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| Poster from 1961 movie. |
I vividly remember from my childhood the Walt Disney movie 'Greyfriars Bobby'. It was about a dog, a Skye Terrier, named Bobby, whose master had died and was buried at Greyfriars. The loyal dog spent every day lying beside his master's grave. It was pretty special to visit Edinburgh and to be staying just around the corner from Greyfriars.
The story of Bobby has been kept alive in oral traditions and has become the subject of various books and films. Bobby's owner was John Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City police as a night watchman. When John Gray died he was buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard. For the next 14 years his faithful dog, Bobby came and sat by his graveside. In 1867 the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers, who was also director of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, paid for Bobby's license and bought him a collar. This collar is in Edinburgh Museum.
Bobby died in 1872 and was buried inside the church yard, near John Gray's grave. A year later Lady Burdett-Coutts had a statue erected of Bobby. The monument of Bobby was created by William Brodie; it is listed as Edinburgh's smallest building. Originally it was a drinking fountain. At the top for humans and at the bottom for dogs. However in 1975 all Edinburgh's fountains were shut down because of health concerns. The statue was daubed in yellow paint in 1979 and then hit by a car in 1984 before being restored that same year. It is claimed to be the most photographed statue in Edinburgh.
Of course there has been much discussion of the story and several attempts to disprove it. In one version Bobby's owner is a farm worker, 'Auld Jock'. It is this version which is used by the Walt Disney movie. Others suggest there was no story and Bobby was just one of many stray dogs which hang around cemeteries all over Britain. A red granite headstone was erected on Bobby's grave in 1981 and many visitors to the cemetery leave sticks, balls and even airline tickets on Bobby's grave (the idea being he spent fourteen years in the cemetery now his spirit can travel the world).
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| Statue of Bobby |
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| Greyfriars Kirk |
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| Bobby's headstone. |
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| John Gray's headstone. |
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| Tavern near the Greyfriars Kirk |
