Gardener and Keeper of the Greyfriars Burial Grounds

James Brown was born in Aberdeenshire in 1807 and came to Edinburgh in the mid 1800s. With his wife, Mary and their three children, Margaret, Jean and Archibald.

As keeper of the Greyfriars Kirkyard his duties included keeping the Kirkyard tidy, locking up the gates at night and re-opening them in the morning. He was also instructed to keep out children and dogs! He had a sign made saying
DOGS NOT PERMITTED.

He also dealt with burial enquiries and had to inform the Mortality Recorder, who lived at 28 Candlemaker Row of all burials. However, for some reason, James Brown was neglectful to inform the Recorder about John Gray's burial!

He also claimed to have been the first to recognise Bobby, having tried to put Bobby out of the Kirkyard several times. In the end he relented and fed and sheltered Bobby.

James Brown died at the age of 61 on 24th March 1868, in a dwelling house at Cowgatehead, next to the burial ground entrance gate. He was one of the last people to be buried in the over-crowded Kirkyard, the plot being allocated by his employers Edinburgh Council.

James Brown was a well educated man, a skilled gardener and the author of two books, Epitaphs and Inscriptions in Greyfriars Burial Ground and Guide to Deeside.

A memorial stone to James Brown was erected in Greyfriars Kirkyard by the producers of the film 'The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby' in 2006.