These tables include several different types of measure commonly used in Britain before metrication for different wares and commodities, all of which have been banned in the U.K. or in the U.S. have now fallen into disuse.

In addition to this general set of measures, there are two separate pages devoted to old Imperial or now known in America as "Customary" measures for volume or capacity as used in the America and Britain.
Butter & Cheese Coal Flour
Measure Weight Measure Weight (lb.)1 Measure Weight
Close 8 lb. Stone 14 lb. (14) Stone 14 lb.
Firkin 56 lb. Quarter 28 lb. (28) Poll 40 lb.
Tub 84 lb. Hundredweight 112 lb. (112) Bushel 56 lb.
Dutch cask 112 lb. Sack 1 cwt. (112) Bag 140 lb.
Barrel 224 lb. Large sack 2 cwt. (224) Barrel 196 lb.
Essex whey 236 lb. Ton 20 cwt. (2240) Sack 280 lb.
Suffolk whey 356 lb. Room 7 tons (15680) Cotton Wool Weight
Hay & Straw Measures Barge/Keel 21t. 4cwt. (47488) Measure (Bale) Weight (lb.)1
Measure Weight (lb.)1 Ship load 20 keels (949760) U.S. (Avg.) 477 lb.
Truss of Straw 36 lb. (36) Wool Weight Egyptian 719 lb.
Truss of Old Hay 56 lb. (56) Measure Weight (lb.)1 East Indian 396 lb.
Truss of New Hay 60 lb. (60) Clove 7 lb. (7) Brazilian 220 lb.
Load (Straw) 36Tr.(1296) Stone 2 Cloves (14) Liquid Measures
Load (Old Hay) 36Tr.(2016) Tod 2 Stones (28) Measure Capacity
Load (New Hay) 36Tr.(2160) Wey 61/2 Tod (182) Drachm 60 Drops
Timber Pack 240 lb. (240) Tablespoonful 4 Drachms
Measure Capacity Sack 2 Weys (364) Wineglassful 2 ounces
Load (Unhewn) 40 cu. ft. Last 12 Sacks (4368) Teacupful 3 ounces
Load (Squared) 50 cu. ft. Cotton,Yarn & Silk Measure Worsted Yarn Measure
Ton of Shipping 42 cu. ft. Measure Length (yd.)2 Measure Length (yd.)2
Stack 108 cu. ft. Thread 11/2 Yards (1.5) Wrap 80 yd. (80)
Cord 128 cu. ft. Lea or Skein 80 Threads (120) Skein 11/2 Wr. (120)
Standard, London 270 cu. ft. Thread 11/2 Skeins (840) Hank 7 Skeins (840)
Standard, Petrograd 165 cu. ft. Spindle 18 Hanks (15120) - -

Footnotes:


  1. This is the Avoirdupois and is now defined to be 0.453 592 37 kilogramme exactly, not to be confused with the Apothecary, Troy, Tower or any other pound. Prior to definition of the pound with reference to the kilogramme, the Avoirdupois pound was defined as 7,000 grains.


  2. The yard is currently defined as 0.9144 metres exactly. In past times it has had slightly different values and during early eras its value cannot be stated with absolute accuracy.

    • The Imperial Standard Yard in bronze was erected in 1845 after the previous standard was destroyed in the fire that burned down the House of Parliament in 1839. Copies of this yard were sent to the US and were found to be 0.0024 % shorter than the yard used so far in the USA (which was named the Troughton's scale - received in 1814 from London).


    • The US Metric Law of 1866 gave the exact relation 1 metre = 39.37 inches. From 1893 until 1959, the foot was exactly 1200/3937 metres. Thus 1 metre = 39.37 inches implies 1 yard = 36.00/39.37 metres. One foot therefore was 12.00/39.37 which is equivalent to the 1893 defintion of 1 foot = 1200/3937 metres. However, this meant that the yard was 0.9144018 metres.


    • In 1959 the definition was amended and agreed internationally bringing the US into agreement with other countries. Thus today the yard is defined as 0.9144 metres exactly.