[HPFGU-OTChatter] UK postcodes: The intrigue!

[GulPlum]

I did a bit of searching around to see if a web site somewhere includes the 
rationale of British postcodes, and although I couldn't find a complete 
explanation anywhere, I did find several anecdotes about letters delivered 
without postcodes (for the benefit of Non-Brits, the usual "cancellation" 
frank on stamped letters is a message from the postal service reading 
"please use the postcode" - such mail goes through fully automated sorting, 
saving time and money).

Quite possibly the funniest was successful delivery of a letter addressed to:

"The little house just past the building with blue window frames near the 
'Golden Crown' pub, in a Wiltshire village with a charming name I can't 
remember"

:-)

Would US (e.g.) postal services bother trying to decipher such an address?