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Greyfriars Bobby is a The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby story, and a heart warming tale. On 15th Februaryin the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, a local man named John Gray died of tuberculosis. Bobby, a wee Skye Terrier, belonged to John, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a night watchman, and the two of them had been virtually inseparable for approximately two years. Although dogs were not allowed in the graveyard, the people rallied round and built a shelter for Bobby The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby there he stayed, guarding Auld Jock. Crowds would gather for the firing of the gun, to see him run for his midday meal. Inthe Lord Provost of Edinburgh presented Bobby with a new collar, which is now on display. The collar has a brass plate inscribed with the words…. Bobby was also buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, just seventy five yards away from his masters grave. Over the years films and videos have been made about this remarkable story, including a Disney movie, and an Edinburgh toy company came up with the popular Greyfriars Bobby toy. Guided tours of the kirkyard are given by a number of groups, including the Greyfriars Bobby Walking Theatre and the Greyfriars Kirkyard Trust. Some people rub his nose for good luck, but are now being asked to do it gently, as it has had to be restored twice. The City of Edinburgh is abundantly rich in culture and history, but surely there is nothing that touches the heart like the loyalty and devotion of this wee Skye Terrier. See the Scotland Travel Information page for all the information you need for travelling to and within Scotland. Helpful advice on passports and visas, currency, weather, holiday extras, some useful travel links and much more. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby. But the little dog returned and refused to leave, whatever the weather conditions. He is remembered to this day! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Cookie settings Accept. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. Non-necessary Non-necessary. The spine-tingling tale of Greyfriars Bobby - A Bit About Britain

There is certainly a core of truth - but both sentiment and commerce have altered the story. Maybe there was even more than one Bobby…. The statue of a floppy-eared Skye terrier has been sitting at the top of Candlemaker Row since Usually a flurry of camera-clicking tourists marks the spot. The dog, of course, The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby the world-famous Greyfriars Bobby. It caught the imagination of the sentimental Victorians almost as soon as Bobby had taken up residence in Greyfriars Kirkyard. The story became the The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby of a popular novel by a well-educated American lady called Eleanor Atkinson, in Atkinson invented the name. He came to the Wednesday agricultural markets in the city and took his mid-day meal at a restaurant in Greyfriars Place. Auld Jock aka John Gray is also described as a shepherd. Unlike some hostelries today, this establishment was obviously dog-friendly and Bobby always got something to eat as well. Traill tries to get a doctor. Jock slips away to his lodgings, which is in a poor part of town - actually, a slum off the Cowgate - a short walk from Greyfriars. He is found dead there the next day. In her book, Atkinson reveals an ear for creating ersatz Scots dialogue, or at least how her readership imagined Scots spoke. Indeed, he had been a farm labourer but joined the police force later. His occupation is recorded as such in the Greyfriars Burial Register. This also gives his address - sure enough, just off the Cowgate. The dogs helped the policemen guard the animal pens overnight ahead of the weekly sales of stock in the Grassmarket, below Edinburgh Castle. Macgregor then followed up John Traill, the restaurant owner with the apparent close connection to the dog. The restaurant or coffee-house associated with Bobby had had a series of owners before that. However, The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby seems that after his night duty down in the Grassmarket, Gray used to have a meal there, and Bobby was fed as well. Apparently, it was a certain Sergeant Scott, based at Edinburgh Castle who heard about Bobby inbefriended him and taught him to turn up at the The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby after he heard the gun go off. During his researches in the city archives, by sheer good luck the author found a kind of witness statement to the effect that the occupants of two houses in Candlemaker Row, adjacent to Greyfriars, habitually looked out for Bobby and gave the wee dog food and shelter. For sure, Bobby frequented the kirkyard, it seems, but was not averse to offers of a warm bed sometimes. Yup, certainly sounds like a dog…. This pattern continued right up to - so Bobby was a very long-lived wee dog, likely to have been born around The locals kept an eye on him and he was associated with a number of nearby households even as his fame spread. Hey, that would have been good for business…. There are grounds for believing that Traill the The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby owner went to great lengths to embellish the Bobby story. Yet, Gray died more than three years before the Gun fcame into operation. Years later, Eleanor Atkinson accepted this version for her book. The memorial placed in the kirkyard as recently as suggests that Bobby must have been at least 16 when he finally died - a great age for a wee dog. To The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby matters slightly murkier, research by an academic at Cardiff University, Dr Jan Bondeson, also The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby prolific authorindicates there were probably two separate Bobbies - a fact which was noted by various media in Perhaps Traill, or even his predecessors, as clever restaurant owners, trained at least one local stray to visit daily to encourage trade. Maybe Bobby had several body doubles. Still, it was such a convincing tale - or Victorian hoax, depending on what you The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby to believe - that in a bronze statue of a Skye terrier by William Brodie was unveiled near Greyfriars Kirk. The statue was paid for by the necessarily very very rich philanthropist Angela Burdett-Coutts. The city fathers introduced a new dog licensing law. The authorities assumed Traill, obviously making money from his association with the dog, would pay. He personally paid the fee, on the grounds that the Town Council owned the burial ground and tolerated the dog who stayed there. Traill and his family even cared for Bobby in his last years and when he died secretly buried him in front of old Greyfriars Kirk in a plot now lost. I wonder if the Lord Provost paid the licence fee because his PR department thought it would be a good idea? You know what PR folk The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby like - anything for coverage…. Wonder how they got the dog to stand still when they poured plaster on him? The famous dog statue that was erected soon afterwards is, or was, strictly speaking, a memorial drinking fountain with water on two levels - for horses and for, presumably, dogs. So much so that in the statue of Bobbie had to have what the media called a nose job. Please stop this habit! The statue had to be reconditioned. Naturally, the story of Greyfriars Bobby has had all kinds of treatments by writers and film-makers. The most recent movie, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby UK releasecaused outrage amongst Skye terrier breeders as - sharp intake of breath - it featured a Westie, ie a white West Highland terrier. Much of the film location work was actually around Stirling Castle. Stirling Old Town kirkyard even stood in for Greyfriars. They look kinda Scottish as well as cute in a grumpy way - and there are lots of them about. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Kennel Club has described the Skye terrier as one of our most endangered dog breeds. Though Queen Victoria made these terriers fashionable and they turn up in pictures by Sir Edwin Landseer The Monarch of the Kennel, etcthey seem to have been replaced by other fashionable dogs these days. Consequently, they look a bit inscrutable. Usually, there are a variety of poignant tributes - and sticks - left there in memory of Bobby. Perhaps Bobby represents all dogs - their unquestioning loyalty and faithfulness, especially when food is involved. Take a look at some Edinburgh Must Sees. Or discover the New Town of Edinburgh. Greyfriars Bobby. So, we have a core of provable facts, that over The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby years became a little embellished. Yup, certainly sounds like a dog… This pattern continued right up to - so Bobby was a very long-lived wee dog, likely to have been born around A doggy legend is born. He even suggests that neither of them were the original Skye terrier that The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby to John Gray. A tale that touched the heart The statue was The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby for by the necessarily very very rich philanthropist Angela Burdett- Coutts. Was the The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby owner just a skinflint? Classed as a stray, Bobby would be rounded up and, in those days, they poisoned unwanted dogs. Know what? A Statue To Commemorate A Faithful Terrier The famous dog statue that was erected soon afterwards is, or was, strictly speaking, a memorial drinking fountain with water on two levels - for horses and for, presumably, dogs. Its water supply was cut off in after a health scare. Skye terriers are very scarce Though Queen Victoria made these terriers fashionable and they turn up in pictures by Sir Edwin Landseer The Monarch of the Kennel, etcthey seem to have been replaced by other fashionable dogs these days. And sometimes their ears are pointy and sometimes not. Either is acceptable, apparently. Edinburgh Must Sees. Learn more. Greyfriars Bobby - Wikipedia

Together John and The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby became a familiar sight trudging through the old cobbled streets of Edinburgh. Through thick and thin, winter and summer, they were faithful friends. The years on the streets appear to have taken their toll on John, as he was treated by the Police Surgeon for tuberculosis. John eventually died of the disease on the 15th February and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard. Bobby would follow William Dow, a local joiner and cabinet maker to the same Coffee House that he had frequented with his now dead master, where he was given a meal. In a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. This can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh. The kind folk of Edinburgh took good care of Bobby, but still he remained loyal to his master. William Brody sculptured the statue from life, and it was unveiled without ceremony in Novemberopposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. One of the best known, and loved, folk-tales in Wales is the story of this most faithful of hounds Unable The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman. Related articles. Giro The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby Nazi Dog. Next article. The Legend of Gelert the Dog History of Scotland One of the best known, and loved, folk-tales in Wales is the story of this most faithful of hounds We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.