Monument record MHG56970 - Probable WWI Naval victualling store - west of Bank Street, Invergordon

A probable WWI Naval victualling store west of Bank Street in 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 Victualling Store is labelled at this location. It is situated in an area which was part of the Auction Mart at the time of the 2nd edition OS map (surveyed 1902). A single-storey building with a dark roof is shown in a WWI aerial photograph. It was gone by the time of 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>