The black bitch of Linlithgow

We were in Linlithgow this afternoon for a friend’s gallery opening only to discover we were a week too early. However, we took the opportunity to stroll around this very attractive small town, part of the commuter belt for Edinburgh.
 
It’s most famous sculpture (see above) is dedicated to the legend of the black greyhound in the 13th century that used to swim across the loch with food for her master sentenced to starve to death on the island for murder.
 
 
Such is the fame of this dog that a pub was later named after her. Only now, following controversy over its racist implications, it has been renamed the Willow Tree.