GREYFRIAR'S
KIRKYARD
Greyfriar's
Kirkyard is steeped in history. Mary
Queen of Scots granted the former convent
garden surrounding Greyfriar's Kirk to be used as a buirial
ground in 1562.
The
grounds play host to a number of famous Scots including; Sir
Walter Scott's father, William McGonnegal,
Scotland's worst poet, George Heriot founder of the school
next door to Greyfriar's, James Craig, designer of Edinburgh's
New Town, William Adam lies in a mausoleum designed by
his son, architect John Adam (brother of Robert
Adam) but perhaps the most famous resident of
all is Greyfriar's
Bobby the loyal Skye Terrier who kept a 14
year vigil on his masters grave, both dog and his master,
John Gray are buired here.
1,200 Covananters were
imprisoned here in squalid conditions in the Covenanter's
prison before being either hanged at the Grassmarket, or
if they were lucky deported to Barbados as slaves. There
is a memorial stone to comemorate their suffering for their
cause.
Ironically George
'Bluidy' MacKenzie who percecuted many of the Covenanters
is also buried here in The Black Mosoleum and is said
to haunt Greyfriar's. Known as the 'MacKenzie Poltergeist'
many people on the ghost tours have reported being physically
attacked by an unseen force.
The
Kirk was originally outwith the old City wall and a section
of the Flodden Wall still exists within the graveyard. |