Greyfriars Bobby

How many times have we heard stories about dogs that wait for their human friend in the same place every day after the owner is deceased, or dogs that spend their lives guarding the graves of their owners?

This story is about Bobby, a Skye Terrier who became known in Edinburgh in the 19^th century for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until Bobby died.

The are several versions of this little dog, but the best known one is that Bobby belonged to a man named John Gray, who worked as a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police. When he died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby then became known locally, spending the rest of his life next to his master’s grave.  

The 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.

When Bobby died, he was buried inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from his friend John Gray.

A year after Bobby’s death a statue and fountain were erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge to commemorate him. It stands near the south main entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. It was originally built as a drinking fountain, it had an upper fountain for humans and a lower fountain for dogs.  

There is a bar next to Bobby’s statue which has the dog’s name, Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar.

Several books and films have since been based on Bobby's life.

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