Monument record MHG56971 - Ship Inn and WWI Naval Store Offices - Shore Road, Invergordon

The Ship Inn on Shore Road, Invergordon. It was taken over by the Admiralty for naval stores offices during and after WWI.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. A hotel has been located here since at least the 19th century. On the 1st edition OS map (surveyed 1872) it is called Paulin's Inn. A pre-WWI photo shows it called the Ship Hotel, and it is labelled Hotel on the 2nd edition OS map (surveyed 1902). Valuation Rolls for 1916-1917 until 1919-1920 show that the Admiralty was then the owner and occupier. A wartime plan in private possession labels the building as Naval Store Offices. Photographs of the time also show that the building at that period had distinctive dormers in the upper stories which still exist. The hotel later became known as The Ship Inn. <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>