The History of Weighhouses: Regulating Trade and Commerce in Medieval Europe

A weighhouse, also spelled weigh house, was a building or room where goods were weighed before they were sold or traded. The term "weighhouse" comes from the Old English words "w
g" (meaning "weight") and "hūs" (meaning "house").

In medieval Europe, weighhouses were used to regulate trade and commerce by ensuring that goods were accurately weighed before they were sold or transported. The weighhouse was typically located near a marketplace or port, where goods were brought in for sale or export.

The weighmaster, who was responsible for overseeing the weighing of goods, would use a set of balances or scales to measure the weight of the goods. The weighmaster would then record the weight of the goods on a document, such as a receipt or an invoice, which would be given to the seller or buyer.

Weighhouses were important centers of commerce and trade, and they played a significant role in the economic development of many cities and regions throughout Europe. Today, the term "weighhouse" is still used in some contexts to refer to a place where goods are weighed or measured, but it is no longer as widely used as it once was.