In 1815 the Corn Laws were passed; they said that foreign grain could not be imported into Britain until domestic grain reached 80 shillings a quarter (£4). Unfortunately for students of this period, it is difficult to identify what exactly "a quarter" was. Much depended on the port of entry for the grain.
| In LIVERPOOL | a quarter weighed | 480 lbs |
| In LONDON | a quarter weighed | 496 lbs |
| At all other ports | a quarter weighed | 504 lbs |
A quarter was not a quarter of a ton: that is 560 lbs. Just to add to students' confusion, Britain now uses metric weights. A kilogramme weighs 2.2 lbs. Since this Historian is almost innumerate, and still works in Imperial measure - do your own sums!!
| Meet the author | Last modified
5 December 2004
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