Gambrel Roof Barn History

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.

Gambrel roof barn history.

The history of the gambrel roof dates back to the eighteenth century. The gambrel shed has a long and varied history. 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. Barn with a gambrel roof.

The extended roof created great storage space. However the oldest example of a gambrel roof was built in 1677 on the second harvard hall at harvard university in america. This style is also a standard roof design found in dutch colonial houses and some historians suggest that early dutch. Look up gambrel in wiktionary the free dictionary.

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. Near the ground mark the prairie barn. Another candidate for oldest gambrel roof said to be from 1666 alexander standish house. A peak period for the construction of these barns must have been the decade of the 1880 s.

A gambrel roof allowed more usable space overhead than a gabled roof. The new england barn almost always has a gable roof but a gambrel roof form may be found on some new england barns. 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. In the mid 19th century experimental barns such as the round barn generated much interest among farmers in the efficient utilization of space and greatly influenced the layouts of later barns.

The origin of the gambrel roof in north america is unknown. Comparison with the three bay barn. A typical barn roof is a common example of a gambrel roof. The long low roof lines the door in the gable.

Think of a typical barn roof the most common gambrel roof most people see. The word gambrel originates from the medieval latin word gamba that means leg or horse s hock. 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. As a storage shed a gambrel roof can make the very most of a small amount of space.