Monument record MHG57043 - WWI C.E.'s Fitting Shop - Invergordon Dockyard

The WWI C.E.'s Fitting Shop at Invergordon Dockyard.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. The Dockyard workshops to the south of High Street comprised a number of specialist workshops, some quite large, used for ship repairs. Plans from WWI and WWII in private collection allow functions to be assigned in some cases. A WWI Naval plan in private possession shows a Fitting Shop at this location. Photos from a WWI photo album in the Historic Environment Scotland collection, and available on the Canmore website canmore. org.uk (DP196213 and DP196214), show a high (at least 3 storey building) with gantries, workbenches, and enough space to include the tail shaft from a ship. A railway branch line ran into the building from the west, terminating inside the building. Only foundations of the building appear on the 1930 aerial photograph. Low remains of the north wall, concrete foundations, and exceptionally a section of the railway line still survive. Much of the building to the south of the railway line was destroyed by the building of the road. <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>