Old Cornish units of measurement explained

The old Cornish units of measurement were used in the 1700s and based on English measurements in their name and rough size, although had slight difference in their values.[1]

Area

Table of Cornish Area and equivalent units! Unit! Relative to Previous ! Square yard! Cornish Acre
Cornish Fathing Land12 Knight's Fee14520048
Cornish Knight's Fees4 Cornish Acres121004
Cornish Acre4 Cornish Ferlings30251
Cornish Ferling9 Cornish Rods756.25
Cornish Rod5 Cornish Leases84
Cornish Lease2 Cornish Lorghs16.8
Cornish Lorgh4 Cornish Sticks8.4
Cornish Sticks of a Cornish Lorgh2.1

Richard Carew's Survey of Cornwall (1602) says:[2]

Cornish acre – 120 statute acres (or possibly 64), 8 score lease. Equal to 0.066 Acres.Cornish ferling/farthing – ¼ a Cornish acreCornish lease – four sticksCornish stick – four yards, three yards squareCornish Knight's fee – four Cornish acresCornish rod – 160 lace to a Cornish acre, 36sq. rodsCornish lace – 18 ft squareCornish land rod/lorgh – half a lace, 9 ft square

Length

Table of Cornish length and equivalent units! Unit! Equivalent
Cornish Fathom5 ft
Cornish Mile1.5 miles

Capacity

Table of Cornish Capacity and equivalent units! Unit! Equivalent
Cornish Bushel3 Winchester bushels
Cornish gallon10 lb
Cornish apple gallon7 lb

Mass

Table of Cornish Mass and equivalent units! Unit! Equivalent
Cornish ton/mining ton21 cwt
Cornish pound18 ounces (butter)

Fish

Table of Cornish Fish Measurements ! Unit! Relative
Cornish Warp4 Fish
Cornish Burn21 Fish
Cornish Hundred132 Fish
Cornish Mease505 Herrings
Cornish Cran800 Herrings
Cornish Long Hundred8 times 120+5 Fish
Cornish Last132,000 Fish
Cornish Ounce16th part (of either a sein of fish or property)

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What is a Cornish acre? . www.sizes.com . 31 October 2022.
  2. Book: Carew . Richard . The Survey of Cornwall by . 1769 . 36 . 22 August 2018.