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January 02, 2008

Keeping a secret

From 9 November paper edition

Eye spent a delightful day in Scotland viewing the Rosslyn Chapel, that mysterious medieval church which found itself catapulted into the limelight when a certain book and Hollywood film made it a prime location. The Da Vinci Code has been no bad thing for this building, which needs a £14m facelift. The Scottish climate has been unkind to the intricate stone carvings, many of which have prompted speculations linking the chapel with the Knights Templar and the Freemasons.

Eye's disingenuous guide Simon ('or Keith if you wish to complain about my talk') explained that the crypt has created considerable curiousity. Whatever is down there? The Grail? Bodies of Knights in armour? 'Elvis'? suggested the cheeky Simon. But a scan of the area (which appears to have no entrance) just revealed a mess. Of course, the crypt will not be opened for another ten years or so, while the renovations continue. Meanwhile the whole world is beating a path to the Chapel and 170,000 visitors were recorded last year.

There's a lesson here. If your building needs a new roof, just unearth a secret or two and get a novelist to write it into a mystery.

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