Damp proofing areas in Doncaster: DN1 to DN12 postcodes

Where you live in Doncaster can shape the kind of damp you get. The borough runs from town-centre streets and suburbs to former colliery villages, market towns and farmland that was once wetland. This page groups the Doncaster postcode districts into areas, flags what is worth checking in each and points you to the right guide. Wherever you are, include your postcode in the enquiry form and we will tell you whether we can help. It is general information, not a diagnosis.

DN postcodes: which ones are Doncaster?

A DN postcode does not always mean Doncaster. The DN area stretches into North Lincolnshire, north Nottinghamshire and the East Riding, with districts for Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Gainsborough, Retford and Goole. The Doncaster post town uses DN1 to DN12. DN13 was earmarked for Mexborough but never used, so Mexborough has an S64 postcode instead. Source: Wikipedia: DN postcode area, which describes its district list as approximate.

Town centre and inner suburbs: DN1, DN2 and DN4

DN1 covers the city centre and Hyde Park. DN2 covers Intake, Wheatley and Wheatley Hills. DN4 takes in Balby, Belle Vue, Bessacarr, Cantley, Hexthorpe and Warmsworth. Homes in these districts vary a lot in age and build, so the cause of damp can change from one street to the next. Match the symptom to the cause before anyone quotes:

Tide marks low on a ground-floor wall in an older solid-wall house: read condensation vs rising damp before paying for a new damp-proof course.
Black mould in bedroom corners and on window reveals: usually condensation. See black mould removal and causes.
Damp patches that grow after rain on gable walls or under gutters: see penetrating damp.

North and west: DN5 and DN6

DN5 covers Bentley, Scawthorpe, Scawsby, Sprotbrough, Cusworth, Arksey and Toll Bar, out towards Barnburgh. DN6 runs north to Adwick le Street, Carcroft, Askern, Campsall and Woodlands. Bentley Colliery worked from 1906 to 1993 (Wikipedia: Bentley Colliery). Woodlands is a model village built in the early 20th century as homes for miners at nearby Brodsworth Colliery, and it is now a conservation area (Wikipedia: Woodlands, South Yorkshire). Bentley and Scawthorpe were also among the five communities primarily affected by the November 2019 floods (RAB Consultants: Doncaster Section 19 flood investigation). Our guide to damp proofing in Bentley, Toll Bar and Arksey covers that area in more detail.

If your home flooded and the damp has never quite cleared, see damp after flooding in Doncaster.
In a conservation area such as Woodlands, check with City of Doncaster Council before changing windows, walls or render.

East: DN3, DN7 and DN8

DN3 covers Armthorpe, Edenthorpe, Kirk Sandall, Barnby Dun and Branton. DN7 covers Hatfield, Stainforth, Dunscroft, Dunsville and Fishlake, and DN8 covers Thorne and Moorends; see our guides to damp proofing in Armthorpe, Edenthorpe and Kirk Sandall and damp proofing in Thorne, Hatfield, Stainforth and Fishlake. Homes around Hatfield and Thorne sit on or near Hatfield Chase, a low-lying area that was often flooded until the Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden was appointed to drain it in 1626. Apart from the Isle of Axholme, the area is less than 10 feet (about 3 m) above sea level. It includes the Thorne and Hatfield Moors peat bogs, and pumping stations still keep it drained (Wikipedia: Hatfield Chase). Fishlake was another of the communities primarily affected in November 2019.

Low ground can mean damp floor voids, wet cellars and blocked air bricks. See cellar damp and tanking in Doncaster, and rising damp and damp proof courses for how to check the DPC is not bridged.
Before planning any work, check your address on GOV.UK: check your long term flood risk.

South: DN9, DN10, DN11 and DN12

DN9 includes Auckley and Finningley, and DN10 includes Bawtry. DN11 covers Rossington, New Rossington, Tickhill and Wadworth. DN12 covers Conisbrough, Denaby Main and Old and New Edlington. Rossington is a former mining village surrounded by countryside and the market towns of Bawtry and Tickhill (Wikipedia: Rossington), and Edlington was home to Yorkshire Main Colliery (Wikipedia: Yorkshire Main Colliery). Conisbrough and Tickhill were also among the communities primarily affected by the 2019 floods. Our guides to damp proofing in Conisbrough, Mexborough and Edlington and damp proofing in Rossington, Bawtry and Tickhill cover these areas in more detail.

Cracks as well as damp? Cracks can let rain into a wall, so mention them. The GOV.UK: coal mining subsidence damage, a guide to your rights says coal mining subsidence damage can begin with cracked plaster and sticking doors.
Damp after rain on an older cottage or terrace? Check gutters, downpipes and pointing from the ground first.

Just outside the borough

Some DN9, DN10 and DN11 addresses are in North Lincolnshire (such as Epworth and Haxey) or in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire (such as Harworth, Bircotes and Misson). We take enquiries from Mexborough. For anywhere else near the borough edge, send your postcode and we will tell you whether we can pass your enquiry on. If you rent, contact the council for the area you live in, which may not be City of Doncaster Council. Our guide to damp and mould in rented homes explains the steps.

What to tell us about your home

Your postcode, the type of home (terrace, semi, bungalow, flat) and its rough age if you know it.
Where the damp or mould is, and how long it has been there.
Whether it gets worse after rain, in cold weather or stays the same all year.
Any past flooding, cracks, repointing or building work.
Whether you own, rent or let the property.

Then use the enquiry form. With your consent, we will pass your enquiry to a local damp and mould professional who can talk it through and, if needed, arrange a survey and written quote. It costs nothing to enquire, and what a damp survey should include explains what to expect.

Sources and further reading

Wikipedia: DN postcode area; Wikipedia: Hatfield Chase; Wikipedia: Woodlands, South Yorkshire; Wikipedia: Bentley Colliery; Wikipedia: Rossington; Wikipedia: Yorkshire Main Colliery; RAB Consultants: Doncaster Section 19 flood investigation; GOV.UK: coal mining subsidence damage, a guide to your rights; GOV.UK: check your long term flood risk.

Areas we cover

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Which Doncaster postcodes do you take enquiries from?

We take damp and mould enquiries from across the City of Doncaster, which mostly uses DN1 to DN12 postcodes, and from Mexborough (S64). If you live near the edge of the borough, put your postcode in the enquiry form and we will let you know whether we can pass your enquiry on.

Does a DN postcode always mean Doncaster?

No. The DN postcode area also covers Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Gainsborough, Retford, Goole and other towns. Doncaster addresses use DN1 to DN12, and some of those districts cross into North Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

Is damp more of a problem in low-lying areas like Thorne and Hatfield?

Low ground can mean wetter soil and a higher flood risk, which can affect floor voids, cellars and the base of walls. Hatfield Chase was drained from the 1620s and still relies on pumping stations. A good survey looks at ground levels, air bricks and drainage before anyone suggests a treatment, and you can check your flood risk on GOV.UK.

I live in a former mining village and have cracks as well as damp. What should I do?

Mention the cracks in your enquiry, with photos if you can, because cracks can let rain into a wall. If you think the damage comes from coal mining subsidence, the GOV.UK guide to your rights explains how to claim. It says claims must be made within 6 years of the damage becoming apparent.