Standards of Weights, Measures, and Coinage Act 1866

The Standards of Weights, Measures, and Coinage Act 1866 (29 & 30 Vict. c. 82) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Details
The act created a department of the Board of Trade called the Standard Weights and Measures Department. This department was responsible for maintaining the weights and measures used in the country – in particular, the primary and secondary standards, the physical "master" weights and lengths that other measuring devices could be compared against. These had previously been the responsibility of the Exchequer.