A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp of the historic Rosslyn Chapel, where visitors flocked in the wake of the blockbuster Da Vinci Code novel, is set to get under way within days.
A temporary visitor centre will be created as part of the £13 million project before expert stonemasons begin a year of work to conserve and protect the ornate stonework of the ancient building, which dates back to the 15th century.
Over the summ
er the main part of the restoration project will get under way, which involves repairing the stained and leaded glass, and restoring the Victorian baptistry.
Among the other improvements planned are upgraded visitor facilities, including education space and a cafe, as well as a new roof.
The popular visitor attraction will remain open throughout the refurbishment project, which has been designed to have a minimum impact on visitors.
It is hoped the refurbishment will be finished by 2011 and bosses at the chapel will spend the next two years pushing a major public donations appeal to make up a £2m shortfall for the project.
Described as a book in stone, Rosslyn Chapel is renowned for its intricate carvings, featuring symbols of the Knights Templar, Christianity, Freemasonry and mythology.
The building, which dates back to 1446, is in a poor condition though and is exposed to the elements, with both the fragile carvings and the chapel itself at serious risk without this refurbishment.
Colin Glynne-Percy, the director of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, said: "By June or July we will have the stonemasons in place and working on the chapel. We have had interest from firms north and south of the Border, but we also expect interest from Europe.
"Ahead of this, and the main work on the chapel which starts later this year, we will be carrying out the necessary preparations, such as creating the temporary visitor centre.
"I must stress that Rosslyn will remain open throughout the work over the coming years, we simply couldn't close given the number of visitors we receive and disruption will be kept to a minimum.
"We still have a gap of around £2m to find and this will be found through a public appeal, which we hope people will respond to."
Among the other improvements planned for the chapel are the installation of a remote, bio-mass boiler house, upgrades for the external walls and metalwork, and a restoration of the organ.
The chapel's stone floor will also be restored. Visitors were banned from taking photos of the chapel's ancient interior last year after a number of people had tripped or fallen while gazing up at the ornate carvings on the ceiling.
The crumbling floor has many cracked or uneven slabs which can be a tripping hazard.
Much of the funding for the chapel's revamp has come from public funds, with the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland gifting over half of the money.
After featuring in Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code novel and the subsequent Hollywood film, visitor numbers at Rosslyn Chapel have soared, topping 176,000 in 2007.
Sinead Guerin, VisitScotland's regional director, said: "Investment is crucial to the ongoing success of the tourism industry and it is extremely encouraging to see this happening to one of Midlothian's top visitor attractions.
"Since the success of the Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel has been high on the itinerary for 'set-jetters' and the investment will ensure that many people for years to come are able to enjoy what the chapel has to offer."
