Wednesday 20th October 1819
Wednesday Oct 20th After breakfast we went to Roslin Chapel & Castle 7 miles from Edinburgh the chapel though small is the most rich ancient florid Gothic I ever saw in anything of the kind before it was founded in 1446 by William St Clair it stands of ??gruesome ness??
a little above the Castle which is an inferior ruin but the situation is pretty it was built about the 11 century; in the evening my father & two of my brothers went to evening concert.
OBSERVATIONS & COMMENTS:
Rosslyn Chapel, formally known as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, is a 15th-century chapel located in the village of Roslin. The chapel was founded by William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness, to celebrate the Divine Office throughout the day and night, and also to celebrate Masses for all the faithful departed, including the deceased members of the Sinclair family. During this period, the rich heritage of plainsong (a single melodic line) or polyphony (vocal harmony) were used to enrich the singing of the liturgy. Sinclair provided an endowment to pay for the support of the priests and choristers in perpetuity. The priests also had parochial responsibilities.
Roslyn Chapel , Publisher: J Menzies 61 Prices St Edinbr. http://www.rareoldprints.com/p/20144
1835: An interior view of Roslyn Chapel with the Apprentice Pillar, etc. Dalkeith, Scotland, Roger Griffith - Heaths Picturesque Annual. Public Domain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Chapel#/media/File:Roslyn_Chapel,_Dalkeith.jpg
After the Scottish Reformation (1560), Roman Catholic worship in the chapel was ended. The Sinclair family continued to be Roman Catholics until the early 18th century. From that time, the chapel was closed to public worship until 1861. It was re-opened as a place of worship according to the rites of the Scottish Episcopal Church, a member church of the Anglican Communion.
Rosslyn Chapel . Looking south to the main entrance to the chapel with the sun sneaking through the parapets. © Copyright Andy Farrington and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3738475
East Entrance to Rosslyn Chapel - The chapel inside has some of the finest stone masonry I've ever seen and well worth a visit. © Copyright Andy Farrington and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3738498
Rosslyn Chapel Gargoyle - There are carvings on all of the Chapel’s outside walls although some are hard to distinguish due to the effects of the weather. - © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5425670
David Dixon tells us in the subscript of his photograph, above, that what makes Rosslyn unique is the exuberance of its carvings which are unlike any other church in Britain. Interior photography is not allowed, so to see these carvings he suggests you visit the chapel's website (linkhere) - or indeed visit the chapel itself. There are also a few interior photos on this site. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5425670
Since the late 1980s, the chapel has been the subject of speculative theories concerning a connection with the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail, and Freemasonry. It was prominently featured in this role in Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code (2003) and its 2006 film adaptation. Medieval historians say these accounts have no basis in fact. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosslyn_Chapel ‘When I decided to write The Da Vinci Code, I knew that its finale would have to take place at the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth — Rosslyn.’ (Dan Brown) & ‘Rosslyn Chapel was all one could imagine or hope for.’ Tom Hanks https://www.rosslynchapel.com/about/the-da-vinci-code/
Roslin Castle, sometimes spelt Rosslyn, is a partially ruined castle near the village of Roslin, located around 9 miles south of Edinburgh. There has been a castle on the site since the early 14th century, when the Sinclair family fortified the site. The castle contained a scriptorium during the 15th century, and five St Clair manuscripts, dating back to 1488, are in the National Library of Scotland. These include the Rosslyn-Hay manuscript, believed to be the earliest extant work in Scots prose. When the castle was damaged by a domestic fire in 1452 legend has it that during the domestic fire the Earl was in consternation because of his valuable manuscripts but they were lowered to safety from a window by his chaplain. Following destruction during the War of the Rough Wooing of 1544, the castle was rebuilt.
A view of Rosslyn Castle, by Julius Caesar Ibbetson (1759-1817) Photographer John Mitchell Fine Paintings. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 100 years or fewer. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosslyn_Castle,_by_Julius_Caesar_Ibbetson.jpg
Ruins of Roslyn Castle, near Edinburgh from page 176 of Modern Athens, displayed in a series of views; or, Edinburgh in the nineteenth century; exhibiting the whole of the new buildings, modern improvements, antiquities, & picturesque scenery of the Scottish metropolis & its environs, by Thomas Hosmer Shepherd. Original held and digitised by the British Library (Accession number HMNTS 010370.dd.10.) This work is in the public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MA(1829)_p.176_-_Ruins_of_Roslyn_Castle,_near_Edinburgh_-_Thomas_Hosmer_Shepherd.jpg
This structure, built into the cliffs of Roslin Glen, has remained at least partially habitable ever since. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roslin_Castle
Rosslyn Castle from below . The castle is built on sandstone outcrops above the River North Esk. © Copyright Jim Barton and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2897230
Rosslyn Castle, Bridge and Lantern Tower © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5425794
As a subscript to his photograph, above, David Dixon tells us that: The castle is accessed via a high bridge, which replaced an earlier drawbridge. The oldest part of the Castle is the remains of the ‘lantern’ or ‘lamp tower’ by the bridge and this was probably built around 1304, after the Battle of Roslin. The 16th century house which still in good repair and available to rent as holiday accommodation can be seen behind the tower in the castle courtyard.
Evening Concert: It is possible that Lucy’s father and two brothers took advantage of Edinburgh’s Second Music Festival (see blog 13th October) . The second Music Festival learned from the restrictions of the first and acquired a larger venue, the newer Theatre Royal (see blog 16 October for Theatre Royal). We know that the Copland’s were in Edinburgh during the festival, the musical Festival is now crowded to an excess (13 October, the date of their arrival), but the week long event may have finished by the 20th. If so, they may have attended the concert at the Assembly Rooms (see tomorrow’s blog) or other venues.- See Pages 23 - 30, John Leonard Cranmer’s Thesis CONCERT LIFE AND THE MUSIC TRADE IN EDINBURGH c.1780-c.1830 https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/1842/7380/2/Cranmer1991_redact.pdf Wherever they went it is likely that the venue would have been very much like that reproduced below at The Concert Room, St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh.
The Concert Room, St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh, restored and is an integral part of the music museum run by the University of Edinburgh. It is open to the public, free of charge. © Copyright Jim Barton and licensed for reuse under the (CC BY-SA 2.0) Creative Commons Licence. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5881200
Jim Barton, the photographer, explains in a subscript that The Concert Room, St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh “was completed in 1762 for the Musical Society. This was Scotland's first purpose-built concert hall. Audiences came to hear works by contemporary composers such as Handel in the 1760s and 70s. When fashionable society gravitated to the New Town and with the opening of the George Street Assembly Rooms in 1787, the hall fell into disuse and the Musical Society was wound up in 1801. (Source - 'The Making of Classical Edinburgh', A.J.Youngson (Edinburgh University Press 1966)) Today the hall has been restored and is an integral part of the music museum run by the University of Edinburgh. It is open to the public, free of charge.” See External link for more details. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5881200
Can you help us?
Transcription problems: As untrained transcribers we sometimes experience problems interpreting some of Lucy’s writing. We have a problem deciphering one section today:
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before it was founded in 1446 by William St Clair it stands of ??gruesome ness?? …….gruesome-ness can’t be right…. Help please!
Old Regency Prints, Pictures an Coaching maps: Do you have access to any prints or pictures showing what town and country would have looked like when Lucy travelled through? Any illustrations of what she would have seen in 1819 will enliven our research.
New Pictures: Do you have any modern pictures of the streets, buildings, gardens and views that would enable us to see the changes that two centuries have wrought?