Show Notes
In this episode, Annie and Jenny tell one more tale from Greyfriars Kirkyard. It’s a story of a very good boy, Greyfriars Bobby. Perhaps one of the most famous dogs in the world, the story of Greyfriars Bobby took Victorian Scotland by storm. But despite his story carrying through the decades, inspiring many books, and even a Disney film, what do we really know about the little Skye Terrier? For there are many questions that swirl around this tale of the ages: Just what is the original story of Bobby? Who was his owner? How did he end up in Greyfriars kirkyard? Why did he stay? And perhaps most importantly, did he ever even exist? Let’s travel back to Victorian Scotland to find out. You can support Stories of Scotland on Patreon! www.patreon.com/storiesofscotlandReferences:Jan Bondeson, Greyfriars Bobby, the Most Famous Dog in the World, 2012 Thomas Wilson Reid, Gabrielle Stuart: A Scottish Romance, 1882Reporting from Glasgow Evening Citizen (1867), Dundee Courier (1867), Inverness Courier (1864, 1867), Aberdeen Press and Journal (1867), Scotsman (1872) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Stories of Scotland
Hello, Jenny here, introducing my new show, The Scottish Folklore Podcast!
Like all adventures, after five wonderful years, Stories of Scotland is coming to an end. Join Annie and Jenny in this last episode as they revisit where it all started, the humble bothy, and tell some final stories of Scotland.
Join Jenny and Annie at dawn, as we dive into the dangerous world of Scottish duelling! We explore the history, laws, and legendary figures of Scottish duelling. First, we break down what duelling is and trace its evolution from medieval trial by combat to private duels of honour. We uncover fascinating Scottish duelling laws and share the blood-soaked tale of the Battle of North Inch, also known as the lethal Battle of the Clans. Next, we meet Donald McBane, an 18th-century Highlander with a notorious reputation as one of Scotland's greatest swordsmen. His life story is packed with duels, battles, and even some dirty tricks. We discover dastardly duels of the wealthy, including a Jacobite spy. Finally, we sprinkle in some folklore fun, then tell the story of the last fatal duel in Scotland. Join us as we parry, lunge, and uncover the hazardous history of duelling in Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We journey to the cold waters of the North Sea for Jenny to tell the famed story of the Nuckelavee as captured by farmer and folklorist Walter Trail Dennison. The nuckelavee is a skinless horse who haunts Orkney’s coasts, terrifying travelers. He also brings blight and plague to crops, livestock and even humans with his terrible toxic breath. Meanwhile, Annie will do anything to avoid the nuckelavee, including summoning the ancient Sea Mither to ensure the nuckelavee is trapped for summer.
Annie and Jenny return to their beloved bogs to have a look at human bodies that have been buried and preserved in peat. From Bronze Age mummies, to the Gunnister Man’s unique knitted garments, we examine the human remains and artefacts that have been excavated from bogs. We tell the tragic history of Betty Corrigall, a young woman buried on the boundary between two parishes. Thanks to Orkney Archives and the National Museum of Scotland for answering some strange questions about bog bodies. Come and see Annie’s play! The Wound, the Rag and the In-Between follows a Highland journalist as she unravels a Victorian death. She exposes secrets that had been buried for generations. By the clootie tree, in a place meant for recovery and wellbeing, tragic forces are looming, ever-present. Book online at: https://eden-court.co.uk/event/the-wound-the-rag-and-the-in-between Independently made in the Highlands, Stories of Scotland is gratefully funded through listener support on Patreon.www.patreon.com/storiesofscotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.