Archaeology Notes

Event ID 799124

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/799124

NH64NE 139 6710 4560

Not to be confused with Lochgorm Railway Works (NH 6694 4568), for which see NH64NE 167.

NH 667 455 An evaluation was undertaken to the S and E of Inverness Railway Station revealing several features relating to the Inverness locomotive depot of the Highland Railway. The site was most recently used for car parking after the Inverness auction mart abandoned the site in the late 1980s.

The objectives of the archaeological evaluation were to uncover and record the nature, extent and preservation of any components of the former locomotive works, and to assess whether there was any archaeological evidence of earlier activity.

The evaluation area comprised c 3.5ha, and an area of c 1750m2 was examined by the excavation of eleven trenches. Eight trenches contained various components of rail track, the roundhouse engine shed and turning pit, water tower and coaling stage associated with the locomotive depot. Finds include cast-iron building material, copper-alloy and rusted iron objects related to the railway, and occasional tools. Other modern artefacts and related industrial waste were also found.

A report will be lodged with Highland SMR and the NMRS.

Sponsor: Halliday Fraser Munro for Safeway plc.

J Hamilton 1999