The archaic system of measuring allotments
Allotments are usually quoted as being measured in 'rods'. In fact these are square rods, as a rod is an old-fashioned measurement of length - the length of an ox-goad (like a sort of prodding stick to make your plough team go faster). As you can imagine, it was a handy piece of kit for measuring land if you were a medieval farmer. That fount of all wisdom, the internet, says:
"A rod is a unit of length, equal to 11 cubits, 5.0292 metres or 16.5 feet. A rod is the same length as a perch and a pole. The lengths of the perch (one rod) and chain (four rods) were standardized in 1607 by Edmund Gunter. The length is equal to the standardized length of the ox goad used by medieval English ploughmen; fields were measured in acres which were one chain (four rods) by one furlong (in the United Kingdom, ten chains). The rod is still in use as a unit of measure in certain specialised fields." And, just to add to the confusion, a 'pole' is the same as a rod and a perch.
For our sins, allotments are usually measured in square rods and the standard unit of an old-fashioned allotment was 20 rods. This got shortened in the mid 20th century to half that, 10 rods. That has now been halved again by Ashford Borough council so the standard allotment offered is 5 rods - which is 272.25 square feet, or 30 and a quarter square yards. Which is, as near as makes no difference, 25.3 square metres.
"A rod is a unit of length, equal to 11 cubits, 5.0292 metres or 16.5 feet. A rod is the same length as a perch and a pole. The lengths of the perch (one rod) and chain (four rods) were standardized in 1607 by Edmund Gunter. The length is equal to the standardized length of the ox goad used by medieval English ploughmen; fields were measured in acres which were one chain (four rods) by one furlong (in the United Kingdom, ten chains). The rod is still in use as a unit of measure in certain specialised fields." And, just to add to the confusion, a 'pole' is the same as a rod and a perch.
For our sins, allotments are usually measured in square rods and the standard unit of an old-fashioned allotment was 20 rods. This got shortened in the mid 20th century to half that, 10 rods. That has now been halved again by Ashford Borough council so the standard allotment offered is 5 rods - which is 272.25 square feet, or 30 and a quarter square yards. Which is, as near as makes no difference, 25.3 square metres.
