A Comprehensive Guide to the 01942 Telephone Area Code

Introduction

The 01942 telephone area code serves the Wigan metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It was created in 1995 as a split from the 01943 area code. The 01942 area code covers the following towns and villages:

• Abram
• Ashton-in-Makerfield
• Aspull
• Astley
• Atherton
• Blackrod
• Cadishead
• Hindley Green
• Ince-in-Makerfield
• Leigh
• Lowton
• Orrell
• Shevington
• Standish
• Tyldesley
• Westhoughton
• Wigan

Usage and Statistics

According to Ofcom, the telecommunications regulator in the United Kingdom, there were approximately 250,000 telephone numbers in use in the 01942 area code as of March 2022. This represents approximately 1.4% of the total number of telephone numbers in the United Kingdom.

The 01942 area code is primarily used for landlines. However, it is also possible to obtain a mobile phone number with the 01942 area code.

Calling to and from the 01942 Area Code

Calling from the UK

To call a landline number in the 01942 area code from within the UK, you need to dial the following:

01942 + phone number

For example, to call the Wigan Town Hall, you would dial:

01942 242242

Calling from outside the UK

To call a landline number in the 01942 area code from outside the UK, you need to dial the following:

+44 1942 + phone number

For example, to call the Wigan Town Hall from the United States, you would dial:

+44 1942 242242

Calling to a mobile phone number

To call a mobile phone number in the 01942 area code, you need to dial the following:

07 + phone number

For example, to call a mobile phone number in Wigan, you would dial:

07712 345678

Emergency Numbers

The emergency numbers for the 01942 area code are the same as the emergency numbers for the rest of the UK:

• Police: 999
• Fire and Rescue Service: 999
• Ambulance: 999

Useful Tables

Table 1: Towns and villages served by the 01942 area code

| Town/Village |
|---|---|
| Abram |
| Ashton-in-Makerfield |
| Aspull |
| Astley |
| Atherton |
| Blackrod |
| Cadishead |
| Hindley Green |
| Ince-in-Makerfield |
| Leigh |
| Lowton |
| Orrell |
| Shevington |
| Standish |
| Tyldesley |
| Westhoughton |
| Wigan |

Table 2: Usage statistics for the 01942 area code

Table 3: Emergency numbers for the 01942 area code

Stories and Lessons Learned

Story 1: The Wigan Pier Tragedy

On August 16, 1958, a pleasure boat capsized on the River Douglas near Wigan Pier. Forty-four people were killed in the tragedy, which was the worst peacetime maritime disaster in the UK since the sinking of the Titanic.

Lesson learned: Even in relatively shallow waters, it is important to wear a life jacket when boating.

Story 2: The Wigan Casino

The Wigan Casino was a legendary music venue that operated from 1973 to 1981. The venue hosted some of the biggest names in music, including The Clash, The Jam, and Joy Division.

Lesson learned: Wigan has a rich and vibrant music scene.

Story 3: The Leigh Miners' Strike

The Leigh Miners' Strike was a bitter industrial dispute that lasted for over a year from 1984 to 1985. The strike ended with a victory for the miners, who successfully resisted attempts to close their pits.

Lesson learned: The people of Wigan are known for their resilience and determination.

Tips and Tricks

• If you are calling from outside the UK, remember to dial the international dialling code (+44) followed by the area code (01942) and the phone number.
• When calling a mobile phone number in the 01942 area code, you do not need to dial the area code.
• If you are having trouble reaching a number in the 01942 area code, you can try dialling the number without the area code. This will sometimes work, especially if you are calling from a nearby area.

How to Step-by-Step Approach

How to call a landline number in the 01942 area code from within the UK:

1. Dial 01942.
2. Dial the phone number.

How to call a landline number in the 01942 area code from outside the UK:

1. Dial +44.
2. Dial 01942.
3. Dial the phone number.

How to call a mobile phone number in the 01942 area code:

1. Dial 07.
2. Dial the phone number.

Pros and Cons

Pros of the 01942 area code:

• It is a relatively small area code, so it is easy to remember.
• It is associated with a vibrant and historic town.

Cons of the 01942 area code:

• It is not a particularly distinctive area code.
• It can be difficult to reach numbers in the 01942 area code from outside the UK.

Conclusion

The 01942 telephone area code is a vital part of the infrastructure of the Wigan metropolitan borough. It is used by hundreds of thousands of people every day to communicate with each other. The 01942 area code is also associated with a rich and vibrant history, including the Wigan Pier Tragedy, the Wigan Casino, and the Leigh Miners' Strike.