SW9 Stockwell: why this London postcode has the number 9

After South Lambeth, before West Brompton

Stockwell is SW9 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: Stockwell comes after South Lambeth (SW8) and before West Brompton (SW10).

See SW9 on the map