English Weights and Measures
The following descriptions have been taken from various sources
Most of which are now not on general sale but are either in collections or public libraries
Some are still in use whilst some are not
Some measures are duplicates of others in differing products
Please also note that in some of the following I have written the small letter 'f' to represent the letter 's' as was the custom in the earlier centuries
This is to give some feeling as to the requirements of those ages.
Manors at Domesday (1086) were rated according to their Hidage, and as the extent of a hide has been a matter of dispute, it may be instructive to quote the standard measures of Glastonbury Abbey, as registered in the large MS. Cartulary at Longleat (p.406), alluded to by Canon Jackson in his "Liber Henrici de Soliaco" (1189):
A Farthing Land = Abt. 12 acres
A Furlong or Ferdel = 10 Acres
A Virgate (4 furlongs) = 40 Acres
A Half-yard Land = 20 Acres
A Hide (4 virgates) = 160 Acres
A Knight's Fee (4 Hides) = 640 acres
SOURCE: -"Dunmonia and the River Parrett" by Rev. William H.P. Greswell M.A., F.R.G.S. published 1922 p. 178 - See Also Below....
AREA - (Square Measure) - [See \also LENGTH below]
144 Square Inches = 1 Square Foot
12 Square Feet = 1 Square Yard
30 1/4 Square Yards = 1 Square Pole
40 Square = 1 Rood
4 Roods = 1 Acre (4840 Square Yards)
640 Acres = 1 Square Mile
SOURCE: - "Workshop Calculations Tables and Formula" by F.J. Camm F.R.S.A published 1941 5th Edition
Measure of Capacity - (Liquid or Dry Measure)
4 Gills = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 Quart
2 Quarts = 1 Pottle
2 Pottles = 1 Gallon
4 Quarts = 1 Gallon
2 Gallons = 1 Peck
4 Pecks = 1 Bushel
3 Bushels = 1 Bag
4 Bushels = 1 Coombe
8 Bushels = 1 Quarter
12 Bags = 1 Chauldron
5 Quarters = 1 Load or Wey
2 Loads or Wey = 1 Last
SOURCE: - "Workshop Calculations Tables and Formulae" by F.J. Camm F.R.S.A published 1941 5th Edition
Wine Measure
4 Gills = 1 Pint
2 Pints = 1 Quart
4 Quarts = 1 Gallon
10 Gallons = 1 Anker
18 Gallons = 1 Runlet or Rundlet
311/2 Gallons = 1 Barrel
42 Barrels = 1 Tierce
63 Gallons = 1 Hogshead
2 Tierces = 1 Puncheon
1 1/2 Puncheons = 1 Pipe or Butt
2 Pipes = 1 Tun
SOURCE: - "Workshop Calculations Tables and Formulae" by F.J. Camm F.R.S.A published 1941 5th Edition
Ale and Beer Measure
4 Gills = 1 Pint
2 Pints = 1 Quart
4 Quarts = 1 Gallon
9 Gallons = 1 Firkin
2 Firkins = 1 Kilderkin
2 Kilderkins = 1 Barrel
1 1/2 Barrels = 1 Hogshead
1 1/3 Hogsheads = 1 Puncheon
1 1/2 Puncheons or 2 Hogs heads = 1 Butt or Pipe
2 Pipes = 1 Tun
SOURCE: - "Workshop Calculations Tables and Formulae" by F.J. Camm F.R.S.A published 1941 5th Edition
Length
A LUG:
An olde unit of length, the same as a Rod, Pole or Perch, varying according to local custom; usually of 16½ feet
Sometimes of 15, 18, 20, or 21 feet - in squared measure is a Square Rod, Pole or Perch.
Source: - Oxford English Dictionary
Various Measures Used on Farms [Courtesy of OLD-ENGLISH-l@rootsweb.com subscribers - 20-Feb-2006]
Thatching Materials {How Heavy, How Much and How Long" by Colin Chapman
1 Thrave = 2 Kivers [By the 19th century] or Stook
1 Kiver = 12 Sheaves [Also known as Boltings; Bundles; Trusses]
Sheaves were stooked to form a triangular shape - Ʌ - five sheaves to each side, the ears of corn facing upwards with the sheave butt standing on the ground. Each sheave leant against the opposite one and then one sheave at each end of the stook to hold the shape and protect it from being blown over but at the same time allowing the wind and sun to dry the sheaves and ears of corn.
In Scotland in 1523, 1 Thrave was equal to 4 Sheaves.
Straw Weights
1 Bundle of Straw = 24 Pounds
1 Bolting of Straw = 28 Pounds
1 Truss of Straw = 36 Pounds
Hay Weights
1 Truss of Old Hay = 56 Pounds [Regarded as 'Old' after 29 September]
1 Truss of New Hay = 60 Pounds
MEDICINES
Liquid Measure
60 minims (m) = 1 fluid drachm (ʒ)
8 drachms = 1 fluid ounce
20 ounces = 1 pint (O)
The approximate domestic equivalents to the above measurements are:-
1 minim = 1 drop
1 drachm = 1 teaspoonful
1 ounce = 2 tablespoonfuls
Please note that as the size of spoons vary considerably they should not be used for measuring important medicines.
Measurement of Weight
60 grains (gr) = 1 drachm
8 drachms = 1 ounce
Metric Volume Equivalents
1 litre = approximately 35 fluid ounces
1 cubic centimetre = approximately 17 drops
Metric Weight
1 gramme = approximately 15 grains
OTHER MEASUREMENTS FOUND - (Some are duplicated, this is due to their relationships)
The following tables of measure were taken from the book "The Young Man's Beft Companion" by George Fisher - Accomptant - London 1795, owned by James Fisher in 1818. (Please note that some have already been displayed)
A Table of the Parts of Apothecaries Weights
20 Grains = 1 Scruple fer. a Scruple
3 Scruples = 1 Drachm dr. a Drachm
8 Drachms = 1 Ounce oz. an Ounce
12 Ounces = 1 Pound lb. a Pound
By these weights they compound their medicines; but they buy and fell their drugs by Avoirdupoife Weight.
Cloth Measure
4 Nails or 9 inches = 1 qr. of a Yard
4 qrs. or 36 inches = 1 Yard
5 qrs. or 454 inches = 1 Ell (English)
3 qrs. or 27 inches = 1 Ell (Flemish)
6 qrs. or 45 inches = 1 Ell (French)
A Table of Wool Weight
7 lbs make 1 Clove
2 Cloves or 14 lbs make 1 Stone
1 Stone or 28 lbs make 1 Todd
6 Todds and ½ make 1 Wey or 182 lbs.
2 Weys or 364 lbs make 1 Sack
12 Sacks make 1 Laft or 4368 lbs
240 lbs make 1 pack of Wool
Tables of Liquid Measure
Liquid meafure is of two forts, viz. one for wine brandy Etc, and the other for ale and beer.
Wine Etc.
8 pints = 1 Gallon
42 Gallons = 1 Tierce
63 Gallons = 1 Hogfhead
84 Gallons = 1 Puncheon
2 Hogfhead = 1 Pipe or Butt
2 Pipes or Butts = 1 Tun or 252 Gallons
Note, That fweet oil hath 236 Gallons to the Tun; but oil from Greenland hath 252 Gallons to the Tun.
Note, The wine gallon contains 23 cubic or folid inches by which all liquids are measured, except Beer and Ale.
Beer Measure
8 Pints = 1 Gallon
9 Gallons = 1 Firkin
4 Firkins = 1 Kilderkin
2 Kilderkens = 1 Barrel or 36 Gallons
1 Barrel and ½ or 54 Gallons = 1 Hogshead
Ale Measure
8 Pints = 1 Gallon
8 Gallons = 1 Firkin of Ale, Soap or Herrings
2 Firkins = 1 Kilderkin
2 Kilderkens = 1 Barrel or 32 Gallons
1 Barrel and ½ or 48 Gallons = 1 Hogshead
Note, The Beer and Ale gallons are the fame, Viz. 282 folid inches; but with this difference:
The Barrel of beer contains 1228 cubic inches or 4 Gallons more than the Barrel of Ale.
In a Tun of Wine are: -
In a Pipe or Butt are:
2 Pipes or Buts
2 Hogfheads
6 Tierces
3 Tierces
252 Gallons
126 Gallons
504 Pottles
252 Pottles
1008 Quarts
504 Quarts
2016 Pints
1008 Pints
In a Puncheon are:
In a Hogfhead are:
84 Gallons
63 Gallons
168 Pottles
126 Pottles
336 Quarts
504 Quarts
672 Pints
504 Pints
In a Barrel of Beer are:
In a Barrel of Ale are:
2 Kilderkins
2 Kilderkins
4 Firkins
4 Firkins
36 Gallons
32 Gallons
72 Pottles
64 Pottles
144 Quarts
128 Quarts
288 Pints
256 Pints
Dry Measure
2 Pints = 1 Quart
2 Quarts = 1 Pottle
2 Pottles = 1 Gallon
2 Gallons = 1 Peck
4 Pecks = 1 Bufhel land measure
5 Pecks = 1 Bufhel Water Measure
4 Bufhels = 1 Comb or Half a Quarter
1 Combs = 1 Quarter
Salt and fea coal are heaped or efle there are five pecks to the bufhel.
In this there are: 2 Weys or 10 Quarter or 80 Bufhels or 320 Pecks or 1280 Pottles or 2560 Quarts or 5120 Pints.
5 Quarters = 1 Wey
2 Weys = 1 Last or 10 Quarters or 5 Fatts or Vatts or 36 Bufhels of fea coal or 1 Chalder.(21 Chalder is accounted a fcore in the River Thames)
In a Wey there are 5 Quarters or 40 Bufhells or 160 Pecks or 320 Gallons or 640 Pottles or 1280 Quarts or 2560 Pints.
NOTE:
By an act AD 1712, the Bufhell is 2178 cubic inches, and a Gallon of this measure is 272¼ cubic inches.
Long Measure
3 Barley Corns = 1 Inch
12 Inches = 1 Foot
3 Feet = 1 Yard
3 Feet 9 Inches = 1 English Ell
5 Feet = 1 Geometrical Pace
5 1/2 Yards = 1 Pole, Perch or Rod
6 Feet = 1 Fathom or 2 Yards
40 Poles or 220 Yards = 1 Furlong
8 Furlongs = 1 Mile or 1760 Yards
3 Miles = 1 League
In addition to the above Land Measure, I add the following:
48 Poles make 1 Furlong, or a Quarter of an Acre
160 Poles in length, and one in breadth is one Acre
80 Poles in length, and two in breadth is one Acre
40 Poles in length, and four in breadth is one Acre
4 Poles in length make one Chain
10 Chains in length, and one in breadth make one Acre
A hint of Generals, or Things Proper to be known or remembered on Particular Occasions!
From "The Young Man's Best Companion"
A Ream of Paper equals 20 Quires
A Quire of Paper equals24 Sheets
A Bale of Paper equals 10 Reams
A Roll of Parchment equals 5 dozen or 60 Skins
A Dicker of Hides equals 10 Skins
A Dicker of Gloves equals 10 dozen pair
A Last of Hides equals 20 Dickers
A load of Timber (Un-hewed) equals 40 Feet
A Chadron of Coals equals 36 Bufshels
A Wey of Cheese equals 256 Pounds
A Laft of Corn or Rape seed equals 10 Quarters
A Quarter in England equals 8 Bufshels but in Scotland it is 4 Bolls
A Quarter of Pot Afhes, Cod Fifh, White Herrings, Meal, Pitch and Tar equals 12 Barrels
A Quarter of Flax and Feathers equals 17 Cwt of Gun-Powder, 24 Barrels or 2400lbs of Wool, or 4368lbs
A Tun of Wine equals 252 Gallons; of Oil of Greenland, 252 Gallons and Sweet Oil of Genoa equals 236 Gallons
A Ton in weight is 20 Cwt of Iron Etc, but of Lead there is 19½ Cwt and called a Fodder or Fother
A Todd of Wool equals 28 Pounds
A Pack of Wool equals 364 pounds
A Load of Bricks equals 400 and of Plain Tiles it is 1000
A Stone of Fifh is 18lbs, of Wool it is 14lbs - The same for Horseman's weight and of Hay, but Pepper, Cinnamon and Allum have but 13½lbs to the Stone
A Stone of Glafs is 5 lbs and a Seam of is 24 Stone
A Truss of Hay equals 56lbs and a Load is 39 Truffes
Note:
New Hay in June and August ought to be 60 lbs to the Trufs, as per a Statue of 2nd William and Mary 1693.
A Cade of Red Herrings is 900 but of Sprats it is 1000
Of Iron & Shot it is 14lb to the stone
The following are Barrels of Sundry Commodities
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Page update last on: 19/01/2011
