• DISCOVER SCOTLAND
  • TRAVEL
    • Travelling To Scotland
      • Find Cheap Flights
      • Currency Converter
      • Travel Insurance
    • Travelling In Scotland
      • Car Rentals UK
      • Airport Parking UK
      • Train Tickets UK
    • Scotland Tours
      • Isle of Skye Tours
      • Loch Lomond Tours
      • Inverness Tours
      • Edinburgh Tours
      • Stirling Tours
      • Glasgow Tours
    • Money Savers
    • Best Time To Visit
  • PLACES
    • City of Edinburgh
      • City of Glasgow
      • City of Stirling
      • City of Inverness
      • City of Dundee
      • City of Aberdeen
      • City of Perth
    • The Scottish Highlands
    • The Isle of Skye
    • Town of Pitlochry
    • Fort William
    • Loch Lomond
    • Dumfries And Galloway
    • Best Day Trips
      • Largs Day Trip
        • The Isle of Arran
        • Waverley Paddle Steamer
          • Oban Day Trip
            • Glasgow Botanic Gardens
      • St Andrews
        • Scotland’s Best Beaches
      • Loch Katrine
        • Isle of Kerrera
      • Culross Village
  • ACCOMMODATION
    • Holiday Rentals
    • Castle Hotels
    • Hostels In Scotland
  • ATTRACTIONS
    • Edinburgh’s Royal Mile
      • The National Museum
      • Royal Yacht Britannia
      • Scotch Whisky Experience
      • Edinburgh Zoo
    • Glasgow Science Centre
      • Glasgow Cathedral
      • Kelvingrove Art Gallery
      • Museum Of Transport
    • Glenmorangie Distillery Tour
    • Melrose Abbey
    • Wildlife Safari Park
    • The Falkirk Wheel
    • The Helix
    • 10 Must-See Sights
  • EVENTS
    • Agricultural Shows
    • Arts & Culture
      • Edinburgh Festival
      • Edinburgh Military Tattoo
      • Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
    • Cycling Events
    • Drinks Festivals
    • Farmer’s Markets
    • Food Festivals
    • Highland Games
    • Music Festivals
      • Theatres In Scotland
      • Buy Tickets
    • Running Events
    • Walking Events
  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
    • Fishing
    • Golfing
      • Golfing Articles
    • Hiking
      • West Highland Way
      • Great Glen Way
      • Hillwalking Scotland
    • Cycling
      • Bicycle Hire
    • Kayaking
      • Inflatable Kayaks
    • Skiing
    • Horse Riding
  • HISTORY
    • Bonnie Prince Charlie
    • William Wallace
    • Robert The Bruce
    • Glencoe Massacre
    • Greyfriars Bobby
    • Flag of Scotland
    • Clans And Tartans
    • Significant Dates
  • CASTLES
    • Culzean Castle
    • Glamis Castle
    • Dunnottar Castle
    • Edinburgh Castle
    • Eilean Donan Castle
    • Stirling Castle
    • Urquhart Castle
    • Castle Weddings
    • Castle Ghosts
  • CULTURE
    • Old Scottish Sayings
    • More of Your Sayings
    • Scottish Humour
    • Scottish Weddings
    • Scottish Ancestry?

Scotland Welcomes You

Discover All There Is To See And Do!

Worldwide Car Rentals

Story of Greyfriars Bobby: A Truly Heartwarming And Inspiring Tale

Updated 16 February, 2018

Over 160 years ago, a wee Skye Terrier was about to become the most famous dog in Scotland’s history. Greyfriars Bobby is a remarkable story, and a heart warming tale.

Greyfriars Bobby

On 15th February 1858, in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, a local man named John Gray died of tuberculosis. Gray was better known as “Auld Jock”, and on his death he was buried in old Greyfriars Churchyard. 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.

Bobby led his master’s funeral procession to the grave at Greyfriars Cemetery, and later, when he tried to stay at the graveside, he was sent away by the caretaker.

But the little dog returned and refused to leave, whatever the weather conditions.

Despite the combined efforts of the keeper of the Kirkyard, Auld Jock’s family and some of the local people, Bobby refused to be enticed away from the grave for any length of time, and he touched the hearts of the local residents.

Although dogs were not allowed in the graveyard, the people rallied round and built a shelter for Bobby and there he stayed, guarding Auld Jock.

FOR FOURTEEN YEARS BOBBY LAY ON THE GRAVE, LEAVING ONLY FOR FOOD.

One O'Clock Gun

As the firing of the one o’clock gun sounded from Edinburgh Castle each day, he would leave his post, and run to the eating house which he had frequented with Auld Jock, and then he would return to Jock’s grave. The news of Bobby’s loyalty soon spread, and people would travel from far and wide to see him. Crowds would gather for the firing of the gun, to see him run for his midday meal.

In 1867, the 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….

“Greyfriars Bobby – from the lord Provost, 1867, licensed”

Greyfriars Bobby MonumentBobby was well cared for by the people of Edinburgh, but he still remained loyal to his master, and he continued to stay faithfully guarding Auld Jock’s grave for all those years, until he died on January 14th 1872, aged 16 years.

Bobby was also buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, just seventy five yards away from his masters grave. He has his very own red granite headstone, which was unveiled by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester CCVO, in 1981.


The inscription reads…

“Greyfriars Bobby – died 14th January 1872 – aged 16 years
Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”


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.

The statue of Bobby, beside the pub named “Bobby’s Bar”, is a well known tourist attraction, with visitors from all over the world coming to Greyfriars to learn his story and have their pictures taken beside him. (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.

He is remembered to this day!


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.


READ MORE SCOTTISH HISTORY….

The Glencoe Massacre
The Flag of Scotland
Scottish Clans
Mystery of Loch Ness
Robert the Bruce
William Wallace
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Profile of Robert Burns
Andrew Carnegie


Filed Under: History

Save on your hotel - hotelscombined.com

MONEY SAVERS…

✓FIND THE BEST FLIGHT DEALS

✓ATTRACTIONS AND TRAVEL

✓SAVE MONEY ON RAIL TRAVEL

JUST FOR FUN…

rsz_relationships

Have A Laugh With Some
Of Our Scottish Humour!

rsz_relationships

Try Your Hand At Wee Jock’s Discover Scotland Quiz!

rsz_relationships

For Everyone Over Sixty: You
Will Remember These Times!

Scotland Tours

SITE INFO...
About
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Disclosure
Sitemap
NEWS & FUN...
Tickets: Music, Theatre & Sport
Theatres in Scotland
Scotland Drinks Festivals
Favourite Restaurants
Everyone Over Sixty
Wee Jock's Quiz
OTHER STUFF...
Profile of Andrew Carnegie
Profile of Robert Burns
Our Scottish Weather
Loch Ness Monster
Scotland Wildlife
Picture Gallery

Copyright © 2019 ScotlandWelcomesYou.com
All rights reserved.