The convention for house numbers in England tends to be odd numbers on the left-hand side of the street and even numbers on the opposite side.

There are a few anomalies in South Woodham Ferrers, in that a handful of streets are consecutively numbered. These are:

• Baker’s Close
• Clement’s Place
• Downleaze
• Fremantle
• Kingsway
• Littlecroft
• Lorien Gardens
• Paston Close
• Raymond’s Close
• Tanner’s Way

Creekview Road has even numbers all down one side but no houses, only parkland on the other side of the road. Perhaps they have been numbered in this way to allow for additional houses to be built in the future that could be allocated odd numbers?

The numbering is all down to planning and how to allow for a sensible allocation of house numbers when additional properties are built. Many of the streets with sequential numbering are cul-de-sacs that do not have any space for future growth.One thing is for certain, it makes a postman’s or delivery person’s job a little more interesting.