The Tale of Greyfriars Bobby

Visit the Edinburgh Museum, situated on the city’s famous Royal Mile, and you’ll discover a wealth of beautiful objects, from exquisitely cut glassware to antique clocks and historic paintings. Of all the lovely art and craft pieces, ancient documents and historical items to be found on display here, one glass case stands out: not for its fine objets d’art, but for its humble contents. The case contains a statue of a small dog, a collar and a feeding bowl, together with a few faded sepia photographs. At nearby Candlemaker Row, you’ll find a drinking fountain topped by a statue of a dog that closely resembles the figure in the glass case. The inscription reads: “A tribute to the affectionate fidelity of Greyfriars Bobby. In 1858, this faithful dog followed the remains of his master to Greyfriars Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872.”

Canine fame

‘Greyfriars Bobby’ was a Skye terrier who reputedly spent fourteen years guarding the grave of his owner, until he finally died in January 1972. Bobby owed his name to the graveyard of Greyfriars Kirk, where he became something of a local celebrity. It’s reported that crowds would gather at the entrance of the graveyard almost daily, waiting for the one o’clock gun that Bobby took as his signal to leave the grave for his midday meal. Baroness Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she sought permission from the City Council to erect a public drinking fountain with a statue of Bobby mounted on top. Since that time a novel has been written about Bobby’s life (‘Greyfriars Bobby’ by Eleanor Atkinson, published in 1912) and two films have celebrated his life: ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ (1961) and ‘The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby’ (2006).

How the legend began

As you might expect of such a well-loved story, there are several different versions of Bobby’s life and some of the details have been called into question. The most generally accepted account

claims that Bobby’s master was John Gray, a night watchman employed by Edinburgh City Police. Legend has it that John adopted Bobby the Skye terrier to keep him company on the long, dark nights he spent patrolling the city and the two became inseparable friends and working partners. After several years walking the chilly streets of Edinburgh by night, John Gray’s health began to suffer. Records show he was treated for tuberculosis by the police surgeon and he finally died of the disease on 15th February 1858. It wasn’t long before local people passing through Greyfriars Kirkyard noticed that John Gray’s dog appeared to have taken up residence beside his master’s grave, refusing to leave even in the worst of weather. The graveyard keeper tried to shoo Bobby away on a number of occasions, but the dog would always return. In the end the keeper gave up and created a small shelter, with a bed made of sacking, next to the grave.

Friends and supporters

In 1867 a new by-law was passed, requiring all dogs in the city to be licenced. This rule, which decreed that all strays without licences should be promptly destroyed, created a dilemma with regard to Bobby (who had no master to buy his licence). At this point Sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, stepped in. He paid for the licence and also provided the smart leather collar, inscribed “Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed”. This is the collar on display in the glass case at Edinburgh Museum. Bobby could only be persuaded to leave his dead master’s graveside for the promise of food. William Dow – a friend of John Gray – would occasionally treat Bobby to a meal at a local coffee house where the two former friends used to meet. At other times Bobby’s meals were provided by a man called James Brown, who looked after the cemetery. Finally, after fourteen years waiting patiently by his master’s grave, Greyfriars Bobby fell ill from cancer of the jaw. He died in 1872 but his fame continued to grow.

Shaggy dog story?

The story of Greyfriars Bobby is a wonderful tale of canine loyalty and dedication, but like all good stories it has probably been embellished during the telling and re-telling. Dr Jay Bondeson, a historian and senior lecturer at Cardiff University, believes that the story was largely fabricated by the graveyard keeper James Brown, who received money from tourists eager to donate towards Bobby’s food. Dr Bondeson also believes that the original dog died in 1867 and was replaced by another Skye terrier. Whatever the truth behind the legend may be, the story is typical of many accounts of animals that faithfully wait for their human owners, including a recent report of a loyal dog that waited in the lobby of China’s Taikang Hospital for more than three months after his elderly owner died from Covid-19. The tale of Greyfriars Bobby has warmed the hearts of visitors to Edinburgh for over 150 years and will no doubt continue to do so for many years to come.