The Standards of Weights, Measures, and Coinage Act 1866[1] (29 & 30 Vict.

c. 82) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

The act created a department of the Board of Trade called the Standard Weights and Measures Department.

[2] 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.

[3][4] These had previously been the responsibility of the Exchequer.