SW4 Clapham: why this London postcode has the number 4

After Chelsea, before Earls Court

Clapham is SW4 because of the alphabet. SW1 is the South Western district office, and in the Post Office's list of March 1917 the offices after it follow by name: Clapham comes after Chelsea (SW3) and before Earls Court (SW5).

See SW4 on the map