Barrel Vault Barn
Spring River Log Homes & Timber Systems is proud to honor my grandfather, Thalmon Bramwell by reproducing his barrel vault barn with a one-of-kind timber frame design. The barrel vault is a rarity, compared to the gambrel barn that was built throughout the Midwest. This dairy barn was built between 1951 -1953 by my grandfather, father and family members from solid oak that was logged from the farmstead. The oak trees were hand felled a year earlier by using a two-man cross cut saw to allow the logs to air dry. The arch was built by nailing four-1x4’s together, then wetting them down and gradually bending the rafters with a large clamp. This was extremely time consuming, all done by hand and without electricity.
Although gone, his ingenuity, craftsmanship, and work ethic can still be seen after 55+ years located in the Ozarks near Windyville, Missouri. For about 30 years, this was an active dairy barn for the Bramwell Holstein herd, but quietly stands as a testament to what was.
Present day Circa 1953
The working drawing of the timber barn shown below is a reproduction of the barrel vault roof design. What makes this barn even more remarkable, the barrel vault design is built with straight timbers. The six bents are a gambrel design, but the top timbers have been cut in an arch to complete the barrel vault roof. This design is quite rare or perhaps non-existent in a timber frame structures of today. The Bramwell Barn can be handcrafted in Douglas-fir and Oak with mortise and tenon joinery. See Special Offers.
The Bramwell Barn
