Men and Measures

by Edward Nicholson

In the following table each superficial unit is placed opposite the lineal unit of which it is the square:

Lineal Measures			Superficial Measures
12 inches	1 foot		144 square inches	1 sq. foot.
3 feet	1 yard		9 square feet	1 sq. yard.
5-1/2 yards	1 rod		30-1/4 square yards	1 sq. rod.
		⎧	40 square rods	1 rood
40 rods	1 furlong	⎨	(4 roods or 160 square rods	1 acre).
		⎩	40 roods (10 acres)	1 sq. furlong.
8 furlongs	1 mile		64 square furlongs (640 acres)	1 sq. mile.

Surveyor’s Measure
1 link (7·8 inches)	·22 yards.	1 square link	·048 sq. yds.
10 links	2·2 „	100 square links	4·84 „
100 links (1 chain)	22 „	10,000 sq links (1 sq. chain)	484 „
10 chains (1 furlong)	220 „	10 sq. chains (1 acre)	4840 „

It must be remembered that the length of the rod determined the length of the mile and the area of the acre. This is shown in the table on the following page.

British Miles and Acres Derived from Different Rods in Local Usage

Length	Statute			Scottish
1 rod	5-1/2	yards		6·1766	yards
40 rods = 1 furlong	220	„		247	„
8 furlongs = 1 mile	1760	„		1976	„
				= 1·123	statute	miles
Surface
1 square rod	30-1/4	square	yards	38·15	square	yards
40 square rods = 1 rood	1210	„	„	1526	„	„
4 roods = 1 acre	4840	„	„	6104	„	„
				= 1·26	statute	acre
Length	Irish			Cheshire
1 rod	7	yards		8	yards
40 rods = 1 furlong	280	„
8 furlongs = 1 mile	2240	„
	= 1·278	statute	miles
Surface
1 square rod	49	square	yards	64	square	yards
40 square rods = 1 rood	1960	„	„	2560	„	„
4 roods = 1 acre	7840	„	„	10240	„	„
	= 1·62	statute	acre	= 2·116	statute	acre

Note.—The Scottish rod or ‘fall’ is six Scottish ells or yards. The Scottish and Irish miles have long been practically obsolete. The Lancashire rod and acre, also the Guernsey perch and acre, are the same as the Irish. The Guernsey land-measures are statute locally; the rood or vergée is the customary unit.[^[16]]

A Square Furlong or Ten-Acre Field

Acre No. 1 is divided, according to the ancient custom, into 4 roods, each 40 rods long and 1 rod broad.