Statue of Greyfriar's Bobby

Image
Image
Statue of Greyfriar's Bobby with bar of his name behind
Credit
Jamie Wheeler
Venue details
Street
Candlemaker Row
Postcode
EH1 2QE
Edinburgh Area
Fringe Venue
356
About the venue

Not so much a destination - unless you are meeting here for a walking tour or perhaps visiting the popular Greyfriars Graveyard - but the statue of the famous, little Skye terrier remains a popular spot for a photo op.

It's become customary to rub his nose for good luck. Hence his snout is a well-polished and gleaming yellow compared to his tussled, long-haired coat.

Legend has it that Bobby belonged to Auld Jock Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a nightwatchman in the late 19th century. When Gray died, the loyal Bobby sat at his master's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard for 14 years before dying in 1872. 

The dog's devotion to Old Jock was held in wide admiration. In 1867, 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 licence and gave the dog a collar. 

Bobby's collar and bowl are now at the Museum of Edinburgh.  

Bobby was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from Gray's grave.

A year later, the English philanthropist Lady Burdett-Coutts had a drinking fountain topped with Bobby's statue (commissioned from the sculptor William Brodie) erected to commemorate the little dog.

You can find the statue on George IV bridge, near Chambers Street, opposite the Museum of Scotland and outside the pub by the dog's name.

The Statue of Greyfriar's Bobby is the start of many walking tours (e.g. the Potter Trail) and a good landmark.

Map

55.946903, -3.191247