Monument record MHG56958 - WWI Naval Ordnance Offices, Workshop and Stores - Bank Street, Invergordon

Site of WWI Naval Stores Ordnance Offices, Workshop and Stores on Bank Street, Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. On a Naval WWI plan in private possession, a large complex is labelled 'Naval Ordnance Offices, Workshop and Stores'. It is situated in an area which appears to be part of the Auction Mart at the time of the 2nd edition OS map (surveyed 1902). On a WWI aerial photo, there are two bays running east-west. They do not appear in the 1930 aerial photograph. <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>