I seem to recall that in my youth all these measures were tabulated neatly on the shiny back covers of "Silvine" exercise books, along with Apothecaries' measures (pennyweights, drachms, etc.) and some strange mumbo-jumbo called "metric measure". SANDRA LOVEGROVE Researching LOVEGROVEs in all places and at all times. Please do visit the LOVEGROVE Information Centre on http://www.lovegrove.org.uk ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Barton" <bartonlander@free.net.nz> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: 29 August 2004 22:14 Subject: Re: [OEL] Acres, roods and perches > Rods, poles and perches are alternative names for 5 1/2 yards. So here it is > apparently square perches. > Long measure: > 3 barleycorns = 1 inch > 4 inches = 1 hand > 12 inches = 1 foot > 3 feet = 1 yard > 5 1/2 yards = 1 rod, pole, or perch > 40 poles (220 yards) = 1 furlong > 8 furlongs (1760 yards) = 1 mile > 3 miles = 1 league > > In surveying: > 100 links = 1 chain (22 yards) > 10 chains = 1 furlong > Nautical: > 6 feet = 1 fathom > 6080 feet or 1.1516 statute miles = 1 nautical mile. > A knot is not a measure, but a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour. > Area: > 144 square inches = 1 square foot > 9 square feet = 1 square yard > 30 1/4 square yards = 1 square pole > 40 square poles = 1 rood > 4 roods = 1 acre (4840 square yards) > 640 acres = 1 square mile. > 6 feet = 1 fathom > > John Barton > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <YeagerLA@aol.com> > To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 7:58 AM > Subject: [OEL] Acres, roods and perches > > > > Hi > > Apologies for this - I'm sure this has been asked and answered before but > > being a dunce I can't seem to work out how to search the archives - I > can't even > > find the mailing list on Rootsweb's main site! > > I'm transcribing an 1807 Enclosure Award and have allotments such as 29a > 7r > > 38p > > but have no idea how many 'p's in an 'r' and similarly how many 'r's in an > > 'a'! > > I've Googled it but every site I visit seems to give me a different > answer. > > Some even say a perch is the same as a rood or is it a rod? > > Can anyone help me? > > Many thanks > > All the best > > Leigh Driver > > > > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > > OLD-ENGLISH Web Page > > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~oel/ > > > > > > ______________________________

Sandra Lovegrove wrote: > I seem to recall that in my youth all these measures were tabulated > neatly on the shiny back covers of "Silvine" exercise books, along > with Apothecaries' measures (pennyweights, drachms, etc.) and some > strange mumbo-jumbo called "metric measure". My little tables book was priced 2d. It went from 1X1=1 to the various wine and ale measures in different counties, and the size of a barrel (not to be confused with a cask, which could be any size). I was intrigued by a note :"N.B. butchers don't accept farthings", wondering why, and what they would do if I insisted on enforcing my farthing collection as legal tender up to 5s. There were dire punishments if a baker sold a quartern loaf below a pound and a quarter; you could have an electric telegraph installed if the wife spent too long on the 'phone (dialling every letter with two wooden handles dampened enthusiasm); tricycles below 3cwt needed no road licence. My mother was warned as a child, working in her uncle's pub, not to confuse guineas and sovs, crowns and double-florins, and gilded Jubilee sixpences as half-sovs. Not that I'm getting long in the tooth (though I do recall watching the coronation on tellie, in 1937). John Barton