The Invergordon Archive

The slipway in the foreground was used by the Invergordon-Balblair ferry. It is likely that the mast that can be seen is that of the ferry.

Believe it or not, this was our swimming area. We used to change into our trunks on the ledge that can be seen in front of the Ferry Shed. We used to run like the wind and get in the water quick as it was freezing. "Not bad once you're in" was the most heard comment...I can remember the Ferry Shed fire in the early 50s. The only part that was saved was the storage shed at the east end. This housed the fuel etc for the Ferry boat, which was run by Dougal Macintosh and later on by Teddy Aborough.

Harry, the big shed was called the cement shed. Just to the right of that canvas tent thing and on the beach was the large piece (two in fact) of naval target from which my Dad and Sandy Russell’s Dad stripped off large sleepers for fire wood. On the ledge running along the shed was where Dad and Sandy’s old man sat and had their photographs taken with some of the shells they found in the pieces of the target. The other pieces of that target was the piece right out, with the pole sticking up, and the other bit was up almost opposite the coal yard. Somewhere in the archives of either the Ross-shire Herald or the Press and Journal there should be the photograph I’m talking about. This would have been before the outbreak of war - 1937-39 time. If anybody up there has a spare few hours they might look through the newspaper archives.

I'm trying to figure out what these buildings are in the top left side of the photograph, was it some sort of military camp?

Eddie, the way the buildings look on the hill, would they have been at the Cromlet near the old swing park? Anything to do with the building of the tanks?

Hello Liz, Not sure, looks as if they are in the Cromlet area, but there seems to be some of the same to the right of the picture as well. Could be for building the tanks as a lot of people were involved. I know my Grandfather Taylor came up from Newcastle to help build them.

Liz is correct, the Cromlet and where the tank farm is or was used to be filled with army huts.

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