Photography: Ross McDowell
Rosslyn Chapel has attracted more than its share of legends. Yet its remarkable fifteenth-century architecture and richly carved stonework are fascinating without any of them.
Founded in 1446 by Sir William St Clair, Rosslyn was intended as a collegiate church, supported by a religious community whose duties included worship and prayer. The building demanded considerable resources and many skilled craftspeople. Its pillars, vaulting, figures and intricate decoration make it an exceptional surviving example of medieval architectural sculpture. In later centuries it acquired a reputation for mystery. Some stories have little firm foundation, while others begin with genuine questions about the building. The people who commissioned and built Rosslyn left enough evidence to make the documented history compelling in its own right.
The abundance of carving is immediately apparent, but the details vary greatly. Figures, foliage, patterns and religious imagery appear across pillars, arches and the vaulted ceiling. Some carvings are prominent, while others sit in less obvious positions. Their differences speak to the imagination and workmanship involved, without making every motif's meaning certain.
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