Greyfriars kirkyard

**Archangel** · 22nd August 07, 05:59 PM

Actually, if you carefully you'll see the s is not an f but a slightly diffferent letter than either. I believe it's called a seriph but feel free to correct me.

I got an answer from me mum:

we used to go by greyfriar's bobby almost every day when we lived at bruntsfield place, but when we lived in oxgangs, we got off the bus there to go to the museum and to the bookshop.

I have a memory of the bookshop being built in a turret kind of thing with a spiral staircase. Any clues?

**Phil** · 23rd August 07, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by Archangel

Actually, if you carefully you'll see the s is not an f but a slightly diffferent letter than either. I believe it's called a seriph but feel free to correct me.

I got an answer from me mum:

I have a memory of the bookshop being built in a turret kind of thing with a spiral staircase. Any clues?

Inside Greyfriars kirk entrance is a spiral staircase but don't know where it goes. There used to be a few bookshops in the vicinity, Bauermeister's has gone and is now an Italian restaurant and there was a Christian bookshop further back in Forrest Road towards the Infirmary. I think there is still another religious bookshop one floor up beside the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. The old china shop at the rear of the museum is still there but nearly everything else is changed.

**McClef** · 23rd August 07, 01:18 AM

I don't recall seeing a spiral stair going anywhere in Greyfriars but certainly the books, fridge magnets, etc are now sold at the rear of the kirk.

There is an external entrance with a winding stair that leads to the bookshop in St Giles, however.

**Phil** · 23rd August 07, 01:24 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

I don't recall seeing a spiral stair going anywhere in Greyfriars but certainly the books, fridge magnets, etc are now sold at the rear of the kirk.

There is an external entrance with a winding stair that leads to the bookshop in St Giles, however.

That's right, the entrance to St. Giles from the Royal Mile takes you into the souvenir shop up a spiral stair. Maybe this is what you remember. I couldn't get into Greyfriars when I was there as there was a festival show rehearsing.

**Archangel** · 23rd August 07, 05:51 PM

Sorry, the Bookshop was not at Grayfriars. It was a children's shop or at least it catered well to children. Mom always refers to it as some kind of an oasis. She had four of us and dad was either finishing Med school or gone to Canada to intern.

**Paul Henry** · 24th August 07, 01:17 AM

for Archangel
the letter that looks like an f is actually an s... it's not another character. And a "serif" is the extra tail or tick on the end of a letter. for example on the Times NR font but not on the the Arial one!

**emolas** · 24th August 07, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by paulhenry

for Archangel
the letter that looks like an f is actually an s... it's not another character. And a "serif" is the extra tail or tick on the end of a letter. for example on the Times NR font but not on the the Arial one!

and Microsoft Sans Serif has no tails either hence the "sans serif" appellation

Here's an explanation

What kind of sheltered life have I led where I have never heard of this Greyfriar's Bobby? I googled the story after reading this post and it brought a tear to my eye for that poor, lonely dog bereft of his master.

You hear about dogs doing that sort of thing occasionally but 14 years is an awful long time to pine. Excuse me while I go hug my dog...

**Archangel** · 24th August 07, 04:53 PM

Going back to what I said about the serif. I thought that's what it was called, as it is right now, I can't find the name for it. Perhaps our resident linguist knows. Anyway, it's not a modern font issue. Those are all since computer.

The "f" when substituted for an "s" is a different letter than the other "f". It tells the reader to draw out the "s" sound more. For any more information, back to our resident linguist.

**Paul Henry** · 25th August 07, 01:34 AM

duplicate post

**Paul Henry** · 25th August 07, 01:43 AM

to Archangel, the serif comment was just as an comment on your word "seriph" and of course it has nothing to do with modern fonts, or letterforms.
Historically- and I comment with my printer and calligrapher hat on....the " use of the "f" as an "s" was a very common one especially in printed texts, and is normally read just as another "s".
sometimes of course the "f" was used for decorative reasons, perhaps the designer/artist.printer/carver thought it looked better or added a certain style!
There are a few characters that we don't use any more, e.g. thorn "Þ" which is the "th" sound, and is not used really except in phrases like "ye olde" , which should still be pronounced "the " not ye.
And i'm curious, who is the resident linguist?

But I know this is getting off topic , but would be happy to discuss this further