BOTH Philip Cox and Rita Hindle correctly suggested last week's Craven curiosity was a measuring chain. Philip added it measured 66 feet, or 22 yards, while Rita said ten chains would have equalled a furlong.

Experts at Craven Museum, where it is on show, tell us it is a surveyor’s measuring chain which was used for surveying land that was to be used in the lead mining industry.

"The measuring chain has a core to wind the chain around and a wooden handle at one side and on the other side, there is a small metal handle. The chain is marked by discs for feet and larger discs for yards. Another name for the surveyor’s chain is the Gunter’s chain, named after English mathematician Edmund Gunter who introduced the measuring chain in 1620. The chain was invented many years before the arrival of theodolite and other sophisticated surveying equipment. In the same year, Gunter also invented the first analogue device, which he used to calculate logarithmic tangents."

Suggestions for this week's Craven Curiosity should be sent before 8am to lesley.tate@cravenherald.co.uk