Invergordon
| Invergordon | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Invergordon Location within theRoss and Cromartyarea | |
| Population | 3,930 (2022)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NH715685 |
| •Edinburgh | 125 mi (201 km) |
| •London | 456 mi (734 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | INVERGORDON |
| Postcode district | IV18 |
| Dialling code | 01349 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Invergordon(/ˌɪnvərˈɡɔːrdən/;Scottish Gaelic:Inbhir GhòrdainorAn Rubha) is a town andportinEaster Ross,inRoss and Cromarty,Highland,Scotland.[2]It lies in the parish ofRosskeen.
History
[edit]
The town built up around the harbour which was established in 1828.[3]The area became apolice burghin 1863[4]andInvergordon Town Hallwas completed in 1871.[5]
The Invergordon Grain Distillery, operated by Philippines-owned whisky giantWhyte & Mackay,was established in 1959.[6]Connected to the distillery was theInvergordon Distillery Pipe Bandwhich was formed in 1964.[7]
In 1971, theBritish Aluminium Company,which was 47% owned byReynolds Metals,opened analuminium smelterat Invergordon.[8]
Naval base
[edit]The naval institute was designed in 1914 by Edinburgh architectStewart Kayein anticipation of theFirst World War.[9]The naval base was the venue for theInvergordon Mutinyof 1931.[10]Remains of thenaval baseare evidenced in the tank farm lying behind the town centre; the port used to contain fuel oil and water supplies for naval ships (seeInchindown oil tanks).[11]
One German bomb hit one of the tanks during theSecond World Warwhen a largeflying boatbase occupied much of the northerly coast of theCromarty Firth.[12]The naval base closed in 1956[13](though the Oil Fuel Depot was retained in service until 1991).[14]On 27–28 May 1957 theRoyal Navyheld afleet reviewin the waters off the town.[15]
Since 1978, the former naval base has been used as a deep water port which has been visited by many largecruise linersand allows disembarkation forcoachtours in the northernHighlands.[16]In the summer of 2017, the port was visited by the newaircraft carrierHMSQueen Elizabethduring her sea trials.[17]On 19 June 2021 the last of the Batch-2River-class offshore patrol vessels,HMSSpey,was commissioned at a ceremony at the former naval base. TheRoyal Marines Band Servicewas at the ceremony providing musical support.[18]
Culture
[edit]Invergordon is now the premier mural town of the Highlands and hopes to emulate the success of her mentor inChemainus, British Columbia.Currently the town is adorned with a series of 17 murals. The paintwork created by a selection of artists tells the stories of the local community and the area. This trail is a result of a community project which was initially designed to integrate local community groups (17 in total took part). The trail, which was opened by thePrincess Royal,now acts as a major tourist draw.[19]
Infrastructure
[edit]
The town is served byInvergordon railway stationwhich lies on theFar North Line,and is in close proximity to theA9trunk road.
As of 2012, there is a controversial scheme for a waste incinerator at the Cromarty Firth Industrial Park in Invergordon, which the Scottish government are now reviewing following protests by the local community. The £43 million plant would be built by Combined Power and Heat (Highlands) Ltd.[20]
Education
[edit]Invergordon has one secondary school, Invergordon Academy, which is fed by four primary schools, Newmore Primary School, Park Primary School, South Lodge Primary School and Milton Primary School.
In 2013 the Highland Council announced plans for a new "super school" to serve Ross-shire with the preferred option being that it be built in Invergordon. This has seen much protest by locals and is currently under review. If it went ahead Alness and Tain academies would close and there would also be a change to the local primary schools.
In popular culture
[edit]In Season 3 of Amazon Prime motoring seriesThe Grand Tour,Jeremy Clarkson,James MayandRichard Hammondvisited Invergordon as part of their journey along theNC500.[21]
Notable residents
[edit]- Jimmy Andrews,footballer
- Robert Brough.painter
- John D. Burgess,piper
- Allan Cameron,curler
- Bryan Gunn,footballer
- James MacBain,Australian politician
- Rob MacLean,football commentator
- Admiral of the FleetSir John Julian Robertson Oswald
- Cheryl Paul,newsreader
- Sir Charles Ross,inventor of theRoss Rifle
- William Ramsay Smith,doctor and activist for Indigenous Australian rights
- David Sutherland,comic book artist and illustrator best known for illustrating comic strips inThe Beanosuch asThe Bash Street Kidsfrom 1962 until his death in 2023 andDennis the Menace and Gnasherfrom 1970–1998.[22]
- Luke Stoltman,five-time winner of Scotland's Strongest Man,2021 Europe's Strongest Man
- Tom Stoltman,brother ofLuke Stoltman,winner of the competition for 3 times,2021,2022and2024
References
[edit]- ^"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland".National Records of Scotland.31 March 2022.Retrieved31 March2022.
- ^Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David."Invergordon".The Gazetteer for Scotland.School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society.Retrieved30 July2018.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."Invergordon, Shore Road, Harbour (14499)".Canmore.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"Invergordon Burgh".Vision of Britain.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."High Street, former Town Hall and Playhouse Cinema (LB35077)".Retrieved5 September2022.
- ^"Invergordan Distillers".Scotch Whisky.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"44 Years Ago".ross-shirejournal.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2015.Retrieved6 March2015.
- ^Lee, John M. (29 May 1971)."British Aluminum Debut Faces World Glut".The New York Times Company.
- ^"Stewart Kaye".Dictionary of Scottish Architects.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"The Invergordon Mutiny of 1931".Sea Your History. Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2011.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^McKenzie, Steven (8 August 2011)."Return to Highlands' Inchindown secret tunnels".BBC Scotland.British Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved18 July2014.
- ^"Memories of Invergordon in World War II"(PDF).16 April 2017. p. 18.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"Invergordon".Undiscovered Scotland.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"Naval Support Infrastructure (1991)".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).House of Commons. 16 July 1991.
- ^"Queen And Duke Visit Home Fleet 1957".British Pathe.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^"Welcome to Invergordon: Gateway to the Highlands".Port of Cromarty Firth.Retrieved6 September2022.
- ^Allison, George (15 January 2017)."MoD deny rumours that a new aircraft carrier will be mothballed".UK Defence Journal.
- ^HMS SPEY Commissioned Into ROYAL NAVY 🌊 🚢,archivedfrom the original on 21 December 2021,retrieved19 June2021
- ^"Invergordon Museum | Gallery".invergordonmuseum.co.uk.Retrieved2 August2020.
- ^Scotsman article by Frank Urquart, 1 December 2012
- ^"Jeremy Clarkson and Grand Tour co-hosts ridicule Scots town during NC500 road trip".24 February 2019.
- ^"Beano's Bash Street Kids artist David Sutherland dies".BBC News.19 January 2023.Retrieved20 January2023.
