Metrology (not meteorology that is something completely different) is the science of measurement. It is more commonly referred to as Weights and Measures.
Without metrology, things like manufacturing, medicine, sports, food and even everyday tasks would be significantly compromised.
Have a quick think - the weight of your food, the length of fabric, medicine doses, your pint in the pub, fuel in your car and building construction. We rely on correct measurements but who enforces them? Weights and Measures inspectors in Trading Standards.
Imagine a world where every town, every region, even every trade had its own unique way of measuring length, weight, and volume. This wasn't a hypothetical scenario; it was the reality before the Metre Convention which is 150 years old in 2025. The legacy of the Metre Convention is profound. The metric system, now adopted by the vast majority of countries worldwide, underpins global trade, scientific research, technological innovation, and countless aspects of our daily lives.
Trading Standards in action - a trip down memory lane!
Ever wonder what life was like for Trading Standards inspectors back in the day? Thanks to this incredible archival footage from the Screen Archive South East, we get a sneak peek at the Surrey County Council Weights and Measures Service in action during the 1960s.
Today, our team is still doing that exact same job. Sure, we might have digital equipment, smart tech, and a few more modern regulations to navigate, but we are still out there every single day: Verifying that scales, pumps, and measures are 100% accurate. Protecting consumers from getting short-changed and supporting honest local businesses to keep the playing field level and fair.
Some fun facts about Weights and Measures
- The earliest recorded systems of weights and measures originate to the fourth millennium Before Christ (BC)
- The statutory function of Inspectors of Weights and Measures dates back to 1340 and the reign of King Edward III. 685 years later and contemporary Inspectors in Trading Standards continue to do the same work as their forefathers.
- The first recorded law on weights and measures in England was in 965 Anno Domini (AD) during the reign of King Edgar when it was enacted that only one weight and one measure should pass throughout the Kings dominions.
- The Magna Carta, signed by King John at Runnymede in Surrey on 15 June 1215, declares 'there is to be one measure of wine throughout our kingdom, and one measure of ale, and one measure of corn'.
- The origin of "baker's dozen" comes from the historical practice of bakers including an extra loaf in a dozen to avoid punishment for underweight loaves. Selling bread below the required weight or size was punishable by fines or even flogging
- Of all the countries in the world only three do not use the metric system - the USA, Liberia, and Myanmar.
- At 15 litres, the largest bottle of champagne, the Nebuchadnezzar, is equal to 20 standard bottles
- In Ancient Egyptian beliefs, the weighing of the heart was a crucial part of the journey to the afterlife. The deceased's heart would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth, balance, and justice, to determine their fate. If the heart balanced with the feather, the soul passed into paradise; if it was heavier, the soul was devoured by the demon Ammit and doomed to darkness.
- Weight is dependent on gravity. An object at sea level, will weigh less at the top of Mount Everest, and even less on the moon. An object in open space will have little to no weight, hence the term weightlessness.