A Jersey Dutch house is a colonial house form built by Dutch (as well as Flemish and Huguenot) settlers in the eighteenth century around New York and New Jersey. It is above all recognisable by its gambrel roof with a wide, gently up-turned eaves overhang. It is an American branch of the Dutch building tradition, grown in the New World.
Features
- Gambrel roof — a pitched roof with two slopes on each side: a steep lower part and a shallower upper part, creating more usable space under the roof
- Flared eaves — the lower edge of the roof projects far out and curls slightly upward, throwing rainwater clear of the facade and protecting the wall
- Natural stone — many houses were built of local sandstone, with a timber roof structure and interior
- Low, broad form — often one and a half storeys, with living space partly under the roof
Application
The style survives as historic heritage in parts of the United States and later inspired the wider Dutch Colonial Revival, in which the gambrel roof became popular again.
Points to note
- For lovers of building history it is a vivid example of a European tradition adapting to a new climate and new materials
Related terms
- Building style
- Architecture
- Roof structure
- Facade
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.