Monument record MHG56979 - WWI Captain of the Dockyard office - 37 Shore Road, Invergordon

The old custom house was taken over by the Admiralty in WWI and was used as the office of the Captain of the Dockyard.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. The old Custom House, located at 37 Shore Street, is depicted but not labelled on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. WWI Naval plans in private possesion show that it was taken over by the Admiralty and the eastern section became the Captain of the Dockyard Offices. There have been many alterations over the years. In the WWI and 1930 aerial photographs and a 1974 photograph in Canmore (SC 435177), it has an external staircase on the shore side. Since then there have been extensive alterations with the staircase removed, blocked doorways and new windows. <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>