Why did we still use Middlesex on letters if it was abolished back in 1965? I clearly recall teasing my friend from Greenford about not really living in London—we were such silly kids!
Today I discovered that Middlesex has been gone since 1965, yet I continued to write “Middx” on letters to my friend in Greenford all the way into the early 2000s.
Can someone help clarify this for me, or am I losing my mind?
You’re not going insane! The confusion arises because, even though Middlesex as a county officially ceased to exist in 1965, many of its areas, including places like Greenford, are still commonly referred to as being in Middlesex by residents and in informal contexts. This is especially true in postal addressing, where “Middx” had long been used as a shorthand in addresses.
After the reorganizations in 1965, many parts of Middlesex became part of Greater London or other neighboring counties, but the historical name persists in local culture and identity. So, when you wrote letters, the use of “Middx” likely seemed natural, reflecting local traditions and sentiments.
Many people still informally refer to locations by their historical counties, even if those counties no longer have any official status. It’s a quirk of how we relate to places and their histories!