Wynn Wheldon

Why is the barleycorn still the basis for shoe measurement?

There are many vagaries about measurements, says Claire Cock-Starkey: the length of the foot has often changed, but British shoe sizes hark back to the reign of Edward II

Shoe sizes in the UK and America are still measured in barleycorns. [Alamy]
  • Comments

  • The Curious History of Weights and Measures

    Claire Cock-Starkey

    Bodleian Library, pp. 192, £14

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Also in Book Reviews

Also by Wynn Wheldon

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in