Jerkin Roof Styles at the Hawkesbury

People are reacting to the most unexpected items in my latest book 'Sentenced to Debt'. Here's another response from a dedicated reader, Ian Nicholls.

I’ve been intrigued by the house roof designs used in the old days in the Hawkesbury. They could not have been cheap to build. My family used these shapes despite the cost. I’ve attached a photo of William Nicholls [1]’s old house on the corner of Freemans Reach Road and Gorrick’s Lane.

House of William Nicholls, c 1800-1888, Freemans Reach Rd
by courtesy Ian Nicholls

Ian draws our attention to the jerkin roof: 

Note the change in slope as you go up to the top. Also, how the gable is cut off with a small sloping piece on each end. This is called a ‘jerkin-roof’ and was used on a lot of old houses and important buildings in the Hawkesbury. The jerkin-roof was supposed to reduce wind loading on the vertical end faces. There are still a few examples of the double slope and jerkin-roof. Elizabeth Farm house, on page 205 of your book 'Sentenced to Debt', is a variation on this style.

Elizabeth Farm House, Parramatta
photo by Louise Wilson, Oct 2019

Ian then found another old family photo and commented further: 

I think I can now see why, the first slope in the roof, over say a verandah, was so steep. All these old buildings had wooden shingle roofs originally and the extra slope was to prevent leakage ……just a deduction. See the attached photo of Frederick Nicholls’ [1] house, built c.1850s on the ‘Highlands’, between Freemans Reach (Blacktown in those days) and Wilberforce. Note the jerkin-roof style as well.

House of Frederick Nicholls, c 1815-1880, 'Highlands',
by courtesy Ian Nicholls

Many thanks for your feedback, Ian. I've had a lifelong interest in community education and I love it when my books stimulate reactions like yours. Readers, if you too would like to reflect upon the interesting historic details in 'Sentenced to Debt', you can obtain your copy here.