Greyfriars Kirk and Bobby
Address: 26A Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, EH1 2QE
Greyfriars takes its name from the monastery that stood on the site in the 16th century. The monks were known as Grey Friars because they wore grey robes. There now stands Greyfriars Kirk parish church and graveyard. The church dates from 1620, and today it is a place of worship, major arts venue and local attraction. The Kirkyard has been a burial ground since 1562 and there are many architecturally interesting memorials and gravestones. Of course, Greyfriars is now famous for its legendary canine resident Bobby from the 1800s.
Greyfriars Bobby is Edinburgh’s most famous dog. His statue sits on George IV Bridge, just outside the main entrance to the Kirk. The story goes that the Skye Terrier belonged to John Gray, a night watchman in the police. When Gray died in 1858 he was buried at Greyfriars Kirk and faithful Bobby spent the rest of his life at his graveside. When Bobby died 14 years later he was also buried at Greyfriars, close to his master’s grave. A year after Greyfriars Bobby’s death, the English philanthropist Lady Burdett-Coutts commissioned William Brodie to create the statue of Bobby as a memorial.
5 things to do at Greyfriars
- See the Greyfriars Bobby memorial – a statue and water fountain (no longer working) which sits on George IV Bridge, just outside the main entrance to the Kirk. (But please do NOT rub Bobby’s nose for good luck! This recent trend is gradually destroying the much-loved monument.)
- Visit the Kirk, which has played a prominent role in Edinburgh’s history. Learn all about it in the small museum inside, where there are many notable artefacts on display, such as an oil painting of Greyfriars Bobby by John MacLeod, and a rare original copy of the National Covenant, which Scottish noblemen signed in the Kirk in 1638.
- Walk around the Kirkyard and see its many monuments, vaults and gravestones, plus a section of the old city wall, the Flodden Wall.
- Visit the Kirk’s gift shop, which is open to the public during the summer months, excluding Sundays.
- Watch out for ghosts! Many believe the graveyard is haunted by spirits including the notorious Mackenzie Poltergeist.
