Bell-gable

Simple bell gable at the St. James' Church of Entença, near the Pyrenees.

The bell gable (Spanish: espadaña, Catalan: espadanya, French: clocher-mur) is an architectural element crowning at the upper end of the wall of church buildings, usually in lieu of a church tower. It consists of a gable end in stone, with small hollow semi-circular arches where the church bells are placed. It is a characteristic example of the simplicity of romanesque architecture.

Bell-gables or espadañas are especially common in small village churches throughout the Iberian Peninsula, for they were easier and cheaper to build than a church tower or bell tower. This simple and sober architectural element would later be brought to the Americas and the Philippines by Iberian colonizers.^[1] The bell gable usually rises over the front façade wall, but in some churches they may be located on top of any other wall or even on top of the toral arch in the midst of the roof. In Catalonia and the Valencian Community bell-gables are also known as campanar de paret (wall bell-tower) or campanar de cadireta.^[2] (little-chair bell-tower) because it reminds of the back of a chair.

In Écija the bell tower of the church of Santa Bárbara fell destroyed by a lightning strike in 1892 and was replaced by an espadaña,^[3] a more expedient solution than rebuilding the tower.

[edit] Dutch Clock gable

Dutch Clock gable with rococo decorations in Hoorn

In the Netherlands a Clock gable is an architectural shape of a gable or facade. Mostly used at houses who are more narrow, with mostly two or three windows wide. The shape of the top of the gable is shaped like a church bell. This type of gables was popular during the 17th and 18th century. The earlier clock gables are usually lower and decorated in a different style many flowers and fruits are used. Clock gables made in the 18th century are usually decorated with Louis Quinze ornaments, resulting in more decorations but lots of flowers and fruits as decoration.

[edit] Gallery

Bell gable at San Blas de Illescas Church, Puerto Rico
Four-eyed bell gable at Sant Pere d'Ullastret church
Church in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, Philippines
Espadanya on the toral arch at the Ermita del "Lorito", Ulldecona. A less common position
Espadaña at the Church of San Francisco, Écija
Russian bell gable at the Church of Dormition "s Paroma", Pskov
Bell-gable on the village church in Argnat, Puy-de-Dôme, France
The espadaña of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Vega, Haro, Spain
Gomariz church in Leiro, Galicia (Spain)
Sant Jaume d'Enveja church with its large bell-gable