The history of Four Post Hill in Southampton revolves around its name and the area it was encompassed.

The origin of the name Four Posts stems from the four directional markers placed at the crossroads, guiding travellers towards Millbrook and Redbridge to the west, Romsey and Shirley Hill to the northwest, Hill Lane to the northeast, and Southampton to the east.

Originally, "Four Posts" referred to a district in the 18th and 19th centuries.

(Image: Echo)

This district included the area around the present-day junction of Hill Lane and Commercial Road, stretching towards Water Lane on the east and Millbrook Road on the west.

In the late 19th century, the name "Four Posts" came to be associated with the western end of the current Commercial Road and the streets surrounding it - Four Post Hill was merely a part of the district, as was Four Posts Bridge.

While the devastating Great Plague was raging in 1665, Southampton experienced a halt in regular commerce.

(Image: Echo)

A makeshift market emerged at Four Posts to ensure that those from the surrounding regions of Hill, Shirley, and Millbrook could provide essential sustenance to the town's inhabitants.

Their business dealings took place near Archard's Bridge, where they conducted transactions by hoisting goods across Rolles Brook. Instead of exchanging money directly, they placed it in a basket that was lowered into the stream to limit the risk of infection.