The barleycorn, an ancient unit of measurement, subtly persists in modern daily life. This historical length unit, once used for various purposes, holds a surprising connection to something as common as shoe sizing. Understanding its history reveals how early societies approached measurement and how these methods evolved.
Origin of the Barleycorn Unit
The barleycorn unit originated from a practical, nature-based approach to measurement, referencing the length of a single grain of barley. This method was widely recognized in Anglo-Saxon traditions, with references appearing as early as the 10th-century Welsh Laws of Hywel Dda. While the actual length of a barley kernel can vary depending on the cultivar, ranging from approximately 0.16 to 0.59 inches, the unit was eventually standardized.
This standardization formalized the barleycorn as exactly one-third of an inch. English kings later cemented this definition into statutes, notably during the reign of Edward II in 1300. His decree established that three “barley cornes dry and rounde” would constitute one inch, providing a foundational measurement for larger units like feet and yards.
Application in Shoe Sizing
The traditional English shoe sizing system directly incorporated the barleycorn. In this system, each full shoe size represents an increase of one barleycorn. This method provided a consistent way for shoemakers to grade sizes.
For example, a child’s size zero was historically set at approximately four inches, with subsequent sizes increasing by one barleycorn. For adult sizes, the progression continues, where the length of the “last” – a foot-shaped template used in shoemaking – is measured in barleycorns. Shoemakers gradually adopted this increment as a standard.
Transition to Standardized Systems
The reliance on nature-based units like the barleycorn gradually diminished with the rise of more precise and universally standardized measurement systems. The need for consistency in scientific research, international trade, and industrial production drove this shift. Systems such as the Imperial System formalized the inch and other units with fixed, invariable definitions.
The metric system, emerging from the French Revolution, further propelled this transition by establishing units based on decimal multiples and natural relationships. These developments offered greater accuracy and global interoperability, leading to the widespread adoption of standardized units across most of the world. The barleycorn’s direct use as a general unit of length has largely ceased, with its most enduring legacy found within the established conventions of shoe sizing.