Greyfriars Kirkyard
Located at the Southern edge of Edinburgh’s Old Town, Geyfriars Kirkyard has been the
site of burials since the 16th century. The churchyard was founded in 1561. In 1679 part
of the Kirkyard was the sight of the Covenanters Prison. The Covenanters, which were a
Scottish Presbyterian movement involved in Scotland’s history, were imprisoned here. An
estimated 1200 Covenanters were reported to be imprisoned here after the defeat of the
militant Covenanters at Bothwell Rig.
The most notable story involving the kirkyard is Greyfriars Bobby the dog that was loyal
to his master even after his death. The dog slept on Edinburgh police officer John Gray’s
grave for 13 years. After Bobby past away he was buried near the entrance to Greyfriars
and a statue was built opposite the gate to the graveyard to remember him.
Every graveyard has its ghost stories and Greyfriars Kirkyard is o different. Ever since the
year 1999 there have been reports of ghost sighting when a homeless man broke into
the tomb of Sir George Mackenzie. The man looking for a place to sleep for the night
disturbed Mackenzies’s stone coffin. There have been over 350 reported attacks and over
170 cases of people collapsing. The tomb had been sealed off for a period of time
because the people were so scared of this ghost. The injuries people have sustained from
these ghost attacks range from cuts and bruises to gouges in their skin and blacking out.
The kirkyard has since become a local tourist attraction with ghost tours at night.