Gambrel Roof Barn History

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.

Gambrel roof barn history.

During the period this roof was commonly referred to as the dutch roof particularly in england and north america. Near the ground mark the prairie barn. The origin of the gambrel roof in north america is unknown. The long low roof lines the door in the gable.

The extended roof created great storage space. 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. A gambrel roof allowed more usable space overhead than a gabled roof. As a storage shed a gambrel roof can make the very most of a small amount of space.

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. The gambrel shed has a long and varied history. A peak period for the construction of these barns must have been the decade of the 1880 s. Think of a typical barn roof the most common gambrel roof most people see.

Barn with a gambrel roof. Comparison with the three bay barn. Another candidate for oldest gambrel roof said to be from 1666 alexander standish house. 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.

History of gambrel roofs. The first harvard hall harvard university credited to be the oldest known example of a gambrel roof in north america built c. The history of the gambrel roof dates back to the eighteenth century. Look up gambrel in wiktionary the free dictionary.

This style is also a standard roof design found in dutch colonial houses and some historians suggest that early dutch. 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. The word gambrel originates from the medieval latin word gamba that means leg or horse s hock. 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.