Greyfriars Bobby Scotlands Legendary Dog

John Grey his wife Jess and their son moved to Edinburgh where he joined the Police force as a night watchman.

as he patroled the streets at night alone he decided to get a dog to walk with him and he got himself a sky terrier which he named Bobby.

They bacame inseperable patroling the streets at night together people watched out for them with a friendly word and a smile.

On February the 15th 1858 John died from tuberculosis and was buried in Greyfriars Church yard.

Bobby through grief soon became a local ledgend because he refused to leave his masters grave come rain ,hail or snow bobby was always there at the grave.

The only time he left the grave of his master was at 1pm everyday when the gun was fired at Edinburgh castle,dinner time he would follow a local joiner William Dow to the same coffee house where he was given a meal.

In 1867 a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) decided to pay Bobby's licence and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed". 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. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.

Baroness Angelia Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she asked the City Council for permission to erect a granite fountain with a statue of Bobby placed on top.

The true meaning of mans best friend.....jimmy