Greyfriars Bobby's grave — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

Greyfriars Bobby (4 May 1855 – 14 January 1872) was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on 14 January 1872. The story continues to be well known in Scotland, through several books and films. A prominent commemorative statue and nearby graves are a tourist attraction.

The best-known version of the story is that Bobby belonged to John Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a nightwatchman. When John Gray died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, the kirkyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Bobby then became known locally, spending the rest of his life sitting on his master's grave.

In 1867 the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers, who was also a director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, paid for Bobby's licence and gave the dog a collar, now in the Museum of Edinburgh.

Bobby is said to have sat by the grave for 14 years. He died in 1872 and a necropsy by Prof Thomas Walley of the Edinburgh Veterinary College concluded he had died from cancer of the jaw.

He was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray's grave.

A year later, the English philanthropist Lady Burdett-Coutts was charmed by the story and had a drinking fountain topped with Bobby's statue (commissioned from the sculptor William Brodie) erected at the junction of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row (opposite the entrance to the churchyard) to commemorate him.

The people of Edinburgh consider the statue as an admirable attraction and source of pride in their City.

Several books and films have since been based on Bobby's life, portraying the themes of hope and loyalty, including the novel Greyfriars Bobby (1912) by Eleanor Atkinson and the films Greyfriars Bobby (1961) and The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby (2006).

The Greyfriars Bobby Fountain in Edinburgh includes a life-size statue of Greyfriars Bobby created by William Brodie in 1872. It was paid for by a local aristocrat, Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and unveiled on 15 November 1873. It stands near the south (main) entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. The monument is Edinburgh's smallest listed building. Originally built as a drinking fountain, it had an upper fountain for humans and a lower fountain for dogs. Its water supply was cut off (together with Edinburgh's other drinking fountains) around 1957 amidst health scares. Both basin areas were infilled with concrete soon afterwards. It was daubed with yellow paint, allegedly by students, on general election night in 1979, and hit by a car in 1984. The monument was fully restored under the supervision of Edinburgh District Council in 1985. The entire base is newly carved but emulates the original exactly. A plaque on the base reads, "A tribute to the affectionate fidelity of Greyfriars Bobby. In 1858, this faithful dog followed the remains of his master to Greyfriars Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872. With permission erected by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts". Inscribed on the statue is "Greyfriars Bobby, from the life just before his death" and "W.H. Brodie Sc RSA 1872".

A plaque on the site of a tavern where Bobby was a welcome visitor A red granite monument was erected close to Bobby's grave by The Dog Aid Society of Scotland and unveiled by the Duke of Gloucester on 13 May 1981. Since around 2000 this has been treated like a shrine, with sticks (for Bobby to fetch) frequently left, and occasionally dog toys, flowers, etc. The monument reads, "Greyfriars Bobby – Died 14 January 1872 – Aged 16 years – Let his loyalty and devotion be a...

Greyfriars Bobby

Edinburgh, Scotland

Greyfriars Bobby - An exemplary true story of dog loyalty and devotion

Greyfriars Bobby - Greyfriars Bobby is originally a Scottish native dog of the Skye Terrier / Dandie Dinmont Terrier breed, which is currently one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.

A gentleman named John Gray came to Erinburgh, the capital of Scotland, hoping for a better life and he adopted a local dog named Bobby.

John Gray came to Edinburgh in the hope of a better life but did not find good work and later joined the night watch of the local police force. And he used to walk around with this dog to help him move at night.

John Gray died of tuberculosis and was buried in front of Greyfriars Kirk, but Greyfriars Bobby sat next to him.

This dog which was not one or two days but 14 years i.e. till his death was next to his master in this cemetery.

Which has created one of the stirring history and examples in the world.

Bobby used to stay near the grave till his death and as he did not leave the place, everyone arranged for him to stay near the grave.

But the townspeople took care of him and sometimes took him to Gryphiers Place, his master's favorite restaurant.

In 1867, Edinburgh began to register domesticated dogs as the breed of dogs increased, as Bobby had no guardians. So the Mayor of Dinburgh, Sir William Chambers, registered it on his own initiative and declared it the property of the City Council.

Greyfriars Bobby - Greyfriars Bobby died on 14 January 1872 and was buried not far from his master's grave and became known worldwide. When visiting Edinburgh, one cannot miss this place and take a picture with his statue.

In 1891 The Dog Aid Society of Scotland erected a plaque next to Bobby's society that read “Greyfriars Bobby

Died - 14th January 1872

Aged 16 Years

Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all

Erected By The Dog Aid Society of Scotland

"Greyfires Bobby - Died 14th Jan 1872 - Aged 16 - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all".

(May your loyalty and devotion be an example to us all)

Based on this true story, the famous director Don Chaffey made a film called Greyfriars Bobby in 1861, and another film was made in 2005 under director John Henderson called “The Adventures of...

The Greyfriars Bobby Statue in Edinburgh commemorates one of the city's most beloved and enduring legends: a Skye Terrier named Bobby. The story goes that Bobby belonged to John Gray, a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police. When John Gray died in 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Bobby famously spent the next 14 years guarding his master's grave, refusing to leave it until his own death in 1872.

This incredible display of loyalty captured the hearts of Edinburgh's residents and eventually people far beyond. To prevent Bobby from being impounded under new dog licensing laws, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers, even paid for Bobby's license and provided him with a collar (which is now on display in the Museum of Edinburgh).

The life-size bronze statue, mounted on a granite fountain, was unveiled in 1873, a year after Bobby's death. It was commissioned by Lady Burdett-Coutts, a philanthropist, and sculpted by William Brodie. The statue stands at the junction of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row, directly opposite the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard where Bobby and his master are buried.

Today, the Greyfriars Bobby Statue remains a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors who are touched by the tale of canine devotion. Unfortunately, a modern tradition has emerged where tourists rub Bobby's nose for luck, which has caused significant wear and damage to the historic...