Rise in visitor numbers at Rosslyn

THE trust responsible for one of Scotland's most historic attractions has reported a boom in visitors and a huge operating profit for the most recent financial year.

More than 136,000 people flocked to Rosslyn Chapel, in Midlothian, in 2009-10, up 5 per cent on the previous 12 months.

The Rosslyn Chapel Trust also made a surplus of 1.78 million for the year, thanks to the securing of a number of grants and donations to help pay for an ongoing refurbishment of the building. Although the turnover of the chapel's trading arm was down 83,576, this was blamed on the closure of the cafe while a new visitor centre was built.

The 15th-century building is best known for featuring in the climax to the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.

Visitor numbers shot up from around 40,000 a year before the release of Dan Brown's book to 175,000, although interest has waned slightly in recent years.

Work to safeguard the chapel's future began in 2004. Scaffolding, put in place eight years earlier, was only seen as a protective measure.

Such was the fragile condition of the building that the scaffolding and roof canopy had to remain in place during the filming of the movie adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, leaving film-makers to use computer graphics to show exterior shots.