Weights & Measurements

Units of measurement in the Early Modern era lacked the standardization that we know today. Prior to the Weights and Measurements Act 1824- the origin of Imperial units and standardization of measurement in the British Empire- the methods of measuring goods were subject to various standards. Most often referred to as ‘English units’, these measurements were derived from Roman and Anglo-Saxon units and could be redefined or affirmed by the monarchy, as was the case with Winchester Units by King Henry VII in the 15th century and the Exchequer Standards by Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century.

With this history in mind, reading measurements in recipe books should be done with the understanding that common, shared terminology does not equate to standardization. The authors and users of recipe books interpreted and recorded measurements using their own utensils, vessels, and- when appropriate- hands. It would be reasonable to surmise that instructions that indicate adding an ingredient ‘as appropriate’ or until a desired outcome was achieved were written with this variation in mind. This does operate on the assumption the practitioner has a baseline understanding of what the result should be and is indicative of a system of knowledge sharing where hands-on practice would have been involved.

Below are two sections of resources, the first being a table of terms used in the recipe books highlighted on this website and the second being a list of online and print resources for additional details and context. 

The following resources will provide you with more precise interpretations of common Early Modern measurements:

• ‘Early Modern Measurements’ (Folger Shakespeare Library)

For additional detail and context about the history of weights and measures in the British Empire, the follow resources may be helpful:

• Hosch, W. L. (2011). The Britannica Guide to numbers and measurement. Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Educational Services. 

Zupko, R. E. (1977). British weights & measures: A history from antiquity to the seventeenth century. The Univ. of Wisconsin Press.