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 1207 County Durham