Monument record MHG57007 - WWI Naval Centre - Invergordon

The site of the WWI Naval Centre offices in Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. Several WWI administrative buildings were constructed at the intersection of Mackay Street and Shore Street, to the east of the YMCA. A WWI Naval plan in private possession shows the 'Cashier's office' to the south and 'Expense Accounts Office' to the north along Mackay Street. Abutting the Expense Accounts Office was a building labelled Naval Centre. A WWI aerial photo shows a complex of single storey buildings constructed in this small area, with the Casher's office oriented north-south and the other buildings east-west. All buildings were gone by the time of the 1930 aerial photo. <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>