Speir'S School

Spier's school, at Beith, in North Ayrshire, Scotland was opened in 1888 and closed in 1972. The school, now demolished, was built using Ballochmyle red sandstone and was reminiscent of the ancient Glasgow University. The school motto was 'Quod verum tutum' (What is true is right). The gardens and woodlands are open to the public at all times. Sustrans National Route 7 at Kilbirnie Lochside is the nearest cycle-route access. The Barrmill Road entrance is on the bus route from Beith to Barrmill. HistorySite historyMarshallandRoy's map of 1747 refers to the site as Marchland, indicating that the farm lay on the boundary or march of the Barony of Broadstone within the Lordship of Giffen, and the Barony of Beith, the physical boundary being formed by the Powgree Burn at this point, which is also recorded as the Powgreen or Marshyland burn. Marshalland lay within the Barony of Broadstone. Later maps refer to the site as Marshyland and Marshalland. The land upon which the school was built in 1858 only shows the presence of two wells and the fields of the old Marshalland farm with its tree lined hedgerows. Tom Paterson and his sister farmed Marshalland in the 1950s, however the last people to live at Marshalland were David and Mary Kerr, the fine house and associated farm buildings being demolished in the early 1960s. In 1686, John Shedden, ancestor of the Sheddens of Morrishill in Beith, obtained the 14s Lands of Marsheland from Hugh and John Lyle. He also obtained the 32 Penny Land of Erestoun's Mailling or Burnside of Marsheland. Robert Service bought Marsheland and passed it on to his son Robert. In 1816-17 Robert sold it on to Robert Spier, father of John Spier. Matthew Montgomerie of Bogston's daughter Margaret married John Shedden circa 1700.

Spier's school, at Beith, in North Ayrshire, Scotland was opened in 1888 and closed in 1972. The school, now demolished, was built using Ballochmyle red sandstone and was reminiscent of the ancient Glasgow University. The school motto was 'Quod verum tutum' (What is true is right). The gardens and woodlands are open to the public at all times. Sustrans National Route 7 at Kilbirnie Lochside is the nearest cycle-route access. The Barrmill Road entrance is on the bus route from Beith to Barrmill. HistorySite historyMarshallandRoy's map of 1747 refers to the site as Marchland, indicating that the farm lay on the boundary or march of the Barony of Broadstone within the Lordship of Giffen, and the Barony of Beith, the physical boundary being formed by the Powgree Burn at this point, which is also recorded as the Powgreen or Marshyland burn. Marshalland lay within the Barony of Broadstone. Later maps refer to the site as Marshyland and Marshalland. The land upon which the school was built in 1858 only shows the presence of two wells and the fields of the old Marshalland farm with its tree lined hedgerows. Tom Paterson and his sister farmed Marshalland in the 1950s, however the last people to live at Marshalland were David and Mary Kerr, the fine house and associated farm buildings being demolished in the early 1960s. In 1686, John Shedden, ancestor of the Sheddens of Morrishill in Beith, obtained the 14s Lands of Marsheland from Hugh and John Lyle. He also obtained the 32 Penny Land of Erestoun's Mailling or Burnside of Marsheland. Robert Service bought Marsheland and passed it on to his son Robert. In 1816-17 Robert sold it on to Robert Spier, father of John Spier. Matthew Montgomerie of Bogston's daughter Margaret married John Shedden circa 1700.