Monument record MHG57019 - WWI N.S.O. garage - north of Joss Street, Invergordon

A former WWI N.S.O. garage north of Joss Street, Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. A rectangular building situated to the south of Tank 8 and to the north of Joss Street is shown on a WWI Naval plan in private possession. It is labelled N.S.O. Garage, one of three at the time used by the Admiralty (the others being nearby to the southeast and on Ross Street). It is gone by 1930 when an aerial photograph shows only foundations. By WWII this area had been landscaped to provide substantial berms for the oil tanks. <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>