Louvre boards are the sloping, overlapping slats or boards in the belfry louvre of a church tower that direct the sound of the bells outward and downward while keeping out rain and snow. They form the angled infill of the openings on the bell-ringing floor.
Application
The bells hang in the bell chamber of a tower. To make their sound carry across the surrounding area, there are openings in the tower wall: the belfry louvres. An open opening, however, would also let rain, snow and birds in, right above the valuable bell frame. Louvre boards solve this.
Louvre boards work like a set of blinds. They are:
- Set at a slope — with the outer edge lower than the inner edge, so rainwater runs off to the outside.
- Overlapped like stair treads — so that no straight-through gap is left for water to pass.
- Spaced apart — so the sound waves from the bells can pass outward unhindered.
Because of this arrangement, the sound of the bells is directed outward and downward, toward the streets and the surrounding landscape, while the timber or slate covering keeps the tower dry.
Louvre boards are traditionally made of timber, often oak, and are sometimes clad with lead or slate to protect them against the weather. On older towers they need regular maintenance, because their sloping position and exposure to rain make them prone to rot. They are occasionally made of natural stone or, in restorations, of more durable materials.
Related terms
- Roof structure
- Belfry louvre
- Facade
- Gutter
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