https://ukma.org.uk/press/metrication-timeline/ Skip to content [ukmalogo3_0] UK Metric Association Campaigning for a single, rational measurement system Menu * Home * Style guide + Alphabetical index * What is metric? + Definitions o Metric prefixes o Defining constants o Base units o Derived units o Non-SI units o SI diagrams + Writing metric + Speaking metric + Sources and references + British scientists + First international prototypes + Australian experience + South African experience + UK Progress o UK metric timeline o Building industry * Why metric? + Metric is easy to use + Metric is a proper system + Metric is powerful + Metric is a world standard + People who endorse metrication + Myths o Myths about imperial o Myths about metric o Using metric o Myths about British metrication o Myths about metric internationally # The Moon landings o Consumer protection * Practical help + Shopping o Buying food o Fair measurement for shoppers o Fair measurement for retailers o Getting a fair deal o Don't be muddled by unfriendly practices o Unit prices o Buying home appliances o Understanding electrical appliances o Unfriendly practices when buying appliances o Television and computer screen sizes o How to complain + Cooking o How much to buy o Turkey roasting guide + Body and health o Body weight o Body mass index o People's height and weight o Baby weight and length o Advice for health professionals + Motoring + Home DIY o Metric measuring tapes o Dual measuring tapes o Kitchen planning + Temperature + Metric supplies * The case for change + The mess we are in + Problems arising from two systems o Fuel consumption o Road signage mess o Distance information o Restriction signs o Road contractors o Walking and cycling o International travellers + Which system is better? + Principles of changeover + Resistance to change + What about free speech? + Cost of changing + Role of government + Policy areas o Retailing o Advertising o Road signs o Education o Weather reports o Land and property * Road signage + Is changing expensive? + Metric signs on UK roads + International experience + When is metric signage legal + Speed limits + Gallery * What you can do + Briefing note + Write to your MP + Speak out o Speak out to broadcasters o Write to newspapers + Stand up for your rights + Use metric + Donate to UKMA * Press + Reasons for metrication + Objections to metrication + Comparison with Australia + Metrication timeline + Decimalisation v metrication + Extracts from key reports + Newspaper cuttings + Press articles * Publications + Newsletters + A very British mess + Metric signs ahead + Obtaining UKMA publications + Traffic Signs 2.0 + Measurement unit survey + Vehicle dimension signs report * Legislation + Parliamentary debate * Consultations * About UKMA + Constitution + Membership of UKMA + Frequently asked questions + Contact * Twitter * Facebook * YouTube * Blog Metrication timeline Contrary to popular belief, the adoption of the metric system as the primary system of weights and measures in the UK is not a recent trend. Nor is it particularly to do with the European Union. Indeed, as the timeline below demonstrates, the quest for a single, rational system of measurement goes back to Magna Carta. +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 1215 | Magna Carta requires "one measure" of wine, corn | | | and cloth throughout the realm; and similarly for | | | weights. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1668 | Bishop John Wilkins, in England, publishes a | | | proposal for a universal decimal system of | | | measurement. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1670 | Gabriel Mouton, in France, proposes a decimal | | | measurement system. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1707 | Treaty of Union extends English standard weights | | | and measures to Scotland | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1790 | French National Assembly sends delegates to | | | Britain, Spain and the United States to propose | | | cooperation in units of measurement. Cooperation | | | is rejected by Britain. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1795 | Republic of France adopts French Academy of | | | Sciences recommendation for a decimal Metric | | | System. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1799 | The platinum standards for metre and kilogram | | | defined for decimal Metric System | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1824 | Weights and Measures Act phases out many | | | traditional units and establishes the standard | | | imperial system. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1861 | A committee of the British Association for | | | Advancement of Science (BAAS) including William | | | Thomson (later Lord Kelvin), James Clerk Maxwell | | | and James Prescott Joule introduced the concept | | | of a coherent system of units which is | | | fundamental to the modern metric system. They | | | proposed the metre, gram and second as base | | | units. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1862 | Commons Select Committee unanimously recommends | | | adoption of metric units for public | | | administration. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1864 | Weights and Measures Act legalises metric units | | | only for 'contracts and dealings'. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1873 | A BAAS committee proposes centimetre, gram, | | | second (CGS) base units using prefixes from micro | | | to mega. They also propose a unit of electrical | | | resistance (later named the ohm). | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1875 | Metre Convention established by diplomatic treaty | | | to co-ordinate world metrology. International | | | Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) | | | established. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1881 | The first International Electrical Congress | | | adopts various BAAS recommendations on electrical | | | units (in the metric system). | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1895 | Commons Select Committee recommends: | | | | | | * immediate authorising of metric units for all | | | purposes | | | * that the metric system becomes compulsory | | | after 2 years | | | * that the metric system be taught in | | | elementary schools | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1896 | Weights and Measures (Metric System) Act | | | legalises metric system for all purposes, but | | | does not make it compulsory | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1904 | House of Lords votes for compulsory change to | | | metric system, but Bill fails in House of | | | Commons. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1914 | The UK Met Office follows the lead of the | | | International Meteorological Organisation | | | (forerunner of the World Meteorological | | | Organisation) and adopts the millimetre as the | | | official standard unit of rainfall measurement. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1939 | Davidson Committee proposes unified and | | | metrically-based National Grid as common | | | framework for Ordnance Survey mapping. Adopted | | | 1940. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1951 | Board of Trade committee recommends 'organised | | | change' to metric system. Report seen as | | | premature and not implemented. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1959 | British and US inches (which were different) | | | standardised as exactly 2.54 cm. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1963 | Weights and Measures Act redefined the basic | | | measures of the 'yard' and the 'pound' in terms | | | of the 'metre' and the 'kilogram'. Many of the | | | old imperial measures were abolished (drachm, | | | scruple, minim, chaldron, quarter, rod, pole, | | | perch, and a few more). Imperial units are now | | | defined in terms of metric. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1965 | At the request of industry, President of Board of | | | Trade announces that the metric system will be | | | adopted with a target of completion within 10 | | | years (i.e. 1975). Commonwealth and other | | | countries decide to follow Britain's example. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1968 | Metrication Board established. However Board | | | restricted to providing information and not | | | permitted to promote benefits of the metric | | | system. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1970 | Re-surveying of UK begins to include metric | | | elevations in Ordnance Survey maps. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1971 | British currency decimalised. The much-feared | | | changeover proved to be well organised and | | | smooth. Massive Government information campaign | | | to prepare the public for change. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1972 | White Paper on Metrication advocates gradual not | | | compulsory change. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1973 | UK enters EEC and reaffirms commitment to adopt | | | metric system. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1974 | Metric system required to be taught in British | | | schools. Metric packaging begins. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1979 | New Government abolishes Metrication Board. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1980 | Most Commonwealth countries have completed metric | | | conversion. Britain lags behind significantly. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1988 | British scientist Dr Terry Quinn appointed as | | | Director of International Bureau of Weights and | | | Measures (BIPM) | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1989 | EEC agrees UK request to secure delay in | | | implementation of some aspects of the metric | | | system | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 1995 | UK regulations require packaged goods sold in | | | Britain to be labelled in metric units. | | | Negligible information provided to public. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 2000 | UK Regulations require goods sold from bulk to be | | | measured and priced at the point of sale using | | | metric units. Negligible information provided by | | | Government to help public use metric units. | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 2004 | Prof Andrew Wallard, former Chief Metrologist of | | | UK's National Physical Laboratory becomes | | | Director of BIPM | |---------------+---------------------------------------------------| | 2009 | EU amends Directive to permit "supplementary | | | indications" alongside metric units. Also | | | withdraws requirement for UK to "fix a date" to | | | convert road signs to metric units. Acre is | | | phased out for land registration. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ Twitter @UKMetric My Tweets Facebook @UKMetric Facebook @UKMetric Support us Join UKMA Donate to UKMA Follow us * Twitter * Facebook * YouTube * Search this site Search for: [ ] Search Site Map * Home + It's time to move on * What is metric? + Definitions o Metric prefixes o Defining constants o Base units o Derived units o Non-SI units o SI diagrams + Writing metric + Speaking metric + Sources and references + British scientists + First international prototypes + Australian experience + South African experience + UK Progress o UK metric timeline o Building industry * Why metric? + Metric is easy to use + Metric is a proper system + Metric is powerful + Metric is a world standard + People who endorse metrication o A physicist and broadcaster o A journalist and writer o A member of Parliament o A doctor o A mountaineer o An architectural modeller o A chef o A former nurse o An education adviser o A software engineer o An oral poet + Myths o Myths about metric o Myths about imperial o Using metric o Myths about British metrication o Myths about metric internationally # The Moon landings o Consumer protection * Practical help + Shopping o Buying food o Fair measurement for shoppers o Fair measurement for retailers o Getting a fair deal o Don't be muddled by unfriendly practices o Unit prices o Buying home appliances o Understanding electrical appliances o Unfriendly practices when buying appliances o Television and computer screen sizes o How to complain + Cooking o How much to buy o Turkey roasting guide + Body and health o Body weight o Body mass index o People's height and weight o Baby weight and length o Advice for health professionals + Motoring + Home DIY o Metric measuring tapes o Dual measuring tapes o Kitchen planning + Temperature + Metric supplies * The case for change + The mess we are in + Problems arising from two systems o Fuel consumption o Road signage mess o Distance information o Restriction signs o Road contractors o Walking and cycling o International travellers + Which system is better? + Principles of changeover + Resistance to change + What about free speech? o John Stuart Mill + Cost of changing + Role of government + Policy areas o Retailing o Advertising o Road signs o Education o Weather reports o Land and property * Road signage + Is changing expensive? + Metric signs on UK roads + International experience + When is metric signage legal o Detailed analysis + Speed limits + Gallery * What you can do + Briefing note + Write to your MP o Sample letters o Key issues + Speak out o Speak out to broadcasters o Write to newspapers + Stand up for your rights + Use metric + Donate to UKMA * Press + Reasons for metrication + Objections to metrication + Comparison with Australia + Metrication timeline + Decimalisation v metrication + Extracts from key reports + Newspaper cuttings + Press articles o Britain needs a single system of measurement o British metrication o Don't make a martyr out of this mismatch o Historical perspectives o Imperial madness o Imperialism is not a force to be reckoned with o Let's not measure ourselves by the imperial past o Made in Britain: Not made to measure o Measure for measure, a comedy of errors o Memo to Maggie o Metrication - let's get on with it o Metrication in Ireland o On the level: go metric for good measure o The metric system in Britain 1851-1979 o Time to ditch the language of the past o Time to stand up to the metric martyrs o TSI and metrication o Yards, metres, gallons or litres * Publications + Newsletters + A very British mess o Content and synopsis + Metric signs ahead o Content and synopsis + Obtaining UKMA publications + Traffic Signs 2.0 + Measurement unit survey + Vehicle dimension signs report * Legislation + Parliamentary debate * Style guide + Reference card + Alphabetical index * Consultations * About UKMA + Constitution + Membership of UKMA o Joining the UK Metric Association o Renew + Frequently asked questions + Contact + Copyright statement * Blog Search this site Search for: [ ] Search * Home * Style guide + Alphabetical index * What is metric? + Definitions o Metric prefixes o Defining constants o Base units o Derived units o Non-SI units o SI diagrams + Writing metric + Speaking metric + Sources and references + British scientists + First international prototypes + Australian experience + South African experience + UK Progress o UK metric timeline o Building industry * Why metric? + Metric is easy to use + Metric is a proper system + Metric is powerful + Metric is a world standard + People who endorse metrication + Myths o Myths about imperial o Myths about metric o Using metric o Myths about British metrication o Myths about metric internationally # The Moon landings o Consumer protection * Practical help + Shopping o Buying food o Fair measurement for shoppers o Fair measurement for retailers o Getting a fair deal o Don't be muddled by unfriendly practices o Unit prices o Buying home appliances o Understanding electrical appliances o Unfriendly practices when buying appliances o Television and computer screen sizes o How to complain + Cooking o How much to buy o Turkey roasting guide + Body and health o Body weight o Body mass index o People's height and weight o Baby weight and length o Advice for health professionals + Motoring + Home DIY o Metric measuring tapes o Dual measuring tapes o Kitchen planning + Temperature + Metric supplies * The case for change + The mess we are in + Problems arising from two systems o Fuel consumption o Road signage mess o Distance information o Restriction signs o Road contractors o Walking and cycling o International travellers + Which system is better? + Principles of changeover + Resistance to change + What about free speech? + Cost of changing + Role of government + Policy areas o Retailing o Advertising o Road signs o Education o Weather reports o Land and property * Road signage + Is changing expensive? + Metric signs on UK roads + International experience + When is metric signage legal + Speed limits + Gallery * What you can do + Briefing note + Write to your MP + Speak out o Speak out to broadcasters o Write to newspapers + Stand up for your rights + Use metric + Donate to UKMA * Press + Reasons for metrication + Objections to metrication + Comparison with Australia + Metrication timeline + Decimalisation v metrication + Extracts from key reports + Newspaper cuttings + Press articles * Publications + Newsletters + A very British mess + Metric signs ahead + Obtaining UKMA publications + Traffic Signs 2.0 + Measurement unit survey + Vehicle dimension signs report * Legislation + Parliamentary debate * Consultations * About UKMA + Constitution + Membership of UKMA + Frequently asked questions + Contact * Twitter * Facebook * YouTube * Blog UK Metric Association Website Powered by WordPress.com. * + [sitelo] UK Metric Association + Customize + Sign up + Log in + Copy shortlink + Report this content + Manage subscriptions [b]