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some i met

On the streets of Glasgow often I meet people who ask me what and why I’m photographing. Some assume I’m from TV. Others accuse me of terrorist activity. Mostly I listen while they tell me their life stories. Here are some of those people.

Jim busking, Buchanan Street
Outside Sunny Govan Radio
Outside Sunny Govan Radio
Taking pictures
Taking pictures
Tony McGee, Steeplejack
Seven guys I met on the path to Duncolm
Tommy, Sunny Govan Radio
Tommy, Sunny Govan Radio
Feeding the pigeons
Feeding the pigeons
Man waving from car, Saltmarket
Man waving from car, Saltmarket
At Eglinton Toll
At Eglinton Toll
Two men outside bar, Paisley Road West
Two men outside bar, Paisley Road West
Ricky's bling and smoking hand
Ricky’s bling and smoking hand
Two men outside bar, Paisley Road West
Two men outside bar, Paisley Road West
A young guy looking for directions in Kinning Park
A young guy looking for directions in Kinning Park
Ricky, Buchanan Street
Ricky, Buchanan Street
Guy waiting outside Buchanan Street Subway Station
Guy waiting outside Buchanan Street Subway Station
Man at the bins
Man at the bins
Andy, George Square
Mark smoking outside bar, Paisley Road
Mark smoking outside bar, Paisley Road
Kerry and Mark kiss and make up
Man with a mobile
Man with a mobile
Frank Mahon – fount of local knowledge at Carmyle Fords
Man working in a skip
Man working in a skip
Father and daughter
Father and daughter
Man collecting bottles to pay council tax
Man collecting bottles to pay council tax
Young visitors to Crookston Castle
Young visitors to Crookston Castle
Two guys posing for a picture in St Enoch's Square
Two guys posing for a picture in St Enoch’s Square
Young guy at Buchanan Street
Young guy at Buchanan Street
In the subway
In the subway
On the way to Duncolm
On the way to Duncolm
Young guy dishing out flyers on Govan Road
Young guy dishing out flyers on Govan Road
Brian McQuade
Brian McQuade
Jim, Buchanan Street
Jim, Buchanan Street

my places

Glasgow is where I was born and raised. Sadly all of the places I lived, studied and worked in have been demolished or altered beyond recogition. Never has a city shapeshifted more. (back to top)

Old light on the Renfrew Street side of the Glasgow Film Theatre
Old light on the Renfrew Street side of the Glasgow Film Theatre
Scottish Poetry Garden, Queen’s Park
Pollok Community Centre I once - only once - attended Scottish Country Dancing
Pollok Community Centre I once – only once – attended Scottish Country Dancing
Govan Bus Station, Govan Cross
Govan Bus Station, Govan Cross
Ex Gray, Dunn factory, Stanley Street.
Ex Gray, Dunn factory, Stanley Street. I used to beg for broken biscuits outside
Dougrie Road, Castlemilk
St Margaret Mary's School, Stanley Street.
St Margaret Mary’s School, Stanley Street. The playground was on the roof
Entrance, St Enoch's Square
Entrance, St Enoch’s Square
The Angel Building, Paisley Road Toll
87A Linthaugh Road, where I lived from November 1966 to October 1977
87A Linthaugh Road, where I lived from November 1966 to October 1977
Security sign, Seaward Street, Kinning Park
Scotland Street School. Where my mother attended in the 1940s
Donald Dewar statue, Buchanan Street
Donald Dewar statue, Buchanan Street – now on a raised plinth after being vandalised
Water Treatment Plant, Seaward Street, Kinning Park
Water Treatment Plant, Seaward Street, Kinning Park
Entrance to Govan Town Hall, now Film City Glasgow
Entrance to Govan Town Hall, now Film City Glasgow
Admiral Street, Kinning Park
Admiral Street, Kinning Park
Demolition near Crookston Castle, Brockburn Road, Pollok
View from Crookston Castle. Taken shortly before demolition
View from Crookston Castle. Taken shortly before demolition
Old insignia above ex-TSB bank, now a bookies
Old insignia above ex-TSB bank, now a bookies
Cambridge Street Car Park
Cambridge Street Car Park
Site of M74 completion in June 2008
Harmony Row, Govan
Harmony Row, Govan
Ex-Turner and Newall factory, Admiral Street, Kinning Park where my father worked
Ornate gate posts at the Govan Road entrance to Elder Park
Ornate gate posts at the Govan Road entrance to Elder Park
Building, Milnpark Street, Kinning Park
Building, Milnpark Street, Kinning Park
Stanley Bar, Milnpark Street, Kinning Park
Stanley Bar, Milnpark Street, Kinning Park
Old sign off Paisley Road West
Old sign off Paisley Road West
South Rotunda, Govan Road at Paisley Road Toll
South Rotunda, Govan Road at Paisley Road Toll
Ex Howdens Engineering Works, Scotland Street where my grandmother and mother worked
Ex Howdens Engineering Works, Scotland Street where my grandmother and mother worked
Off Ardencraig Road, Castlemilk. I believe I met Fred West here
Grand Ole Opry, Paisley Road Toll.
Grand Ole Opry, Paisley Road Toll. Used to be the Birds and Bees disco in the 1960s
On the way to the Barras
Caged CCTV on Shaw Street, Govan
Caged CCTV on Shaw Street, Govan
View from Crookston Castle
View from Crookston Castle
Glasgow SPT Subway train
Lyceum cinema, Govan. Surreal reproduction of itself on banner
Council-sponsored fly-posting sabotage at the Trongate
Council-sponsored fly-posting sabotage at the Trongate
The original gatepost at Paisley Road Toll
The original gatepost at Paisley Road Toll
Burrell Museum, Pollok Estate
Burrell Museum, Pollok Estate
Orkney Street Police Station cells at Wine Alley aka Broomloan Road
Orkney Street Police Station cells at Wine Alley aka Broomloan Road
Govan Cross. Due for redevelopment
Govan Cross. Due for redevelopment
Janitor's house, Lambhill Street Primary School
Janitor’s house, Lambhill Street Primary School which I attended in the early 1960s
Pillar, Lambhill Street Primary School, Kinning Park
Pillar, Lambhill Street Primary School, Kinning Park
Wine Alley, Govan - the Potheid Building
Wine Alley, Govan – the Potheid Building

harry’s places

A writer and lay archaeologist, Harry Bell was my inspiration. I followed in his footsteps in search of the many sites mentioned in his book, Glasgow’s Secret Geometry: The City’s Oldest Mystery. (back to top)

Carron Fords
Greenside reservoir near Duncolm
Water Tower near Cochno
Site of Old Cathcart Castle
Carron Bridge near the Fords
Bonnyton Moor
Boulder marking at Camphill Earthwork
Rutherglen bell tower
Rutherglen bell tower
Interior, Crookston Castle
Cast iron gravestone, Renfrew
Cast iron gravestone, Renfrew
Tombstone, Necropolis
Tombstone, Necropolis
Gallowflats Mound
Bonnyton Mound aka The Devil's Plantation
Bonnyton Mound aka The Devil’s Plantation
Broken statue at the Necropolis
The top of Tinto Hill - aka - Tintock Top
The top of Tinto Hill – aka – Tintock Top
Plastic wrapped boulders at the Ringwork, North Wood, Pollok Estate
Necropolis
Broken monument, Necropolis
Tombstone, Renfrew Old Parish Church
Tombstone, Renfrew Old Parish Church
Site of Nether Pollok Castle, Pollok Estate
Site of Nether Pollok Castle, Pollok Estate
Ornate chimney stack, Ross Hall
Bell Tower, Rutherglen Old Parish Church
Bell Tower, Rutherglen Old Parish Church
The Craw Stane near Eaglesham
The Craw Stane near Eaglesham
Duncolm Hill
Castlehill at sunset
Govan Old Parish Church
Govan Old Parish Church
View from Crookston Castle
Carron Fords from the Bridge
Indents on Bonnyton Mound
Indents on Bonnyton Mound
Monument, Necropolis
Monument, Necropolis
Railway Bridge at Carmyle Fords
Renfrew Old Parish Church
Argyll Stone and St Conval’s Chariot, off the car park at the Normandy Hotel
View from Necropolis looking south-west
Tower, Cathkin Braes at sunset
Sundial on entrance arch to Rutherglen Old Parish Church
Rutherglen Old Parish Church
John Knox Monument, Necropolis
Headless angel, Necropolis
Seraph, Allen Mausoleum, Necropolis
Woodend Loch looking north – now a SSSI
Humbie Road at the Devil's Plantation
Humbie Road at the Devil’s Plantation
Boulders at Camphill Earthwork
Dumbarton Rock from the path to Duncolm and Loch Humphrey
Dumbarton Rock from the path to Duncolm and Loch Humphrey
Dunwan Hill Fort
Dunwan Hill Fort
Provan Hall from the gardens
Stanely Castle
View from Cathkin Braes
View from the Tak Ma Doon Road Car Park
Crookston Castle
Humbie Road
Tinto Hill seen from Garf Water
Carved tree at the Ringwork, Pollok Estate
Carved tree at the Ringwork, Pollok Estate
Remains of Roman Fort at Antonine Wall
Tinto Hill in alignment with Duncolm
Tinto Hill in alignment with Duncolm
Carmyle Fords
Ringwork in the North Wood, Pollok Estate
Victorian relief of Christ - 'It is finished!'
Victorian relief of Christ – ‘It is finished!’
Dumgoyne
Dumgoyne
Detail of entrance to Provan Hall
Ross Hall
Site of Castlemilk House
Site of Castlemilk House
Monument with Egyptian carvings, Necropolis
Paisley Abbey

old places

Glasgow – the dear green place – has a habit of disappearing. Here are a few of the old places photographed on my travels – some of which have since been demolished. (back to top)

Christian Association, St Andrew's Cross
Christian Association, St Andrew’s Cross
City Chambers, George Square
City Chambers, George Square
Detail, ex-British Linen Bank, Govan Road
Detail, ex-British Linen Bank, Govan Road
Detail, Brunswick Street
Detail, Brunswick Street
Detail, ex-Trustee Savings Bank, Govan Road
Detail, ex-Trustee Savings Bank, Govan Road
Signs off Tontine Lane, Trongate
Signs off Tontine Lane, Trongate
Elderpark Library. Opened by Andrew Carnegie
Elderpark Library. Opened by Andrew Carnegie
Govan Road
Govan Road
Laurieston Bar
Laurieston Bar
Detail, Corinthian Bar, Ingram Street
Detail, Corinthian Bar, Ingram Street
Cosmo Chicken Bar, Govan Road
Cosmo Chicken Bar, Govan Road
Insignia and motto, Clydebank
Schipka Pass, off Gallowgate
Schipka Pass, off Gallowgate
ex-Govan Shipyard, Govan Road
ex-Govan Shipyard, Govan Road
Old road sign near Tinto Hill
Mercury's head, old Glasgow Herald newspaper offices, Buchanan Street
Mercury’s head, old Glasgow Herald newspaper offices, Buchanan Street
Detail, Brunswick Street
Detail, Brunswick Street
Carlton Place
Carlton Place
Custom House Bowling
Custom House Bowling
Derelict shop, London Road
Derelict shop, London Road
The Mercat Building, Trongate
The Mercat Building, Trongate
Val d'Oro chip shop
Val d’Oro chip shop
Pierce Institute, Govan
Pierce Institute, Govan
Detail, Pierce Institute, Govan
Detail, Pierce Institute, Govan
Gartloch asylum
Statue of James Watt, George Square
Close entrance, 59 Shaw Street, Govan
Close entrance, 59 Shaw Street, Govan
Sign, Virginia Street
Sign, Virginia Street
Detail above entrance to shipyard offices
Detail above entrance to shipyard offices
Disused church, Bowling
Disused church, Bowling
Detail, Christian Association
Detail, Christian Association
Angel/cherub on tombstone, Govan Old Parish Church
Plaque, Trongate
Plaque, Trongate
Detail, Pierce Institute, Govan
Detail, Pierce Institute, Govan
Detail of derelict building, Govan Road
Detail of derelict building, Govan Road
Statue of industrialist John Elder, Elderpark
Statue of Lady Elder, Elderpark
Statue of Lady Elder, Elderpark
The Castle Bar price list
The Castle Bar price list
Govan Milestone by Helen Denerley
Govan Milestone by Helen Denerley
MacKinnon's Bar, Gallowgate
MacKinnon’s Bar, Gallowgate

new places

Glasgow is a work-in-progress, not all of it progressive. Gone is the red and blonde sandstone, replaced by brick, glass and steel. (back to top)

Utopia, off Pollokshaws Road. Now available for rent
Utopia, off Pollokshaws Road. Now available for rent
Another New Gorbals housing development
Another New Gorbals housing development
SMG Building, Pacific Quay, Govan Road
Detail of a New Gorbals housing development
Detail of a New Gorbals housing development
Clock outside Buchanan Street Bus Station
Clock outside Buchanan Street Bus Station
Daily Record building
Daily Record building
New apartments on the Clyde - many now to let
New apartments on the Clyde – many now to let
The Arc aka The Squinty Bridge, Govan Road. Closed for 6 months due to bad construction
The SMG timeline runs out at 2007
The SMG timeline runs out at 2007
M74 Completion Roadworks – driving its way through south-side Glasgow communities
New houses at Gartloch Village – alien brick arrives in Scotland
The Science Center
The Science Center
Farmfoods, Silverburn. Earmarked for closure.
Farmfoods, Silverburn. Earmarked for closure, along with the Gala Bingo and the Credit Union
Clyde Auditorium, aka the Armadillo. Generic silver-clad construction now seen in most cities
Shields Rd Subway car park, Scotland Street
Shields Rd Subway car park, Scotland Street
Rear of News International, Middlesex Street
Rear of News International, Middlesex Street. Conspicuously heavy on security
Looking north from the Arc Bridge
Looking north from the Arc Bridge
The SMG logo as street furniture, off Pacific Quay
The SMG logo as street furniture, off Pacific Quay
Side elevation of the SMG/STV Building, Pacific Quay
Side elevation of the SMG/STV Building, Pacific Quay
A New Gorbals housing development
A New Gorbals housing development
Tait's Tower recreation - it never worked
Tait’s Tower recreation – it never worked
Glasgow Fort Junction 10 off the M8
Glasgow Fort Junction 10 off the M8
New building in New Gorbals
New building in New Gorbals
Silverburn Shopping Centre, Pollok
Silverburn Shopping Centre, Pollok
Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court
Glasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre
Digital Media Centre, Pacific Quay. Subsidised offices for TV/Media companies
Digital Media Centre, Pacific Quay. Subsidised offices for TV/Media companies
Side street at Glasgow Fort
A new development on Pollokshaws Road
A new development on Pollokshaws Road
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