 |
 |
In a message dated 23/08/99 10:51:04 GMT Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << As Tony Brewis remarks, the 66 foot long chain was a Gunter's chain. The one of a different length, used by Peter, was probably an Engineers Chain, which was 100 feet long. Like Tony, I have happy memories of surveying with both types. The knockers of the metric system would do well to remember the English one = 100 links = one chain and 10 square chains = one acre. Sopwith (imperial measure) staffs, used for levelling, were also graduated in tenths and hundreths of a foot. I agree that a likely reason for the use of fathoms was that ropes came in those units. In 1709, for example, "Paid Robert Simpson for 1 rope. 14 fathom at 7d/fm £0 8s 2d" for use at the Grove Browes lead mine, Starbotton. In Yorkshire lead mines, at least, surveyors (diallers) subdivided the fathom into feet and inches. The same person (1833) used roods, of 7 yards (subdivided into yards) when measuring a length of water course on the surface! On the subject of weights and measures, see:- Gill, M.C. & Harvey, W.S. "Weights and Measures used in the lead industry" British Mining No.61, 1998, pp.129-140. >> see also `A Glossary of Terms used in the Coal Trade of Norhtumberland & Durham' by G C Greenwell R.D.Connor, The Weights and Measures of England, HMSO (for the Science Museum), 1987. Jeremy %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%