This life-sized statue of a Skye Terrier is called Greyfriars Bobby. There is an old legend in Edinburgh that ‘Bobby’ belonged to a man named John Gray in the mid 1800s. It is said that after John Gray died in 1858, Bobby spent the next 14 years keeping vigil at his master’s grave.
John Gray was as a night watchman before he died, employed by the Edinburgh City Police, as the story goes. He and Bobby were inseparable before Gray’s passing. When Gray died of tuberculosis in 1858 he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, the cemetery that surrounds Greyfriars Kirk (church) just off Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh Old Town. Bobby became locally well-known during the 14 years that he sat at Gray’s grave, returning every day to await his master’s return. Bobby found a soft spot in many local residents’ hearts during those 14 years. One sympathetic heart in particular was the Lord Provost of Edinburgh who gave Bobby a collar in 1867 thereby making Bobby legally licensed even though Bobby no longer had an official owner. You can see the collar on display at the Museum of Edinburgh. Bobby died in 1872 at the age of 16.
There have been a lot of stories written about this little dog, and there’s been a bit of controversy too. One historian in particular argues convincingly that there were two Bobbies, the first one was a rough-and-tumble stray, and the second was a nice-looking replacement (after the first one died) that helped fuel the booming tourist trade that quickly developed around Bobby’s tale.
What is indisputably real is this little bronze statue which stands on the corner of Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge street. The statue dates to 1873 (a year after Bobby died) and sits in front of the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard. Yes, you can go inside the kirkyard to visit the graves of Bobby and John Gray. There is also a wonderful little tavern appropriately called “Greyfriars Bobby” next door, and across the street stands the National Museum of Scotland. The museum is awesome!
If you find yourself in Old Town Edinburgh during your next trip, then be sure to stop by and say hi to Bobby. Loyal companion or stray, this little Scottish terrier will surely steal your heart.
