enabling accurate spatial analysis and mapping of the SY area's 25 districts without reliance on administrative boundaries alone.[34] Such district maps serve as essential references for navigation and planning, particularly in highlighting irregular portions like SY13, which extends into Wrexham County Borough in northeast Wales alongside areas in Shropshire and Cheshire West and Chester.[35] They facilitate understanding of the SY area's cross-border nature, adjacent to postcode areas like LL and TF, by providing a clear diagrammatic overview of internal district layouts.[33]Adjacent Postcode Areas
The SY postcode area, encompassing much of Shropshire and parts of Powys and Ceredigion, shares borders with several adjacent postcode areas that facilitate cross-regional mail flow and reflect historical postal sorting practices.[16][3] To the north, the SY area adjoins the CH (Chester) and CW (Crewe) postcode areas in England, as well as the LL (Llandudno) area in Wales, where geographic proximity supports shared rural delivery routes across the Cheshire-Shropshire border.[16][3] On the eastern side, it borders the TF (Telford), WV (Wolverhampton), DY (Dudley), and WR (Worcester) postcode areas, primarily within the West Midlands, enabling efficient mail exchange for urban and semi-urban locales near Shrewsbury and Telford.[16][3] The southern boundary interfaces with the HR (Hereford) area in England and the LD (Llandrindod Wells) area in Wales, where the hilly terrain of the Shropshire Hills and Welsh borders influences postal logistics for remote communities.[16][3] Western adjacencies include the SA (Swansea) and LL (Llandudno) areas in Wales, along with CH (Chester) to the northwest, though the SY area's coastal proximity to Cardigan Bay limits direct land contact with SA to minor enclaves near Aberystwyth.[16][3] These borders exhibit interactions such as shared mail processing; for instance, certain mail from the SY area is handled at the Chester Mail Centre alongside items from the CH and LL areas, optimizing national distribution for border-spanning correspondence. Boundary anomalies arise from post town assignments, where delivery logic prioritizes sorting efficiency over strict geographic alignment, resulting in occasional overlaps—such as SY districts routing through adjacent TF or LD offices for final delivery in transitional zones.[12]References
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SY_postcode_area_map.svg
