Monument record MHG57038 - WWI Fire Engine House - Dockyard Housing, Invergordon

A WWI Fire Engine House in the Dockyard housing in Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. A WWI Naval map in private possession shows that this area of Invergordon was used to build dockyard housing comprising 22 H-shaped hutments, and other buildings for dockyard workers. This building is labelled Fire Engine House on the plan. After the war the hutments and most other buildings were removed, and then between the wars some new oil tanks were constructed and the area was landscaped to create berms. <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>