Legend of Barney Thomson, The

Climbing the steps to a front door, a Postman delivers a package. Only a few streets away from the next capture, Jules found 17 Kew Terrace in Glasgow G12 9LG. (RL)

No change in appearance of the doorway in Andy McArthur's comparison who advises that Kew Terrace is located in a very smart part of the West End of Glasgow.

In Fraserburgh, another Postman makes his way to deliver a similar parcel. Potentially a wrong delivery it would seem as Jules Ballantyne identifies this as 16 and 17 Kensington Gate, Glasgow G12. (RL)

Andy McArthur found that 17 Kensington Gate was having a makeover of the front steps when he arrived and adds that this street also appeared in early Scottish Television episodes of 'Taggart'.

After revealing that the contents of the brown paper packages contain body parts, the story moves to Henderson's barber shop in Bridgeton where Barney Thomson works. Number 11 Olympia Street in Bridgeton Cross, Glasgow G40.

Andy McArthur (AMcA) took this comparison view of Miller's, Scotland's Leading Linoleum Warehouse which was established in 1893.

A line of greyhounds are brought onto the track before the next race at Shawfield. Shawfield Stadium in Rutherglen, Glasgow G73.

Hopeful Punters cheer the runners on. Shawfield Stadium on Rutherglen Road in Rutherglen.

Bringing a bag of chips for his mother Cemolina (Emma Thompson), Barney Thomson (Robert Carlyle) sits next to her on the terrace. Since 1997, Shawfield Stadium is the only Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) track remaining in Scotland.

Barney's friend Charlie (Brian Pettifer) listens as the he chronicles a life in which he's been moved to a chair at the rear of the barber shop, has a mother that's digging her claws in like an old buzzard, lives in a lousy wee flat and hasn't had a girlfriend since Shakin' Stevens was number 1. This is the communal drying floor of number 200 Lincoln Avenue in Glasgow G13 3PP identified by Andy McArthur which is confirmed by buildings at the corner of Pikeman Road and Athelstane Road where one property has a ground floor extension and another has dormer windows at the rear.

This shot is taken from a landing window on the floor below the drying area as access to the drying area is restricted and Andy came across a locked gate.

Back at work with little to do, Barney falls asleep which leads his boss Wullie Henderson to give him a months notice. Olympia Street in Bridgeton with the Olympia Building, previously the Olympic Cinema, to the left and the former Salvation Army hall on the right.

Andy McArthur explains that, at the time of filming, the Olympia cinema next door to Miller's had been recently renovated for use during the 2014 Commonwealth Games which were held in Glasgow.

After accidentally killing his boss with scissors, Barney heaves him into the back of his car helped by an unsuspecting Charlie. Facing west on Olympia Street with London Road in the background.

AMcA captures the view in daylight.

Driving through the darkness, Barney brings his car to a stand to check a map to the loch which he, his Mother and Dad used to visit. Greendyke Street in G1 that runs alongside Glasgow Green towards the Saltmarket located by Andy McArthur.

Glasgow Green is used for public events and the hoardings are to conceal work in progress. (AMcA)

The day after Barney takes Wullie's black bin bag enshrouded body to his Mother's flat, Detective Inspector Holdall and Detective Sergeant MacPherson begin their enquiries in connection with the posted body parts. This is Duke Street G31 in Glasgow's East End, found by Andy McArthur.

A very busy area with street side cafes serving locals and visitors. (AMcA)

The Detectives call on Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. McQueen to ask about their missing husbands. AMcA identifies this as just off Duke Street looking into Whitehill Street G31.

Andy advises that the area is named Dennistoun and is a popular locale due to the large sized tenement flats located here. The area carries the nick name "The Drives" as most street names end in Drive.

After a confusing session with Mrs. McQueen, Detective Inspector Holdall (Ray Winstone) moans about being stuck in Glasgow to his partner Detective Sergeant MacPherson (Kevin Guthrie). Looking towards London Road along Kent Street in Glasgow 1 with the corner of Stevenson Street on the left beyond Barras Market located by Andy McArthur.

The Glasgow Barras Market area is a very popular weekend attraction. A wide variety of stalls trade in antiques, bric-a-brac and clothing. In yesteryear there were many more street traders and barkers calling their wares. Nevertheless, crowds still tour the stalls to buy those items that your Granny used to own. (AMcA)

Upsetting a group of men with his comments about their city, Holdall walks on leaving MacPherson to calm the situation. Kent Street with Barras Market as the backdrop.

A significant anniversary year for Andy's comparison as the Glasgow Barras was founded in 1921 by Margaret "Maggie" McIver who became known as the Barras Queen. The street market, located in the Calton district of Glasgow, was made permanent when a roof was added and located within the same building is the Barrowland Ballroom, now a popular venue for music concerts.

After being questioned by Inspector Holdall about Wullie's disappearance, Barney returns to his Mother's flat. 150 Kestrel Road in Glasgow G13 3PE located by Andy McArthur.

A closer view of the same block by Andy.

Barney looks up at the building where, inside, Cemolina is entertaining her elderly friends. Andy McArthur found 150 Kestrel Road G13.

Tilting up the building. (AMcA)

Discovering that his Mother had cut up Wullie's body and put the parts in the freezer, Barney arrives for work to find the dead man's father James Henderson inside the shop. Looking out from 11 Olympia Street, across London Road to Bridgeton station at the corner of Bridgeton Cross.

Bridgeton railway station on the Argyle Line of the Scotrail network. Serving North and South Lanarkshire to the east and Helensburgh and Milngavie to the west, the line passes beneath Glasgow city centre by tunnel from Bridgeton to Anderston. (AMcA)

Detective Inspector June Robertson (Ashley Jensen) leads her Officers in exercise on the Police station roof. The roof of 12 - 16 Anchor Lane, Glasgow G2 with the dome of number 7 West George Street in the left background.

On a short city break to Glasgow, Paschal Newell took this shot from neighbouring rooftop from a different angle but the same chimney stacks and dome can be seen in the background.

Detective Inspector Holdall and Detective Sergeant MacPherson disturb their rival colleague's team building event. The roof of 12 - 16 Anchor Lane with the roof of Queen's House on St. Vincent's Lane in the centre background.

Charlie finds Barney sitting alone. Bridgeton Cross Shelter and Clock dating from the 1890s standing at the junction of London Road, Dalmarnock Road, Main Street, James Street, Orr Street and Olympia Street.

The shelter is the main feature on the extended pavement at Bridgeton Cross. (AMcA)

Making conversation, Charlie remarks "Funny i'n't it? Wally wanting you out of the window, you saying you wanted to kill him, and him disappearin'." The shelter at Bridgeton Cross in Bridgeton, Glasgow G40.

From a similar angle, the parade of shops overlooking Bridgeton Cross. (AMcA)

Whoops and cheers echo off the buildings above a travelling fair where Charlie is working at his summer job. The west side of St. Enoch Square in Glasgow G1, located by Andy MacArthur.

Andy tells us that this was once a very busy transport hub located in front of St. Enoch station where buses terminated adjacent to the subway station. St. Enoch station was closed in 1966 and demolished eleven years later to make way for a shopping centre.

The camera moves to find Charlie and Barney riding on a children's roundabout. Andy MacArthur recognised St. Enoch Square looking south west.

In Andy's comparison, new buildings obscure the ones seen in the screen capture.

After accidentally killing Chris Porter, another of his work colleagues, Barney wraps the body in bin bags and carries it out to his car. Olympia Street in Bridgeton.

A closer view of the shop. (AMcA)

Just before she leaves on a tour with her friends, Barney tells his Mother that there's been another wee accident. The Barrowland Ballroom on Gallowgate, Glasgow G4.

Andy McArthur explains that, in it's heyday, the Barrowland Ballroom was a was dance hall with a large sprung dance floor but is now used for visiting pop groups.

Cemolina boards the coach after she and her son are questioned by Inspector Holdall and Sergeant MacPherson inside the leisure centre. Facing west outside the Barrowland Ballroom on Gallowgate.

Andy captures the current view outside the ballroom.

As part of his plan to remove suspicion from himself, Barney buys a train ticket to London. Glasgow Central station on Gordon Street, Glasgow G1.

The same location taken by Andy MacArthur from ground level as the film's footage was shot from the first floor pub restaurant which was closed when he visited.

Meanwhile, back at Barney's flat . . . The corner of Osborne Street and Parnie Street in Glasgow 1.

Andy McArthur tells us that the same corner featured in an episode of the television series 'Taggart'.

. . . MacPherson leaves after finding no one home. The junction of Osborne Street, Parnie Street and Saltmarket.

A very similar view with only the window displayed altered. (AMcA)

As Detective Inspector Holdall and Detective Sergeant MacPherson drive away, the camera tilts back up to find the sun. There's the street sign reading Osborne Street.

Andy McArthur found little change at this location.

The two Detectives head for Chris Porter's flat, where Barney is in the process of planting body parts and the rail ticket to suggest that the tenant is the murderer.

When Cemolina returns from the coach trip, Barney tells her that he knows she is the body parts killer. Gallowgate, opposite the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow 4.

The business opposite is still trading in floor covering. (AMcA)

Sitting on a demolition site, Barney asks his mother "Why did you do it?" Red Road flats enclosed by Red Road and Petershill Drive in Petershill, Glasgow G21.

Following demolition of the site all that remains is a pile of rubble. Staged over a two year period demolition of the final five towers was completed in April 2014 with explosions carried out during the opening of the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow at the time. (AMcA)

After being confronted by Barney about his father, Cemolina mocks him before dying of a heart attack. Red Road flats were demolished between June 2012 and October 2015.

Another angle of the same site taken by Andy McArthur who adds that up to 4,700 people previously lived on the estate and, towards the end of the tower blocks' life, many immigrants from Kosovo, Africa and Asia who had fled their own countries were housed there.

Collecting Chris's body, Barney drives to Loch Lubnaig. The former northern entrance of Shawfield Stadium at the junction of Shawfield Road and Shawfield Drive in Rutherglen. Graham Kelly updates us that the north gate of the stadium still stands in 2024. 

Graham provides this comparison of the long disused but stillstanding North Gate at Shawfield Stadium.

In the background stands Templeton On The Green, formerly the Templeton Carpet Factory, seen from the east end of Glasgow Green, Glasgow G40.

Andy McArthur's capture appears hazy due to protective netting wrapped around the building during renovations. Glasgow Green is to the right of the shot and "On the Green", as it affectionately know, are poles for the public to dry their washing. In use till the 1970s and now largely ceremonial. it is now a privilege of the Freemen of Glasgow to hang out there washing here.

Barney leaves the city behind.

Leaving the main road, Barney arrives at the gates to Loch Lubnaig. Andy McArthur tells us that these are definitely not the gates to Loch Lubnaig. "They are the gates to Cumbernauld House in North Lanarkshire with the Fleming Coat of Arms emblazoned on the other side of the shield."

Providing this comparison view, Andy continues "The house designed by William Adam for John Fleming the 6th Earl of Wigton. It became the offices of the Cumbernauld Development Corporation who oversaw the building of Cumbernauld New Town. When lying disused there was public support for the building to be put to public use. However the building, which is category A listed, was developed into luxury flats."

Struggling to carry Chris's corpse from the car, Barney is annoyed to find that the boats he remembered from his childhood were no longer on the shores of the loch. Loch Lubnaig near Callander in Stirling.

Andy McArthur took this shot of The Cabin located in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park on the east side of Loch Lubnaig between Callander and Strathyre. The name Lubnaig comes from the Gaelic for elbow, the loch is the shape of a bent arm.

Barney returns to Glasgow. Facing north on Saltmarket G1 with the Tollbooth Steeple at Glasgow Cross on Gallowgate beyond the bridge carrying the City Union freight railway line between Shields and Bellgrove.

The City Union freight railway line is the only connection in the city between the upper and lower level lines of the Scotrail Network. This location is the start point for street numbering in Glasgow City Centre. Looking north, south, east or west, the odd numbers are on the left with the even number on the right. Knowledge of this pattern is helpful when looking for an address. (AMcA)

When forensics indicate that the murderer is an older person, Holdall and MacPherson visit Mrs. Gaffney (Eileen McCallum), the wife of Glasgow's biggest killer. Andy McArthur identifies this as the Whitevale Bowling Club at 255 Whitehill Street in Glasgow G31.

Whilst taking his comparison shots, Andy engaged with members of the bowling club who were proud to be included as extras during filming.

Mrs. Gaffney tells the Inspector that her husband Doddie is dead. Looking across at properties on Craigpark Drive from Whitevale Bowling Club in Glasgow located by Andy McArthur.

Andy advises that the large club has two greens that were being cultivated when he visited.

The two Detectives leave Mrs. Gaffney when realisation dawns on Holdall that Cemolina Thomson may be the murderer. South Portland Street Suspension Bridge crossing the Upper Harbour of the River Clyde with Glasgow Bridge beyond and the railway bridge taking the line south from Glasgow Central station to the top.

Zooming almost to the limit, Andy MacArthur captures the view from Gorbals Street on the Victoria Bridge in Glasgow.

Holdall theorises that Barney kills the victims and his mother disperses the body parts whilst on her coach trips. Facing south on South Portland Street Suspension Bridge as it crosses the Clyde connecting the city centre with the Laurieston and Gorbals districts.

Andy MacArthur explains that the Suspension Bridge connects Clyde Street on the north to Carlton Place on the south side. On the Clyde Street side was bus terminus and a number of services left Clyde Street on a route that ran along Carlton Place. Passengers who missed their bus at the terminus could run over the bridge and catch it on Carlton Place if they were quick.

The Detectives make their way to The Saracen Head in order to ask more questions but leave when they see that Cemolina's wake is taking place. The public house stands on Gallowgate at the corner of Saracen Head Lane in G1.

Affectionately known as the "Sarry Heid" the Saracen Head dates back to 1755. Previously, the inn boasted 36 rooms with stabling for 60 horses and is now a very popular public house which attracts the worthies. Prestigious visitors in 1773 were Dr. Samuel Johnson along with Scottish biographer James Boswell. (AMcA)

When he looks from the window of his flat, Barney sees Detective Inspector Holdall waiting in the shadows. Beneath the railway bridge on Saltmarket with the corner of St. Andrew's Street to the right.

Andy McArthur found that there was no access to the flat where the screen capture was taken but still trading is the popular fish shop named "Fish Plaice" which is closed on Mondays when the shot was taken.

Leaving the barber shop after receiving an anonymous phone call, Barney is followed by the Detectives to a rendezvous with unexpected results. Olympia Street G40 with London Road and the corner of Landressy Street in the distance.

Looking along London Road the building with the sand stone columns at Landressy Street is a former bank now a William Hill Bookmakers shop. (AMcA)

Now promoted to head barber, Barney looks out from the shop to see Charlie telling people in the street about 'The Legend of Barney Thomson'. Bridgeton Cross in Glasgow.

Andy McArthur found little difference apart from a few redecorated shutters.