Greyfriars Bobby

Had a nice walk in Greyfriars Kirk this evening, where I blipped the memorial stone to Bobby, the famous Skye Terrier.

The best known version of the story is that Bobby belonged to John Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a night watchman. When John Gray died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, the graveyard 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 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 which is now in the Museum of Edinburgh.
Bobby is said to have sat by the grave for 14 years.

Bobby died in 1872 and was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray's grave.

A year later, Lady Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge to commemorate him.

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

The tourists love Bobby and try were there in force this evening.

Hope you have all had a good start to the week.