Greyfriars Bobby’s Ghost
10/01/2010 by: eyepriestess
GREYFRIARS BOBBY’S GHOST
On a cold February morning, in 1858, a Scottish man, John Gray was discovered dead in his bed. His faithful Skye Terrier was distraught and laying steadfast by his side.
John had acquired the dog two years before his death, which he named Bobby and the two had become inseparable since. But the nights John worked as watchman – trudging the streets with Bobby for the Edinburgh city police force, finally took its toll on John’s health and he succumbed to tuberculosis.
On the day of Johns burial, Bobby followed, as his master’s body was taken to the Kirkyard (churchyard). Apparently, he watched every move as John was lowered into the ground and when the last stack of earth finally covered the grave, Bobby walked over and lay on the mound.
The keeper of the churchyard tried on many occasions to evict Bobby, but the little terrier was firm in his loyalty and returned nightly to lay on John’s grave. Eventually the keeper gave up and placed sacking at the graveside for Bobby.
The little dog began to attract many visitors to the Kirkyard and became known as ‘Greyfriars Bobby’. They would stand and watch as Bobby waited for gunfire - signalling lunchtime. Bobby would then rush off to the restaurant next door where John and his friend had often frequented. There he would be fed a hearty meal before returning to his masters grave.
Bobby faced a real threat in 1867 when a new law was passed, where dogs had to be licenced and any dog who was without an owner would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, paid for a renewal of Bobby’s licence, which made him the responsibility of the council and therefore exempt from the threat of death. He had a collar made for him which stated the ownership.
The villagers were so fond of Bobby, for the next 14 years they would always welcome him into their homes for warmth in the cold months, until one winters day on January 14th 1872, the little dog passed away.
Bobby could not be buried in the consecrated grounds of the Kirkyard, so they buried him just inside the gate, which was 75 yards from John’s grave.
To commemorate Bobby, a year after his death, Lady Burdett-Coutts, who was so moved by the terrior’s story, had a statue of Bobby and a fountain erected on the corner of ‘Candlemakers Row’ where it can be seen to this day.
Many people claimed to have seen little Bobby’s ghost still laying on Johns grave, but I prefer to believe, that the devoted little dog and John Grey’s love was so enduring…they are at last together, forever.
On Bobby’s gravestone reads:
“Greyfriars Bobby – died 14th January 1872 – aged 16 years old – Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all”.
If you would like to see an original pic of Bobby, there is a link in the comments below, as I wasn’t able to put the pic in this post.
There is a book called, ‘The Ghost Of Greyfriars Bobby’, by Ruth Brown. And of course the film, ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ which is a must see.
Copyright, J Reynolds 2010 @World Mysteries And True Ghost Tales
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This story brought tears to my eyes…what a lovely account of a man and his dog! I have always believed that animals are in tune to things that we are not…and I believe that he was determined to stay by his master’s side no matter what.
Thank you so much for sharing this here! Absolutely lovely story!
i have heard this one and one from new york. dogs are so very loyal! i’m glad the city took in that little dog and cared for him til his end.
i just saw on my cable channel guide that a movie greyfriar’s bobby is on today. this particular movie was made in 1961. it tells how this little dog got the keys to the city and was allowed to move around the city to be cared by all the residents of edinburgh!! i’m going to watch it!!
That’s the best one Trolldoll, the one made in 1961. Please tell us what you think
It made me cry Scary when i wrote it, i love that dog. I wish i could have downloaded the original pic of Bobby, but my computer wouldn’t let me.
I’ve not heard about the dog in New York, what happened?
If you want to see the original pic of Bobby, i managed to put it into the forum, but i couldn’t put it into this post for some reason. Anyway, here is the direct link to the post in the forum, where the pic is: http://www.worldmysteriesandtrueghosttales.com/community/thread-171.html
it’s pretty close to this story. i can’t remember the name of the dog, but i believe he’s buried in central park in new york city!
this is such a heartwarming movie! john’s widow took him to a town 10miles away and he came back. his job, to stay in the cemetary was to keep the rats out and the whole city including the minister kept him fed. but there are some mean old guys who are up to something, so i’ll be back during the commercial!!
oh this is such a sad movie, the boy who loved bobby the most, mother died in the collapse of their apt. building. bobby did get away from the men. i know it will turn out alright. i’m surprized i’ve never seen this one. it’s probably been on tcm at one time or another. i’ll be back at the end. and yes they are using a white westie for the dog.
it seems the king saved the day. unfortunately my washer which is a front loader has frozen water pipes or drain, because there’s water sitting in the bottom of it. so i’ll wait to comment more later now that i have seen it!
I’ll try and find the New York story trolldoll.
What a lovely story between a man and his dog. We cannot find this real love between humans. Very cool story. Thank you very much.
Hossam, it is a great story and i’ve often thought of trying to use it on my site, then when i found there was a ghost story attached, i wrote this article straight away.
Trolldoll, how’s the washer?
Lots of people thought Bobby was a white westie because of the film, but Bobby was even cuter, they don’t get more adorable than skye terriors. If you missed the link to the pic in my forum, here it is: http://www.worldmysteriesandtrueghosttales.com/community/thread-171.html
I’ve tried to find the New York dog story, but i’m not having any luck. We need a name, if anyone knows it.
i did see the picture, i guess why they chose the white westie is because he was easier to see. as for the dog in new york, i’m sure there was one but it’s been so long that i don’t remember what he did, or when he was alive. i just remember some kind of plaque in central park. sorry!
the washer is fine now thanks to my boyfriend. there was a little ice in it blocking the drainage hose. i paid way to much for them to break down now! they are on a little added on back porch room that the basement stairs are behind. this house is 123 years old and the basement and foundation are starting to come apart. sooner or later we’re gonna have big problem. the house is one story and 1800 sq ft. and yes it has its haunted moments. tho there far and few between. i’ve seen them on the outside as well. we have seen a residule victorian woman and i’ve seen a shadow man. the man seemed to be wearing a t shirt and jeans from his outline. he was back lit by a sunny window with a blind and he was about 8 ft from me. i looked and wasn’t expecting it and looked back he was gone. other things and noises have happen so i’ll tell ya later!!
Oh, i’m glad your washer got fixed!
My house is very old too, it has the tudor rose on the outside, so it was built in the 1500′s, but not sure what date as i rent. So far, i haven’t had many signs of ghosts apart from bangings when i first moved in, which scared the c*** out of me at first, lol. I think it was structural though.
I did encounter my first ever sleep paralysis here though, it happened big time once and then another time briefly.
Email me with your ghost story Trolldoll and i’ll put it up as a post if you like? a_bellini@btinternet.com
Very cool and sad story from Scotland. I cried too but thats ok isnt it? If we dont cry thats the saddest thing of all.
There is no shame at all in crying at this story Dima.
Oh my gosh I am just crying reading that. What a beautiful story, they do say that dog is mans best friend; It is incrediable how the dog watched the burial and then slept on the grave every night!
Isis, after i wrote that story i couldn’t get Bobby out of my head for days, even driving to the shops and stuff, i kept filling up! Have you seen the pic of him in my forum?