Greyfriars Kirkyard

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh's Greyfriars Kiryard, is said to be the most haunted graveyard in the world. You wouldn't know it from the entrance with the cute little terrier statute, known as Greyfriars Bobby. Legend has it, this loyal little terrier is famous for joining his owner, a police man, on his night watches until he died. He then faithfully guarded his owner's grave for 14 years. There is even a fountain statue dedicated to him outside Bobby’s Bar on Candlemaker’s Row. People rub his nose for good luck. Many people who visit Bobby’s grave leave sticks.

Sticks for Bobby.

Is it a flare from the sun or something supernatural? I don't know, but I just love how the light beams across little Bobby.

Who's a good boy?  

Greyfriars Kirk is hundreds of years old. It was built on the site of a medieval Franciscan monastery, the friars were forced out during the Reformation, and it was passed along to Mary Queen of Scots. Then in 1561, it was used for burials. Lots of burials. The kirkyard at St. Giles on the Royal Mile was overflowing and many remains had to be moved here. Within a few years, thousands of victims of the Black Plague of 1568, were buried here. 

Greyfriars Kirkyard has a history of body snatching. Some graves have a metal grate called amort safe over the top to prevent theft. 

In 1677, Sir George MacKenzie of Rosehaugh, was in charge of punishing those who opposed the Church of England. He earned the nickname, Bloody Mackenzie, for sending hundreds of Protestant Covenanters, who were imprisoned next to the kirkyard, to their deaths. He was buried in a grandiose mausoleum here. Bloody Mackenzie's spirit is said to haunt the grounds. His ghost is said to cause scratch marks and other things to those who visit. It’s believed that Bloody MacKenzie is responsible for over 18,000 deaths. Jesus.

A view of Edinburgh Castle from Greyfriars Kirkyard.

See the hoards of people on a tour to the right? Greyfriars Kirkyard is a popular place for ghost tours and Harry Potter tours.

The Flodden Wall was completed in 1560, to protect the city against an English invasion - that never came. Nonetheless, it came in handy later when other groups attempted to besiege the castle.

Most of the Harry Potter gravestones are found behind Flodden Wall, except for the Potters. The Potters are featured on the Giles grave in the northern yard, close to the entrance to Greyfriars Kirk.

Tom Riddle's Grave.

You have to be patient and fast to snap a pic in between the hoards of tourists.

I jumped in just as one tour was leaving and another was coming.

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