Gambrel Roof Barn History

History of gambrel roofs.

Gambrel roof barn history.

Sometimes the new england barn is framed with studs in the walls and horizontal sheathing boards instead of the more common rails with vertical sheathing. A typical barn roof is a common example of a gambrel roof. This style is also a standard roof design found in dutch colonial houses and some historians suggest that early dutch. Think of a typical barn roof the most common gambrel roof most people see.

The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century barns are characterized by a gable or later gambrel roof of varying framing techniques few windows square wooden cupolas lightning rods timber frames or modified built up frames and doors with commercial hardware. The new england barn almost always has a gable roof but a gambrel roof form may be found on some new england barns. The history of the gambrel roof dates back to the eighteenth century. Barn with a gambrel roof.

As a storage shed a gambrel roof can make the very most of a small amount of space. Near the ground mark the prairie barn. Late in the nineteenth century the adoption of the gambrel roof enlarged the storage capacity of the haymow even more affinities of this barn type with the dutch barn are striking. It is my impression that most of the dates one sees most often on them carved into the peak or cornerstone painted on doors or cupolas or laid with contrasting color slates into slate roofs are the years between 1880 and 1890.

The long low roof lines the door in the gable. A gambrel roof allowed more usable space overhead than a gabled roof. Originally built as a barn in the american colonies by early dutch settlers this style of roof has also become popular for projects including homes and of course sheds. Comparison with the three bay barn.

The extended roof created great storage space. The origin of the gambrel roof in north america is unknown. The gambrel shed has a long and varied history. During the period this roof was commonly referred to as the dutch roof particularly in england and north america.

The word gambrel originates from the medieval latin word gamba that means leg or horse s hock. However the oldest example of a gambrel roof was built in 1677 on the second harvard hall at harvard university in america. The first harvard hall harvard university credited to be the oldest known example of a gambrel roof in north america built c. Another candidate for oldest gambrel roof said to be from 1666 alexander standish house.