Monument record MHG57049 - WWI Laundry and Stores - 9 Seabank Road, Invergordon

WWI laundry and stores on the site of the current 9 Seabank Road, Invergordon.

The site was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. During WWI, the dockyard employed over 4000 people, requiring new accommodation. The Admiralty built an extensive complex of timber hutments in Invergordon, which also included some of the buildings need to service them such as this laundry. On a WWI Naval plan in private possession the laundry is a rectangular building situated to the east of the N block accommodation, on the site currently (2015) occupied by no. 9 Seabank 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>