Bravehardt
0876 Greyriars Bobby monument in Edinburgh
Grayfriars Bobby
-----------------------
Grayfriar Bobby was a Skya Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner John Gray (Auld Jock),until he died himself on January 14,1872.A year later,Lady Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts,1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected at the southerd end of the King George IV Bridge to commenmorate him.
Several books and films have been based on Bobby's life,including the noval Grayfiar's Bobby (1912) by Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson and the films Grayfriars Bobby (1961).
Jan Bondeson at Cardiff University,Wales United Kingdom published research that suggests Bobby was actually a Victorian-era publicity stunt by local businesses to drum up tourist revenue.Accordin to Jan Bondeson research,Bobby was a stray dog trained to remain in the graveyard;and was actually two different dogs.
Traditional views
------------------------Bobby belonged to John Gray,who worked for the Edinburgh City Police Department as a night watchman,and the two were insparable for approximately two years.On February 8,1858,John Gray died of Tuberculosis or known as TB.He was buried in Grayfriers Kirkyard the graveyard surrounding Grayfriars Kirk in the Old Town of Edinburgh.Bobby,who survived John Gray by fourteen years,is said to have spent the reast of his life sitting on his master's grave.Although account has it that spent a great deal of time at John Gray's grave,but that he left regularly for meals at a restaurant beside the graveyard,and may have spent colder winters in nearby houses.
In 1867,when it was argued that a doug without an owner should be destroyed,the Lord Provost of Edinburgh,Sir William Chambers-who was also a director of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-paid for Bobby's license,making him responsibilty of the city council.
Bobby died in 1872 and could not bet buried within the cemetery itself,since it was and remains consecrate ground.He was buried instead just inside the gate of Grayfriars Kirkyard,not far from John Gray's grave.
Revisionst view
----------------------
After five years of research,Jan Bondeson published Grayfriars Bobby:The Most Faithful Dog in the World,the most detailed biography of Bobby to date.In it he dispelled the story as traditionally told and offered a different version.
As background in 19th century Europe there are documented over 60' graveyard dogs' or 'cemetery dogs'.These were stray dogs which were fed by visitors and curators to the point the dogs made the graveyard their home.People thought "Oh look at that poor dog,waiting by his master's grave",so they kept looking after him:the stray dog had free food while graveyard curators had company and a good story to tell visitors.In Bobby's case he was orignally a stray that hung around nearby heriot Hospital,but became such nuisance the hospital gardener threw him into the graveyard.James Brown,the curator of the graveyard,was fond of Bobby's company and began to feed him to keep him around.Vistors saw Bobby and linked to belive he was loyally staying by his master's grave,and provided James Brown with tips to hear Bobby's "story".after an article about Bobby appeared in the Scotman visitation rates to the Grayfiers Kirkyard increased by 100 fold with people arriving from all over England,Wales and Scotland.They would give James Brown a handsome tip and have lunch in the Trails restaurant.It was a lucrative situaion for Bobby,James Brown and the local community.
Jan Bondeson belives in May 1867 the original Bobby died and was replaced with a younger dog because he states pictures of him show a clear change.The first was an old tired-looking mongrel,the second was a lively youthful Skye Terrier that ran around and reportely found with other dog.This also explans the longevity of Bobby,18 years,since Skye Terriers usually live around 10-12 years.
When the story of Bobby first broke it was belived his owner had been a shephered buried in the graveyard.Later a scholar named Forbes Macgregor,who wrote a biography of Grayfriars Bobby,believed the owner was John Gray,a local policeman buried there in 1858.Neither make full sense since a shepherd wouldn't normally use a terrier for herding sheep,nor would a small terrier-normally be used as a police dog.
Over the years local Edinburgh residents who know the fact had talked in public,there was even newspaper articals that cast doubt ob the story,and even while Bobby was alive some councilorw cast on his story when it was discussed Edinburgh City Council.However,the romantic legend of Bobby was ingrained beloved that any revisonism over the years went largely unnoticed.Jan Bondeson started "it wont' ever be possible to debunk the story of Grayfriars Bobby-he living legend,the most faithful dog in the world,and bigger than all of us".
In Memory
---------------
A lifesize statue of Grayfriars Bobby was created by William Brodie in 1872,almoust immediatele after the dog's death.This was paid for by a local aristocrat,Lady Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts,1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts.This stands in front of the "Grayfriars Bobby Bay",which is located near the south (main) enterance to Grayfriars Kirkyard.The statue origally faced towards the graveyard and pub but has since been turned around,allegedly by a previous landlords of the pub so that the pub would appear in the background of many photographs that are taken each year.
The monument is Edinburgh's smallest listed building.It was restored in tootality in 1985 when the entire red granit base was remodeled.Originally built as a drinking fountain,it very aptly had an upper fountain for humans and a lower fountain for dog.This had the water supply cut off (as Edinburgh's drinking fountaints) around 1975 amidst heath scares.Both basin areas were infilled with concrete soon after.After being daubed with yellow paint,allegedlly by students on General Election in 1979,and being hit by a car in 1984.
A red granite stone was erected on Bobby's grave by The Dog Aid Society of Scotland,and unveiled by the Prince Richard,Duke of Gloucester on May 13,1981.This had been utilised in asnire-like manner,with sticks,(for Bobby to fectch) frequently being left occasionally dog toys,flowers ect.
The monument reads:
Grayfriars Bobby
Died January 14,1872
Aged 16 years
Let his loyalty and devotion be lesson to use all.
Guilded tours to Grayfriars Kirkyard are given aby a number of groups,including the Grayfriars Bobby Walkinhg Theater and the Grayfriars Kirkyard Trust.
Books and Films
------------------------
The book Grayfriars Bobby by Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson,which gretly the story and made John Gray a shephard,known as "Auld Jock". The 1961 Walt Disney film Grayfriars Bobby"The True Story of a Dog was based on the book.The Illustrated True Story of Grayfriars Bobby by John MacKay.
Challenge to Lassie (1949),an earlier film based on Atkinson's book,but replacing Bobby with Lassie.
In the 1945 film The Body Snatcher,Boris Karloff's charcter (incidevtally named Gray,digs up bodies from graves.One of tthese is that of John Gray.Bobby tries to stop him from taking the corpse,but is struck over the head by boris Karloff's character,and killed.
In the Public Broadcasting Service kids' series,Where in thw World Is Carmen Sandiego?,Patty Larceny put a collar on the statue of Bobby and walked him away is the Season 3 episode Little Dog Gone.
Grayfriars Bobby's Bar
--------------------------------
Grayfriars Bobby's Bar lie at the south end Candlmaker Row,where it joins King George IV Bridge and opposite the National Museum of Scotland.To one side is the entrance to Grayfriars Kirhyard,which is the starting point for the name of the pub.
As it's migrated as far as Hollywood,its fair to say that most visitors have some idea of the story of Grayfriars Bobby.But just in case,here'd the two minute version.John Gray was an Edinburgh police who died of Tuberculosis or known as TB on February 15,1858 and
was buiied in Grayfriars Kirkyard.He had a dog,a Skye Terrier called Bobby,and for the following 14 years,until the dog's own death in 1872,Bobby kept watch over John Gray's grave.
The true story of Grayfriars Bobby may be complicted then that.It now seem most likely that he was a stray who made a home for himself in the kirkyard,and had applied to him the (at the time surprisingle common) myth that he was there out of loyalty to a dead owner.Whatever the truth,Grayfriars Bobby had gone down in history as an emblem of devotion and faithful.Today his memory is marked by a life size statue on a plinth in the street outside,and name of the pub.
Inside Grayfriars Bobby's Bay,or Bobby's as it is known to regulars,you find a series of section stepping down the hill formed by Candlemaker Row.At the upper end is the bar,and as you move down the pub you pass through a number of comfortable seating areas to the dining area at its north end.
A range of real ales and whiskies are available,and food is served from extensive menu including breakfast main meals and snacks.Grayfriars Bar atttacts locals,tourist,and students,and weekends can be popular with stage parties and hen parties.
0876 Greyriars Bobby monument in Edinburgh
Grayfriars Bobby
-----------------------
Grayfriar Bobby was a Skya Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner John Gray (Auld Jock),until he died himself on January 14,1872.A year later,Lady Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts,1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected at the southerd end of the King George IV Bridge to commenmorate him.
Several books and films have been based on Bobby's life,including the noval Grayfiar's Bobby (1912) by Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson and the films Grayfriars Bobby (1961).
Jan Bondeson at Cardiff University,Wales United Kingdom published research that suggests Bobby was actually a Victorian-era publicity stunt by local businesses to drum up tourist revenue.Accordin to Jan Bondeson research,Bobby was a stray dog trained to remain in the graveyard;and was actually two different dogs.
Traditional views
------------------------Bobby belonged to John Gray,who worked for the Edinburgh City Police Department as a night watchman,and the two were insparable for approximately two years.On February 8,1858,John Gray died of Tuberculosis or known as TB.He was buried in Grayfriers Kirkyard the graveyard surrounding Grayfriars Kirk in the Old Town of Edinburgh.Bobby,who survived John Gray by fourteen years,is said to have spent the reast of his life sitting on his master's grave.Although account has it that spent a great deal of time at John Gray's grave,but that he left regularly for meals at a restaurant beside the graveyard,and may have spent colder winters in nearby houses.
In 1867,when it was argued that a doug without an owner should be destroyed,the Lord Provost of Edinburgh,Sir William Chambers-who was also a director of the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-paid for Bobby's license,making him responsibilty of the city council.
Bobby died in 1872 and could not bet buried within the cemetery itself,since it was and remains consecrate ground.He was buried instead just inside the gate of Grayfriars Kirkyard,not far from John Gray's grave.
Revisionst view
----------------------
After five years of research,Jan Bondeson published Grayfriars Bobby:The Most Faithful Dog in the World,the most detailed biography of Bobby to date.In it he dispelled the story as traditionally told and offered a different version.
As background in 19th century Europe there are documented over 60' graveyard dogs' or 'cemetery dogs'.These were stray dogs which were fed by visitors and curators to the point the dogs made the graveyard their home.People thought "Oh look at that poor dog,waiting by his master's grave",so they kept looking after him:the stray dog had free food while graveyard curators had company and a good story to tell visitors.In Bobby's case he was orignally a stray that hung around nearby heriot Hospital,but became such nuisance the hospital gardener threw him into the graveyard.James Brown,the curator of the graveyard,was fond of Bobby's company and began to feed him to keep him around.Vistors saw Bobby and linked to belive he was loyally staying by his master's grave,and provided James Brown with tips to hear Bobby's "story".after an article about Bobby appeared in the Scotman visitation rates to the Grayfiers Kirkyard increased by 100 fold with people arriving from all over England,Wales and Scotland.They would give James Brown a handsome tip and have lunch in the Trails restaurant.It was a lucrative situaion for Bobby,James Brown and the local community.
Jan Bondeson belives in May 1867 the original Bobby died and was replaced with a younger dog because he states pictures of him show a clear change.The first was an old tired-looking mongrel,the second was a lively youthful Skye Terrier that ran around and reportely found with other dog.This also explans the longevity of Bobby,18 years,since Skye Terriers usually live around 10-12 years.
When the story of Bobby first broke it was belived his owner had been a shephered buried in the graveyard.Later a scholar named Forbes Macgregor,who wrote a biography of Grayfriars Bobby,believed the owner was John Gray,a local policeman buried there in 1858.Neither make full sense since a shepherd wouldn't normally use a terrier for herding sheep,nor would a small terrier-normally be used as a police dog.
Over the years local Edinburgh residents who know the fact had talked in public,there was even newspaper articals that cast doubt ob the story,and even while Bobby was alive some councilorw cast on his story when it was discussed Edinburgh City Council.However,the romantic legend of Bobby was ingrained beloved that any revisonism over the years went largely unnoticed.Jan Bondeson started "it wont' ever be possible to debunk the story of Grayfriars Bobby-he living legend,the most faithful dog in the world,and bigger than all of us".
In Memory
---------------
A lifesize statue of Grayfriars Bobby was created by William Brodie in 1872,almoust immediatele after the dog's death.This was paid for by a local aristocrat,Lady Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts,1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts.This stands in front of the "Grayfriars Bobby Bay",which is located near the south (main) enterance to Grayfriars Kirkyard.The statue origally faced towards the graveyard and pub but has since been turned around,allegedly by a previous landlords of the pub so that the pub would appear in the background of many photographs that are taken each year.
The monument is Edinburgh's smallest listed building.It was restored in tootality in 1985 when the entire red granit base was remodeled.Originally built as a drinking fountain,it very aptly had an upper fountain for humans and a lower fountain for dog.This had the water supply cut off (as Edinburgh's drinking fountaints) around 1975 amidst heath scares.Both basin areas were infilled with concrete soon after.After being daubed with yellow paint,allegedlly by students on General Election in 1979,and being hit by a car in 1984.
A red granite stone was erected on Bobby's grave by The Dog Aid Society of Scotland,and unveiled by the Prince Richard,Duke of Gloucester on May 13,1981.This had been utilised in asnire-like manner,with sticks,(for Bobby to fectch) frequently being left occasionally dog toys,flowers ect.
The monument reads:
Grayfriars Bobby
Died January 14,1872
Aged 16 years
Let his loyalty and devotion be lesson to use all.
Guilded tours to Grayfriars Kirkyard are given aby a number of groups,including the Grayfriars Bobby Walkinhg Theater and the Grayfriars Kirkyard Trust.
Books and Films
------------------------
The book Grayfriars Bobby by Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson,which gretly the story and made John Gray a shephard,known as "Auld Jock". The 1961 Walt Disney film Grayfriars Bobby"The True Story of a Dog was based on the book.The Illustrated True Story of Grayfriars Bobby by John MacKay.
Challenge to Lassie (1949),an earlier film based on Atkinson's book,but replacing Bobby with Lassie.
In the 1945 film The Body Snatcher,Boris Karloff's charcter (incidevtally named Gray,digs up bodies from graves.One of tthese is that of John Gray.Bobby tries to stop him from taking the corpse,but is struck over the head by boris Karloff's character,and killed.
In the Public Broadcasting Service kids' series,Where in thw World Is Carmen Sandiego?,Patty Larceny put a collar on the statue of Bobby and walked him away is the Season 3 episode Little Dog Gone.
Grayfriars Bobby's Bar
--------------------------------
Grayfriars Bobby's Bar lie at the south end Candlmaker Row,where it joins King George IV Bridge and opposite the National Museum of Scotland.To one side is the entrance to Grayfriars Kirhyard,which is the starting point for the name of the pub.
As it's migrated as far as Hollywood,its fair to say that most visitors have some idea of the story of Grayfriars Bobby.But just in case,here'd the two minute version.John Gray was an Edinburgh police who died of Tuberculosis or known as TB on February 15,1858 and
was buiied in Grayfriars Kirkyard.He had a dog,a Skye Terrier called Bobby,and for the following 14 years,until the dog's own death in 1872,Bobby kept watch over John Gray's grave.
The true story of Grayfriars Bobby may be complicted then that.It now seem most likely that he was a stray who made a home for himself in the kirkyard,and had applied to him the (at the time surprisingle common) myth that he was there out of loyalty to a dead owner.Whatever the truth,Grayfriars Bobby had gone down in history as an emblem of devotion and faithful.Today his memory is marked by a life size statue on a plinth in the street outside,and name of the pub.
Inside Grayfriars Bobby's Bay,or Bobby's as it is known to regulars,you find a series of section stepping down the hill formed by Candlemaker Row.At the upper end is the bar,and as you move down the pub you pass through a number of comfortable seating areas to the dining area at its north end.
A range of real ales and whiskies are available,and food is served from extensive menu including breakfast main meals and snacks.Grayfriars Bar atttacts locals,tourist,and students,and weekends can be popular with stage parties and hen parties.