Monument record MHG8771 - Commercial Bar, 84 High Street, Invergordon

Built in the early C19, the building was listed at Category B in 1983. The OS 1st Edition map appears to show that the Commercial Hotel and the adjacent building (see MHG16241) were separate buildings but by the 2nd Edition both are joined under single use as the Commercial Hotel. They have since been separated again.

The building was investigated in 2015 as part of the ARCH project 'Invergordon in World War I'. During WWI the Royal Hotel and Commercial Hotel were taken over by the Admiralty, presumably to help with the acute housing shortage. The government also took over all pubs and breweries in the area in a move to control licensing hours and alcohol sales (this legislation ceased in 1971). It had steps leading up from the pavement, though these have been removed. They are pictured on a photograph on the Invergordon Archive (no. 1559). It is currently (2015) called the Silver Dollar Lounge, with an entrance on the west side. On a WWI Naval plan in private possession a small building is depicted behind the Commercial Hotel, and shaded to indicate that it was taken over by the Admiralty. It may be part of the hotel, or perhaps a separate building. <1>

The rear of the property previously differed considerably to what currently stands on the site. The former extensions as shown on WWI and immediately subsequent plans have a very different footprint.