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The Age of George III

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The weight of corn

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!!

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Last modified 19 August, 2007

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