Greyfriars Bobby

John Gray a gardener, together with his wife Jess and son John arrived in Edinburgh around 1850. Unable to find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman. One of the requirements of the job was that he must have a watchdog. John acquired Bobby, a Skye terrier as his watch dog, and soon the two became a common sight in Edinburgh.

John eventually died of tuberculosis the 15th February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Soon after his master’s funeral Bobby escaped the family home and took up vigil on Johns gave.

The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard. In the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two table stones at the side of John Gray’s grave.

Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh. It is reported that almost on a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o’clock gun that would signal the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal. Bobby got his lunch at the same coffee house where he and John had often taken their mid-day respite.

In 1867 a new by-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 license and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription “Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed”. The collar is now on display at the Museum of Edinburgh.

Although many people helped take care of Bobby, he never forgot his master .For fourteen years the faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872. While Bobby himself could not be buried in the cemetery proper, since it was consecrated ground, he was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray’s grave. The headstone is engraved with these words: “Greyfriars Bobby – died 14th January 1872 – aged 16 years – Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”.

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.

William Brody sculptured the statue from life, and it was unveiled without ceremony in November 1873, opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. And it is with that, that Scotland’s Capital city will always remember it’s most famous and faithful dog.

There have been many stories and books written about Bobby, the most famous is Eleanor Atkinson’s “Greyfriars Bobby”. It should be noted that in the 1960 Disney film based on the book, a West Highland terrier was cast rather than a Skye Terrier.

More on Skye Terriers

The Skye terrier originated more than 400 years ago on the Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is located off the west coast of Scotland, and is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides.

Legend has it that the Skye Terrier first came into existence after a Spanish ship crashed into the rocks of the island of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides. Native Scots found, among the survivors, several Maltese dogs. It is claimed that they bred these Maltese with their own native terrier to create a new breed, the Skye terrier. Whether or not this is true, the fact remains that for many years the Skye terrier was only to be found in the northwestern part of Scotland.

Skye terriers became more and more poplar both in their native Scotland and in England. Many nobles and notables have proudly owned a Skye. It is even said that Mary Queen of Scots had a Skye terrier. According to one ledged, he hid he little dog under hr dress when she went to her death.

Skye terriers are said to be friendly and loyal to their families, but are not considered to be good pets for households with other pets or small children. They are also said to be very protective of people and things they consider “theirs” making them great watch dogs. Due to their small size and relatively low excursive requirements they are ideal pets for apartment living.

While the Skye terrier retains international popularity, there is fear that the breed may become extint in its native land. The The Kennel Club of Great Britain reports that just 30 Skye pups were born in Britain in 2005. 

Other Sources: 

http://www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/index1.html

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotland-History/GreyfriarsBob.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby

http://heritage.scotsman.com/news.cfm?id=867122006

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/skyeterrier.htm

http://www.breederretriever.com/dog-breed-history/214/skye-terrier.php

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Skye-Terrier&id=187136