Tower of London Standard Yard Rod

Tower of London Standard Yard Rod, 1659 AD, brass, octagonal section, 36" x 5/8" inscribed on one face in Roman type capitals:- "This Yarde is examined by me John Reynols and sealed at the Tower of London April 30 Anno 1659". At a later date it was further inscribed in script style:- "Imperial Yard" Stampings at ends of bar - Westminster portcuillis (old type) and illegible cyphers possibly CRII. Later cypher WRIIII (1830-37). Present length 0.024" short of 1 yard. 26-3-34

Tower of London Standard Yard Rod, signed 'This Yarde is examined by me John Reynols and sealed at the Tower of London April 30 Anno 1659'. The rule, of octagonal section, is a secondary standard that was held in safe keeping in the Tower of London. It would have been copied from the Yard rule made at the command of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, in 1588. This remained the primary standard of length until 1824 when it was superseded by the terms of the Imperial Measures Act.