Invergordon (;  or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.
It lies in the parish of Rosskeen.
History
The town is well known for the Invergordon Mutiny of 1931.
More recently it has also become known for the repair of oil rigs which line up in the Cromarty Firth on which the town is situated.
In the 1970s and 1980s nearby Nigg was known for the construction of these rigs.
The yard used for this is now attempting to re-establish itself as a fabricator of large offshore wind turbines and oil rig refurbishment since being purchased by Global Energy Group.
For a number of years Invergordon was the site of an aluminium smelter until 1981 when British Aluminium closed it down.
The pipeline that covered the conveyor belt from the smelter to the BA pier was not dismantled until the early 2000s and the two large tanks still stand today as well as a water tower.
It still has a grain whisky distillery, operated by Philippines-owned whisky giant Whyte and Mackay, the output of which contributes to many blended whiskies.
Connected to the distillery was the Invergordon Distillery Pipe Band.
At present the port is visited by many large cruise liners each year, as the deep water port allows disembarkation for coach tours in the northern Highlands.
Since the 1970s some would perceive the town as a 'Glasgow colony', since many workers were recruited from southern Scotland to work in the oil rig fabrication and aluminium smelting industries.
As a result, the residents' accents often show more influence from Glasgow, than the surrounding Easter Ross dialect of Highland English although this has changed in recent years.
In 1971, the British Aluminium Company, which was 47% owned by Reynolds Metals, opened an aluminum smelter here.
In recent years Global Energy Group have been expanding, with the purchase of the Nigg fabrication yard it has also brought much appreciated work to Invergordon's Docks with the town again full of oil company workers through the day.
Naval Base
The naval institute was designed in 1914  by Edinburgh architect Stewart Kaye in reaction to the known oncoming war.Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Stewart Kaye
Remains of the naval base are evidenced in the tank farm lying behind the town centre, the port used to contain fuel oil and water supplies for Admiralty ships, and the Admiralty Pier, where once warships docked and which is now used for cruise ships in the summer and oil-field support vessels through the year (see Inchindown oil tanks).
One German bomb hit one of the tanks during the Second World War when a large flying boat base occupied much of the northerly coast of the Cromarty Firth, the result of this being that the fuel oil flowed onto the railway tracks.
According to town history the bomb did not explode.
On 27–28 May 1957 the Royal Navy held a fleet review in the waters off the town.
The port renewed its military connections in the summer of 2017, when it was visited by the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth during her sea trials.
On 19 June 2021 the last of the Batch-2 River-class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Spey (P234) was commissioned at a ceremony at the former naval base.
Her Majesty's Royal Marines Band Scotland was at the ceremony providing musical support.
Culture
Invergordon is now the premier mural town of the Highlands and hopes to emulate the success of her mentor in Chemainus, 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 the Princess Royal, now acts as a major tourist draw.
Infrastructure
thumb|320px|Panorama of Invergordon The town is served by Invergordon railway station which lies on the Far North Line, and is in close proximity to the A9 trunk 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.Scotsman article by Frank Urquart, 1 December 2012 Education
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.
Notable residents
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 Fleet Sir John Julian Robertson Oswald
Cheryl Paul, newsreader
Sir Charles Ross, inventor of the Ross Rifle
William Ramsay Smith, doctor and activist for Indigenous Australian rights.
Luke Stoltman.
five-time winner of Scotland's Strongest Man
Tom Stoltman, winner of the 2021 World's Strongest Man competition.
References
External links
Invergordon Community Online
Invergordon Archive
Invergordon News
Cromarty Firth Port Authority
Park Primary School
Invergordon Academy
Invergordon Football Club
Invergordon Junior Football Club
http://www.invergordonoffthewall.com
