Building record MHG56951 - WWI Naval stores - Invergordon

A former slaughterhouse building taken over by the Admiralty during WWI and used as a storehouse.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. This building appears on the 2nd edition OS map (surveyed 1902). A WWI Naval plan in private collection shows this building was taken over by the Admiralty, and it is labelled 'Naval Storehouse Annexe'. There is a timber building with slate roof currently on the site, but it is not clear if this is the WWI building, or if it is a later rebuilding on the same site. On an Admiralty plan of 1921 (MPI 1/651/4), this building was no longer shaded to suggest military use, but was labelled 'Bonded Store'. <1>

At least three versions of a WWI Naval plan survive, two in private collection which probably date to wartime, and one in the National Archives (MPI 1/641/4) which dates to 1921. On all three the buildings taken over or built by the Navy are shaded, but there are a few discrepancies between the plans. One of the plans in private collection has enlarged details, but only shows the Admiralty buildings and not others in the town. Valuation Rolls also indicate some buildings not shaded on our plans were taken over by the military. It is clear from contemporary photographs that the army built additional buildings, particularly north of Cromlet Drive. <2>