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.

A typical barn roof is a common example of a gambrel roof. 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 new england barn almost always has a gable roof but a gambrel roof form may be found on some new england barns. A gambrel roof allowed more usable space overhead than a gabled roof.

The first harvard hall harvard university credited to be the oldest known example of a gambrel roof in north america built c. Comparison with the three bay barn. This style is also a standard roof design found in dutch colonial houses and some historians suggest that early dutch. However the oldest example of a gambrel roof was built in 1677 on the second harvard hall at harvard university in america.

Another candidate for oldest gambrel roof said to be from 1666 alexander standish house. 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. 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. Think of a typical barn roof the most common gambrel roof most people see.

As a storage shed a gambrel roof can make the very most of a small amount of space. The origin of the gambrel roof in north america is unknown. The history of the gambrel roof dates back to the eighteenth century. A peak period for the construction of these barns must have been the decade of the 1880 s.

The long low roof lines the door in the gable. The gambrel shed has a long and varied history. Near the ground mark the prairie barn. During the period this roof was commonly referred to as the dutch roof particularly in england and north america.

Look up gambrel in wiktionary the free dictionary. The word gambrel originates from the medieval latin word gamba that means leg or horse s hock. The extended roof created great storage space. History of gambrel roofs.