Rosslyn Chapel – Brian Park - Thursday 26 September @ 18.30 @ Westlands

Rosslyn Chapel – Brian Park - Thursday 26 September @ 18.30 @ WestlandsROSSLYN CHAPEL

Any reference to Rosslyn Chapel inevitably prompts thoughts of its role in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.  However, the focus of Brian Park’s talk on Thursday was on his role as a conservation architect working to ensure the long-term survival of this historic building. Built in the fifteenth century, it was, he said, not surprising that with the ravages of time the Chapel’s roof and other stonework was porous. Consequently, the stonework had become saturated, resulting in heavy algae growth within the Chapel, with the underside of the nave roof in particular being green rather than stone-coloured.

 The consequences of this general decay needed to be addressed if the building were to be saved for posterity.  To this end, the Rosslyn Chapel Trust was established in 1995 with the purpose of overseeing its conservation. Thanks to its efforts, the Chapel underwent an extensive programme of conservation between 1997 and 2013.  Given the importance of this category A listed building, the complexity of its architecture and the detail of the many intricate carvings, a significant team of professionals was assembled.  One of the earliest problems was (perhaps not surprisingly) the absence of any reliable architectural drawings.  However, with the help of laser technology, this was largely overcome. 

Brian emphasized that, given the result of ingress of water over the centuries, the biggest challenge was to ensure that the stone roof was waterproof. An earlier attempt to clad this had provided some short-term benefit, but had ultimately not proved successful.  A full cladding in lead, albeit not historically correct was, nonetheless, agreed to ensure long-term protection from the elements. This proved to be hugely beneficial.  Subsequent remedial work on the stonework and the intricate carvings has been highly successful, restoring this historical building to its former glory.

However, in the course of this work, the publication of The Da Vinci Code in 2003 and its subsequent filming in 2006, created a major challenge for the conservation process.  Visitor numbers to the Chapel suddenly rocketed from seven thousand a year to some hundred and fifty thousand.  In consequence, a major project to improve visitor facilities, including parking, was added to the programme, being opened in 2011.

Glenn Montgomery thanked Brian for his fascinating illustrated account of the work to restore this historical building.