The Gorbals , Glasgow , Scotland 46 year old James Docherty lives with his wife Margaret , adn their seven children in a "single end " measuring 18 ft x 15 ft on the first floor of 14 Lawmoor Street , a recently condemned property . Mrs Docherty keeps the family spotlessly clean . She is expecting another child shortly . Mrs Docherty at tea-time . John , 17 , bottom left-hand corner , on his left David , 6 , then Ellen , 11 , next to Mrs Docherty is Andrew , 7 , next comes Tony 2 1/2 November 1952