OS1/11/34/83
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROSLIN CHAPEL formerly St Matthew's Collegiate Church | Roslin Chapel | Revd. [Reverend] Mr. Brown Roslin Revd. [Reverend] Mr.Stirling Roslin |
012 | The elegant Chapel of Roslin is situated in the immediate neighbourhood of Edinburgh and is probably more visited by the citizens & strangers than any other district of Scotland.It is seven miles south of the city and occupies a commanding situation on the brow of a rising ground, called the College Hill overlooking the Castle. It is at the (S.E.) [South East] end of the village of Roslin The original name appears to have been Roskelyn, in Celtic signifying a hill in a Glen, it exactly describes its position and is easily recognised in the modernised Roslin. The Chapel was founded in 1446 by William St Clair, the seventh of that name, Lord of Roslin, Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburgh etc etc. The Chapel from the first was, properly speaking from the first a collegiate church and founded for a provost, six prebendaries & two choristers, and dedicated to St. Matthew the Apostle. Tradition says that the founder procured the design of the church from Rome and in order to secure the most able & skilful workmen he gave each mason ten pounds & each master mason 20£ a year, with proportionate allotments of land which had the effect of attracting to Roslin the best of sculpters of Scotland & neighbouring Kingdoms. He endowed the chapel extensively and saw,under the hands of the skilful members of the Institution of Free Masonry, developing beauties in profuse magnificence, but notwithstanding his endeavour to complete the original design, this gem of architechture was left by him unfinished. Such parts however of the structure as were in an advanced state, Sir Oliver St Clair, third son of the Prince of Orkney, carried on and completed but the originally designed edifice (which was in the form of a Cross with a lofty tower in the centre) was in many parts never commenced. The Choir, the lady Chapel, and the wall of the transept are all that were ever erected of the edifice. What has been finished is enough to gratify a refined taste |
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[Page] 83Plan 12D Trace No. 3
Note.The following description is taken from a Guide book published in 1852 in Edinburgh by J. Bower entitled Acct [Account] Historical & descriptive of Roslin Chapel & Castle
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