The Link.

Edmund Gunter ( 1581 - 1626)
He was an English mathematician who invented many useful measuring devices, including The Gunter’s chain. Commonly used for surveying, it was 22 yards long and divided into 100 links. Each link precisely 7.92 inches long.
It was a standard tool for land measurement, especially in English speaking countries.

In the photo you can see the tape measure, now over 100 years old, which belonged to my grandfather ( the Cornish born gardener ) Made by Chesterman of Sheffield, in leather and Brass, made in 1923.

I took it along yesterday evening, to measure the allotment which our grandson is taking over. ( see extra)
( his new tape measure wasn’t long enough!)
It is of course in feet and inches, but on the reverse side it has measurements in Links.


Well you know me, I had to find out what ‘ links’ were, and found the fascinating information about Edmund Gunter. 
Also the Gunter’s line was an early form of calculating device based on logarithmic scales, preceding the modern slide rule.
A very clever man back in the 17th century.

The weather today is very windy, sunny intervals, but not that heatwave yet!