01207
  01207 | |
| United Kingdom area code for Consett | |
|---|---|
| National calling | 01207 |
| International calling | +44 1207 |
| Conservation | Yes[1] |
| Active since | 16 April 1995 |
| Previous code(s) | 0207 |
| Number format | 01207 xxxxxx |
| Coverage | |
| Area served |
Consett Stanley |
| List of United Kingdom codes | |
The 01207 national dialling code for Consett in the United Kingdom. The area it serves includes almost the entire former district of Derwentside. When STD codes were first introduced, Consett was assigned 0207. The current 01207 code became active as part of PhONEday on 16 April 1995. In common with all other British area codes the initial '0' is a trunk prefix that is not required when dialling Consett from abroad.
History
When STD codes were initially assigned, Consett was given the mnemonic code CO7 (corresponding to 207 on the rotary dial). With the transition to all-figure dialling which ended the practice of representing STD codes with letters in 1966, and including the trunk prefix, this became 0207.
Before STD
The exchanges were:
| Exchange | Opened | Closed | Exchange to | Original STD code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annfield Plain | 18 December 1901 | 18 April 1972 | Stanley | 020 78 |
| Burnopfield | 11 February 1914 | 020 77 | ||
| Castleside | 13 February 1936 | 13 July 1977 | Consett | 020,754 |
| Chopwell | 16 September 1914 | 8 November 1978 | Ebchester | 020,751 |
| Consett (NTC) | Before or during October 1893 | 31 December 1911 | Consett (PO) | |
| Consett (PO) | 26 April 1899 | 020 72 | ||
| Dipton | Before 31 March 1939 | 020,753 | ||
| Ebchester | 30 September 1903 | 020 76 | ||
| Edmundbyers | 16 February 1931 | 020,755 | ||
| Lanchester | 1 January 1907 | 020,752 | ||
| Leadgate | Before or during October 1893 | Between January & July 1904 | Consett | |
| Rowlands Gill | Before 31 March 1939 | 020 74 | ||
| Shotley Bridge (NTC) | Before or during October 1893 | Between January & June 1905 | Shotley Bridge (PO) | |
| Shotley Bridge (PO) | 19 January 1902 | 29 September 1965 | Consett | Not known |
| Stanley | Before 31 March 1939 | 020 73 | ||
| Tantobie | 29 October 1913 | 4 November 1942 | Stanley | |
| West Stanley | 18 December 1901 | unknown | Stanley |
Changes in the 1960s and 1970s
Following the introduction of STD in 1958, most 4 digit and 3 digit exchanges were prefixed as follows; some exchanges were consolidated into others.
- Consett – 4 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 50
- Stanley – 4 digit numbers became 5 digits and prefixed with 3
- Dipton 020,753 – 3 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 570
- Burnopfield – 3 digit numbers became 5 digits and prefixed with 70
- Ebchester 020 76 – 3 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 560
- Lanchester – 3 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 520
- Edmundbyers 020,755 – 3 digit numbers became 5 digits and prefixed with 55 – The original code for Edmundbyers was 020,755
- Castleside 020,754 numbers were integrated into Consett telephone exchange and prefixed with 509: Castleside 201 became Consett 509201 (13 July 1977)
- Chopwell 020,751 numbers were integrated into Ebchester telephone exchange and prefixed with 561: Chopwell 201 became Ebchester 561201 (8 November 1978)
- Annfield Plain numbers were integrated into Stanley telephone exchange and prefixed with 34: Annfield Plain 201 became Stanley 34201 (18 April 1972)
- Shotley Bridge numbers were integrated into Consett telephone exchange (29 September 1965)
Changes in the 1980s
In the 1980s a new wave of prefixes were introduced in the area code:
- Rowlands Gill – 4 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 54
- Stanley – 5 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 2
- Edmundbyers – 5 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 2
- Burnopfield – 5 digit numbers became 6 digits and prefixed with 2
In the 1980s, BT planned to rename all exchanges "Derwentside," but with many numbers crossing over into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead on Burnopfield, Rowlands Gill, and Ebchester exchanges, the idea was scrapped.
Number explosion
There has never been a number explosion in the 01207 area code, and most areas still use their original 1970s/1980s prefix except for Consett and Stanley which have introduced new numbers.
- 21 – DDI for NHS and Derwentside Council
- 23 – Stanley
- 25 – Edmundbyers
- 27 – Burnopfield
- 28 – Stanley (introduced mid-1980s)
- 29 – Stanley (introduced early 1990s)
- 50 – Consett
- 52 – Lanchester
- 54 – Rowlands Gill
- 56 – Ebchester
- 57 – Dipton
- 58 – Consett (introduced early 1990s)
- 59 – Consett (introduced mid-1980s)
- 60 – Cable and Wireless
- 69 – Virgin Media Cable
Short codes
Short codes, a system of abbreviated dialling scrapped in the 1990s was as follows:
- 4 – Rowlands Gill 02074
- 6 – Durham 0385
- 9 – Newcastle 0632
- 998 – Ponteland 0661
Rowlands Gill Only
- 8 – This was the short code to dial into other 0207 exchanges when it was a 4 digit number with area code 02074, even when Rowlands Gill was upgraded to 6 digits and area code 0207 the code remained in place until short codes were abolished nationwide.
References
- ↑ "The National Telephone Numbering Plan" (PDF). Ofcom. 31 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
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