[AnalogReigns]

Gutters and downspouts may not be authentically 17th C., but, if you want to prevent water-damage and rot....they are absolutely necessary. I used to live in an historic district...and all (standing) historic houses have gutters and downspouts.

If you want them to look more old-fashioned, you use round, half-circle gutters with round downspouts--as they were in the 1800s.

These tend to be a lot more expensive though...

[PGalt]

Thanks. Interesting, different. Looks like they are catching run-off from a metal roof.