14. Its Origins Might Be More Norman Than Scottish
The Sinclair family first came to the United Kingdom in 1066, along with William the Conqueror, from Normandy, a region in France. Normandy is on the French coast and was frequently attacked by bands of marauding Vikings. Eventually, they settled down there and established their own government, which coexisted with France’s other, more central government; they became known as Normans. One of William Sinclair’s ancestors was Sir Rollo, a Viking who settled down in Normandy and its first duke. From this area, under the leadership of the Normans, the Gothic style of architecture began, and it can be seen prominently in Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as at Rosslyn Chapel.
In fact, many of the carvings at Rosslyn Chapel are very similar to those found at the nearby Melrose Abbey, another Medieval structure that was built about a hundred years earlier. Melrose Abbey was mainly developed under the leadership of French mason John Morrow, and its architectural style and carvings contain many commonalities with structures being built at the same time in France. It is possible that the builders at Rosslyn Chapel tried somewhat to imitate the style of Melrose Abbey in making the chapel resemble the French descent of the Sinclair family.