Monument record MHG57040 - WWI Roman Catholic Chapel - Invergordon

A WWI Roman Catholic Chapel in Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. A Roman Catholic chapel was built during WWI in Invergordon. A picture survives in a photo album held by Historic Environment Scotland and available on the Canmore Website canmore.org.uk (DP196219), showing a simple, single-storey building of vertical staves. It was in use until after WWII when the new Roman Catholic Church on High Street was built at the other end of the High Street, after which is was demolished. By 1947 the site in front of the church was used by Taylor's Garage. This has been demolished, and the entire site is currently (2015) an empty lot. <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>