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school</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Foundation_of_the_school-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-School_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#School_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>School history</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-School_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_school_buildings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_school_buildings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>The school buildings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_school_buildings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-School_sports" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#School_sports"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>School sports</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-School_sports-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_World_Wars" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_World_Wars"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>The World Wars</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_World_Wars-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_gardens_and_woodlands" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_gardens_and_woodlands"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>The gardens and woodlands</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_gardens_and_woodlands-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Spier's_Trust" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Spier's_Trust"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>The Spier's Trust</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Spier's_Trust-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Diamond_Jubilee_Time_Capsule" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Diamond_Jubilee_Time_Capsule"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Diamond_Jubilee_Time_Capsule-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Spier's_Cholera_Pit" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Spier's_Cholera_Pit"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>The Spier's Cholera Pit</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Spier's_Cholera_Pit-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Diamond_Jubilee_Wood" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Diamond_Jubilee_Wood"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Diamond Jubilee Wood</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Diamond_Jubilee_Wood-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Spier's_Labyrinth_and_War_memorial" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Spier's_Labyrinth_and_War_memorial"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>The Spier's Labyrinth and War memorial</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Spier's_Labyrinth_and_War_memorial-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Natural_history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Natural_history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">13</span> <span>Natural history</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Natural_history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Wildlife_Site_status" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Wildlife_Site_status"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">14</span> <span>Wildlife Site status</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Wildlife_Site_status-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-North_Ayrshire_Council" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#North_Ayrshire_Council"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">15</span> <span>North Ayrshire Council</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-North_Ayrshire_Council-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Spier's_Arboretum" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Spier's_Arboretum"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">16</span> <span>The Spier's Arboretum</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Spier's_Arboretum-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Leaflets,_Facebook,_etc." class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Leaflets,_Facebook,_etc."> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">17</span> <span>Leaflets, Facebook, etc.</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Leaflets,_Facebook,_etc.-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Memorials_to_John_Spier_and_Spier's_school" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Memorials_to_John_Spier_and_Spier's_school"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">18</span> <span>Memorials to John Spier and Spier's school</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Memorials_to_John_Spier_and_Spier's_school-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Geilsland" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Geilsland"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">19</span> <span>Geilsland</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Geilsland-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Gateside_Village" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Gateside_Village"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">20</span> <span>Gateside Village</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Gateside_Village-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Industrial_and_social_archaeology" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Industrial_and_social_archaeology"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21</span> <span>Industrial and social archaeology</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Industrial_and_social_archaeology-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Industrial and social archaeology subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Industrial_and_social_archaeology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-The_Moot_Hill" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Moot_Hill"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21.1</span> <span>The Moot Hill</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Moot_Hill-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Quarrying" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Quarrying"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21.2</span> <span>Quarrying</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Quarrying-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Broadstone_castle" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Broadstone_castle"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21.3</span> <span>Broadstone castle</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Broadstone_castle-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Broadstone_or_Hillhead_Limekilns" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Broadstone_or_Hillhead_Limekilns"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">21.4</span> <span>Broadstone or Hillhead Limekilns</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Broadstone_or_Hillhead_Limekilns-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Geology" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Geology"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">22</span> <span>Geology</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Geology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-DM_Beith" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#DM_Beith"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">23</span> <span>DM Beith</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-DM_Beith-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Marshalland_Burn" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Marshalland_Burn"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">24</span> <span>Marshalland Burn</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Marshalland_Burn-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Lands_of_Roughwood" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Lands_of_Roughwood"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">25</span> <span>The Lands of Roughwood</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Lands_of_Roughwood-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Micro-history" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Micro-history"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">26</span> <span>Micro-history</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Micro-history-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Restoration_of_Spier's_parklands" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Restoration_of_Spier's_parklands"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">27</span> <span>Restoration of Spier's parklands</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Restoration_of_Spier's_parklands-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Restoration of Spier's parklands subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Restoration_of_Spier's_parklands-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Community_involvement_at_Spier's" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Community_involvement_at_Spier's"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">27.1</span> <span>Community involvement at Spier's</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Community_involvement_at_Spier's-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Friends_of_Spier's_(FoS)" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Friends_of_Spier's_(FoS)"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">27.2</span> <span>Friends of Spier's (FoS)</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Friends_of_Spier's_(FoS)-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_Cuff" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_Cuff"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">28</span> <span>The Cuff</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_Cuff-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">29</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">30</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon 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<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Building in North Ayrshire, Scotland</div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above fn org">Spier's School</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="text-align: center"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG/250px-Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG" decoding="async" width="250" height="333" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG/375px-Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG/500px-Speir%27s_seal_at_Beith_Primary.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1680" data-file-height="2240" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption" style="text-align: center">The Seal of the Governors of Spier's school. Note the 'old' architectural design - which was never used, and the date; some 18 years before the school opened. This item is now located at Beith Primary school.</div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="text-align: center"><a class="mw-kartographer-map notheme mw-kartographer-container center" style="width: 250px; height: 200px;" data-mw-kartographer="mapframe" data-style="osm-intl" data-width="250" data-height="200" data-zoom="13" data-overlays="["_0444ec02696fe7ba2419df3f614b19a289d61692"]"><img src="https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,13,a,a,250x200.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Spier%27s_School&revid=1258637691&groups=_0444ec02696fe7ba2419df3f614b19a289d61692" width="250" height="200" decoding="async" srcset="https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm-intl,13,a,a,250x200@2x.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Spier%27s_School&revid=1258637691&groups=_0444ec02696fe7ba2419df3f614b19a289d61692 2x" alt="Map" /></a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#ededed">General information</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Address</th><td class="infobox-data">KA15 1LU</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Town or city</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Beith" title="Beith">Beith</a>, <a href="/wiki/North_Ayrshire" title="North Ayrshire">North Ayrshire</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Country</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Scotland" title="Scotland">Scotland</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system" title="Geographic coordinate system">Coordinates</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="geo-inline"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1156832818">.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}</style><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Spier%27s_School&params=55.745_N_4.625_W_region:GB_type:landmark"><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">55°44′42″N</span> <span class="longitude">4°37′30″W</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">55.745°N 4.625°W</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">55.745; -4.625</span></span></span></a></span></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Construction started</th><td class="infobox-data">September 1887</td></tr><tr class="note"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Completed</th><td class="infobox-data">September 1888</td></tr><tr class="note"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Demolished</th><td class="infobox-data">1984</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Cost</th><td class="infobox-data">£12,000</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Client</th><td class="infobox-data">John Spier</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#ededed">Design and construction</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Architect(s)</th><td class="infobox-data">James Sellars</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Spier's School</b> (NS352533), at <a href="/wiki/Beith" title="Beith">Beith</a>, in <a href="/wiki/North_Ayrshire" title="North Ayrshire">North Ayrshire</a>, 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 <a href="/wiki/Glasgow_University" class="mw-redirect" title="Glasgow University">Glasgow University</a>. The school motto was 'Quod verum tutum' (What is true is safe).<sup id="cite_ref-Speir's_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The gardens and woodlands are open to the public at all times. </p><p><a href="/wiki/Sustrans" title="Sustrans">Sustrans</a> 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. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Marshalland">Marshalland</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Marshalland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Lands_of_Marshalland" title="Lands of Marshalland">Lands of Marshalland</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg/220px-Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="172" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg/330px-Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg/440px-Map_of_Speir%27s_school.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3776" data-file-height="2960" /></a><figcaption>Spier's school's location near Beith</figcaption></figure> <p>In 1686, John Shedden, ancestor of the Sheddens of Morrishill in Beith, obtained the 14 shilling Lands of "Marsheland" from Hugh and John Lyle. He also obtained the 32 Penny Land of Erestoun's Mailling or "Burnside of Marsheland".<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Margaret, a daughter of Matthew Montgomerie of Bogston, married John Shedden about 1700.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Roy's map of 1747 refers to the site of the later school as "Marchland" and shows the property lying on the boundary (or march) of the Barony of Broadstone, within the <a href="/wiki/Barony_and_Castle_of_Giffen" title="Barony and Castle of Giffen">Lordship of Giffen</a>, and the Barony of <a href="/wiki/Beith" title="Beith">Beith</a>, the physical boundary being formed at this point by the Powgree Burn,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which is also recorded as the Powgreen or Marshyland burn. Marshalland lay within the Barony of Broadstone.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Later maps call the area "Marshyland" and "Marshalland". A Marshall family were blacksmiths in <a href="/wiki/Gateside,_North_Ayrshire" title="Gateside, North Ayrshire">Gateside</a> for many generations, however no direct connection has been shown to exist. </p><p>John Shedden of Marsheland, born on 25 April 1756, was locally known as 'Jack the Marsheland'. He was known as a poacher of hares, at a time when the game laws were very strict. Jack had various brushes with the law, and as a result he had to leave the area for a while and became a game-keeper, his local nickname adapting itself to become 'Jack the Gem-Keeper.' When he died, he had a friend fire a shotgun over his grave, much to the surprise and consternation of the minister.<sup id="cite_ref-Dobie3_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dobie3-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Porterfield2-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Robert Service bought Marsheland and passed it on to his son Robert. In 1816-17, the younger Robert Service sold it to Robert Spier, father of John Spier.<sup id="cite_ref-Dobie3_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dobie3-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1820, the part of "the Marshal-land" held by Robert Spier had a rent value of £58 18s 2d, while another part held by a Mrs Gibson was valued at £20 0s 0d.<sup id="cite_ref-Robertson_8-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Robertson-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Aitken's map of 1829 shows an R. Spier, Esquire, as resident at "Marsheyland".<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Andrew Spier, John's brother, is called "of Marshalland" and may have lived there until his untimely death.<sup id="cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ladyland_1887-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Robert Spier owned the Cuff estate, and through his marriage to Margaret Gibson acquired the estate of Marshalland.<sup id="cite_ref-L_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> John Spier was the son of Robert Spier, described as a Writer and bank agent in Beith, owner of the Marshalland and Cuff estates, which included <a href="/wiki/Lands_of_Bogston" title="Lands of Bogston">Bogstone</a>, Bellcraig, Eastend of Shutterflat, and Lugton Ridge farms. Robert was descended from the Spiers of <a href="/wiki/The_Barony_of_Kersland" class="mw-redirect" title="The Barony of Kersland">Kersland Mill</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ladyland_1887-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> which he bought from his elder brother. Through good business acumen, he accumulated a considerable fortune of £40,000 in land and money,<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> equivalent to £4,998,457 in 2023. </p><p>In a map of 1858, the land on which the school was later built shows only the presence of two wells and the fields of the Marshalland farm, with its tree-lined hedgerows. Tom Paterson and his sister farmed Marshalland in the 1950s, and the last people to live at Marshalland were David and Mary Kerr, before the fine house and associated farm buildings were demolished in the early 1960s.<sup id="cite_ref-Marshalland_13-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Marshalland-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Foundation_of_the_school">Foundation of the school</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Foundation of the school"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:John_Speir_Garnock.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/John_Speir_Garnock.JPG/220px-John_Speir_Garnock.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/John_Speir_Garnock.JPG/330px-John_Speir_Garnock.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/John_Speir_Garnock.JPG/440px-John_Speir_Garnock.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1712" data-file-height="2288" /></a><figcaption>Statue of John Spier (died 1858), honoured as founder of the school</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG/220px-Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG/330px-Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG/440px-Spier%27s_Feu_Disposition.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1712" data-file-height="2288" /></a><figcaption>The Spier's Institution Disposition of 1869</figcaption></figure> <p>Margaret Gibson or Spier, of Whang House, the widow of Robert Spier of Marshalland and Cuff, was herself from a local family, and she had sons who predeceased her. John Spier of Cuff died in 1858 at the age of 28 in <a href="/wiki/Largs" title="Largs">Largs</a>, and his brother Andrew Spier of Marshalland had died before him. Before he died, John expressed a wish for a school to be founded with the inheritance which would have been his.<sup id="cite_ref-Reid_2001,_Page_96_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Reid_2001,_Page_96-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By a disposition and settlement dated 19 March 1869, Margaret Gibson Spier put money in trust for the founding of a "ragged" or charitable school near Glasgow, and gave instructions that construction was to begin within a year of her death. She stipulated that the school should provide places for 24 children, who were not to have pauper or tradesmen parents and were to be of any religious denomination except for <a href="/wiki/Roman_Catholicism" class="mw-redirect" title="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism</a>. Teachers and other staff were to be dismissed if they married, were to retire at sixty with no pension from the trust, and if sick were to pay for a teacher to cover their duties. No Roman Catholics were to be employed, and the Presbyterian minister of Beith was to make weekly visits of inspection.<sup id="cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Spier's_Trust-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>When Margaret Spier died on 17 February 1870,<sup id="cite_ref-Beith_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Beith-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> perhaps as the result of a carriage accident,<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> there was £12,000 for the erection of the intended school.<sup id="cite_ref-Groome_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Groome-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Pride8_19-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Pride8-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> She had also bought the lands of Bogston and Corshole from Charlotte Decker or Montgomerie in 1848, and these were part of the foundation endowment of Spier's School.<sup id="cite_ref-Dobie4_20-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dobie4-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> She also left money for other charitable purposes, as recorded in the vestibule of Beith Kirk. In addition to the money for the school, she charged her lands of Cuff with a yearly payment of £25 to the Ministers of Beith Kirk to provide warm clothing and coals to the deserving poor of the town and parish.<sup id="cite_ref-Beith_16-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Beith-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Locally Margaret Spier was known as 'Lady' Spier.<sup id="cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Porterfield2-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> She also appears to have wanted to build a hospital, however funds were not available from her estates for such a costly enterprise.<sup id="cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ladyland_1887-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> After her death, Whang House was bought by a Thomas Miller.<sup id="cite_ref-L_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/John_Thomas_Rochead" title="John Thomas Rochead">John Thomas Rochead</a> of Glasgow was to have been the architect of the school, and a very specific requirement was that 'Binny' stone for Edinburgh was to be used in the school's construction, so far as possible. William Brodie was to be the sculptor of the Spier memorial statues and an Italian sculpture of the 'Graces and two cupids', favourite of John Spier, was to be permanently housed in the Spier's school board room.<sup id="cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Spier's_Trust-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>John Spier, Margaret's eldest surviving son, had the task of carrying out her wishes, and had different ideas. He seems to have intended that the school should also serve as a memorial to himself, and decided to site it in the parish of Beith.<sup id="cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Spier's_Trust-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, this led to disputes and delays, and an investigation by a <a href="/wiki/Royal_Commission" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Commission">Royal Commission</a>, and a final plan emerged from that for a co-educational day school at Beith which would be equipped to take a small number of boarders. B. W. Cochran-Patrick of Ladyland & Woodside delivered his "Dedication Speech of the Spier School" on 28 April 1887,<sup id="cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Ladyland_1887-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and in September 1887 the school's foundation stone was laid on site, in the presence of more than a thousand guests.<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="School_history">School history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: School history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_School,_Beith,_from_the_front_garden.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg/300px-Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg" decoding="async" width="300" height="153" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg/450px-Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg/600px-Spier%27s_School%2C_Beith%2C_from_the_front_garden.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2416" data-file-height="1232" /></a><figcaption>Spier's School in 1900<sup id="cite_ref-Logan_22-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Logan-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg/220px-Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="163" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg/330px-Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg/440px-Spier%27s_School_Map_-_1888.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3296" data-file-height="2448" /></a><figcaption>A map of the school as it was in 1888</figcaption></figure> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238443738">.mw-parser-output .locmap .od{position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .id{position:absolute;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .locmap .l0{font-size:0;position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv{line-height:110%;position:absolute;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv>div{display:inline;padding:1px}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:left}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:#fff!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:white!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}</style><div class="locmap noviewer noresize thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:152px"><div style="position:relative;width:150px;border:1px solid lightgray"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Spier's School is located in Scotland"><img alt="Spier's School is located in Scotland" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg/150px-Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="197" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg/225px-Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg/300px-Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1128" data-file-height="1483" /></a></span><div class="od notheme" style="top:80.923%;left:49.762%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Spier's School"><img alt="Spier's School" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/12px-Red_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/16px-Red_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:5px"><div>Spier's School</div></div></div></div><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Scotland_relief_location_map.jpg" title="File:Scotland relief location map.jpg">class=notpageimage| </a></div>Location of Spier's School grounds</div></div></div> <p>The school opened on 22 September 1888, with 140 pupils, mostly from North Ayrshire, and with <a href="/wiki/Bruce_Lockhart_family" title="Bruce Lockhart family">Robert Bruce Lockhart</a>, previously head of <a href="/wiki/Waid_Academy" title="Waid Academy">Waid Academy</a>, as the first headmaster. <a href="/wiki/Independent_school_(UK)" class="mw-redirect" title="Independent school (UK)">Fees</a> were charged, but free education was available to local children who passed a qualifying examination and were recommended by their schoolteachers. </p><p>The school administration was in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant of the County, seven representatives of the school boards, and the existing trustees as life governors, to be replaced by two heritors of the parish of Beith in due course. </p><p>The boarders were always a minor element, never more than fourteen. They lived in the Head Master's house and wore kilts on weekdays and Eton suits and hats on Sundays. Fees were 50 guineas for full-time boarders; 40 for weekly boarders; and 6 guineas per annum for day-scholars.<sup id="cite_ref-23" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-23"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>23<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">First World War</a> of 1914 to 1918 and the shortage of domestic staff resulted in boarding at the school coming to an end for the duration of the war. </p><p>The boys were taught separately from the girls until 1893, when the extra costs of this forced a more liberal approach to emerge. In 1895, <a href="/wiki/John_Alexander_Third" title="John Alexander Third">Dr J. A. Third</a> took over from Lockhart as head. The school motto was "Quod verum, tutum", meaning <i>What is true is safe</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-Latin_24-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Latin-24"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>24<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An initiation tradition for new boys at the senior school was to be thrown into the pond and then over the wall into Marshalland, known as being 'Ducked and Tossed'. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Murder_of_Mary_Speir_Gunn" title="Murder of Mary Speir Gunn">murder of Mary Speir Gunn</a> happened at Northbank Cottage, <a href="/wiki/Portencross" title="Portencross">Portencross</a>, in 1913. She was a granddaughter of Margaret Gibson Spier, and the murder remains unsolved to this day. </p><p>Dr Third retired in 1919, and later headmasters of the school and was succeeded briefly by Alexander Emslie (1919–1921) and then by Gilbert R. Mair (1921–1937).<sup id="cite_ref-reid_25-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reid-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The number on the school roll was 310 in 1933, and it reached a high point of over 350 after new classrooms were added.<sup id="cite_ref-Speir's_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> By 1932, however, the school was in financial difficulties, and in 1936, after a prolonged campaign, the county education authority took over the school.<sup id="cite_ref-Speir's_1-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-26" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-26"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>26<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-27" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-27"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>27<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1937, soon after the takeover by Ayrshire, a new headmaster, Robert R. Fairley, was appointed, and he remained in post until 1963, when he was succeeded by the school's last head, David K. Conn.<sup id="cite_ref-reid_25-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-reid-25"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>25<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1968, there were nineteen full-time staff and four itinerant teachers in the secondary department, and two in the junior school. The senior school had three houses, to which pupils belonged, Cuff, Spier's, and Marshalland.<sup id="cite_ref-Gardner_28-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Gardner-28"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>28<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The school closed on 30 June 1972, at the end of the summer term, due to the imminent opening of <a href="/wiki/Garnock_Academy" class="mw-redirect" title="Garnock Academy">Garnock Academy</a> at Kilbirnie, which took over the secondary pupils from Spier's, Kilbirnie Central, and Dalry High School.<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Spier's School buildings became derelict and were eventually demolished in the 1980s. </p><p>Some of the ornamental stonework was recovered after demolition and lay near the staff car park at Garnock Academy, <a href="/wiki/Kilbirnie" title="Kilbirnie">Kilbirnie</a>; some of the stones were built into a commemorative seat. The Spier's school rector's table and chairs, together with a stained glass window and the John Spier statue, were also at Garnock Academy. In 2016, Garnock Academy also closed, to be replaced by the Garnock Community Campus at Longbar. Some of the Spier's stones have been moved to the Spier's School grounds. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG/170px-Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG" decoding="async" width="170" height="250" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG/255px-Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG/340px-Spier%27s_School_Magazine_No_1.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3648" data-file-height="5360" /></a><figcaption>Spier's Magazine No 1, 1888</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_school_buildings">The school buildings</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: The school buildings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg/170px-Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="259" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg/255px-Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg/340px-Glasgow_-old-_university.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3216" data-file-height="4896" /></a><figcaption>A view of Glasgow's old university buildings after which Spier's was modelled<sup id="cite_ref-Billings_29-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Billings-29"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>29<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg/220px-Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="140" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg/330px-Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg/440px-Speir%27s_school_1891.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2944" data-file-height="1872" /></a><figcaption>Spier's School in 1891<sup id="cite_ref-Magazine_30-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Magazine-30"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>30<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg/220px-Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="174" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg/330px-Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg/440px-Spier%27s_School_from_the_front_garden.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2272" data-file-height="1792" /></a><figcaption>Spier's School in the 1950s<sup id="cite_ref-Logan_22-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Logan-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></figcaption></figure> <p>The Barrmill Road entrance is stylistically of 17th century style, comparable to those at Moray House of 1628 in the Canongate, Edinburgh. The entrance is a C Listed structure,<sup id="cite_ref-31" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-31"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>31<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as are the boundary walls and the two other gates. The total length of the boundary walls is 937 metres. </p><p>Spier's school or college when first completed had a 100-foot (30 m) belltower, hall, boardrooms, 10 classrooms and school-house all designed in the 17th-century style by Campbell Douglas and James Sellars, a Glasgow architectural firm.<sup id="cite_ref-School_32-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-School-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> James Sellars died before the school was completed. The old seal of the governors and a stained glass window (now in Beith Primary School) depicting the seal, shows that a "French middle point" design had originally been intended. The buildings actually constructed were also on a smaller scale than had been intended.<sup id="cite_ref-Speir's_1-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The cost was £12,000.<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An Art room, gymnasium and a Science room were added in 1908, during Dr Third's time.<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Four Horsa classrooms were added after 1945, being built on the site of the Head Master's garden or orchard. Electricity was installed once the Ayrshire Education authority took charge, however after closure on 30 June 1972 the buildings were subject to vandalism and all the buildings were demolished in 1984. </p><p>The Spier's Trust Working Group and the Regional Council made various attempts to find a new use for the buildings, even employing ASSIST, a Glasgow Architectural practice, in 1981. Many suggestions were made, ranging from Country Club to sports academy, but none were ultimately successful for this category 'B' listed building.<sup id="cite_ref-Assist_33-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Assist-33"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>33<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One proposal, The Spier's Centre, would have had facilities for show jumping, a dry-ski slope, saunas, a solarium, stables, a heritage centre, a cafe, Park Ranger's office, etc. costing £730,000.<sup id="cite_ref-Archive_34-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Archive-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The John Spier memorials were moved to the Old Kirk in Beith in the same year.<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-School_32-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-School-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The large statue of John Spier which used to stand outside the rector's office was moved to Garnock Academy. The gate piers are C-Listed and the 'tops' were known as the 'Dunces' Caps' by the pupils.<sup id="cite_ref-Hart_35-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hart-35"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>35<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A separate 'Janitor's or Caretaker's' house existed; last occupied by a Mrs.Rae.<sup id="cite_ref-Archive_34-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Archive-34"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>34<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="School_sports">School sports</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: School sports"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG/220px-Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG/330px-Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG/440px-Marshlands_and_Craig_House.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The Marshlands playing fields with Craig House in the background</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Lawn_spiers.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Lawn_spiers.JPG/220px-Lawn_spiers.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Lawn_spiers.JPG/330px-Lawn_spiers.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Lawn_spiers.JPG/440px-Lawn_spiers.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The 'High Field', old Hockey and rugby practice pitches site near the Geilsland Road side of the grounds<span class="geo-inline"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1156832818"><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Spier%27s_School&params=55_44.760_N_4_37.439_W_region:GB_type:edu&title=Practice+field"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">55°44.760′N</span> <span class="longitude">4°37.439′W</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="vcard"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">55.746000°N 4.623983°W</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">55.746000; -4.623983</span></span><span style="display:none"> (<span class="fn org">Practice field</span>)</span></span></span></a></span></span></figcaption></figure> <p>Spier's had a great reputation for playing sports and it was the first school in Ayrshire to play rugby football,<sup id="cite_ref-Speir's_1-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as R. Bruce Lockhart, the first headmaster, was a former Vice President of the Scottish Rugby Union.<sup id="cite_ref-36" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-36"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>36<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The first game was played at Marshalland on 30 October 1890.<sup id="cite_ref-K97_37-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-K97-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As stated, the school had a house system, with Cuff, Marshalland and Spier; providing competition on the school sports days held in June on the Marshalland playing fields. Tennis (girls only), cricket, hockey, net ball and golf were played and a quaint game called targette was played in the early days. </p><p>The Old Spierian Football Club, later the Old Spierian Rugby Club, came into existence in 1890.<sup id="cite_ref-K97_37-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-K97-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Garnock_RFC" title="Garnock RFC">Garnock Rugby Club</a> came into existence in 1972 as a result of the closure of Spier's and Dalry schools. George G.H. Johnstone, a maths teacher at Spier's, had founded the rugby club for former pupils and continued his involvement until his death in 1973, at the age of 93.<sup id="cite_ref-Johnstone_38-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Johnstone-38"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>38<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Old Spierians, A.Frew, J. H. Bruce Lockhart, and David Shedden were capped for Scotland.<sup id="cite_ref-K97_37-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-K97-37"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>37<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The 7.28 acres (29,500 m<sup>2</sup>) 'Marshland' (<i>sic</i>) playing fields are mainly used for football now and facilities are provided in the form of large metal trans-shipment containers based at the car park. A wooden games pavilion existed here in the days of the school. </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_World_Wars">The World Wars</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: The World Wars"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The school had an unofficial cadet corps in 1914 and donated money to the Belgian Refugee Fund in 1915 and it also endowed a hospital bed in 1918. In the Second World War part of the High Field was converted into a potato field as part of the "<a href="/wiki/Dig_for_Victory" class="mw-redirect" title="Dig for Victory">Dig for Victory</a>" initiative. </p><p>Seventy Old Spierians made the supreme sacrifice and the war memorials were a central feature of the old school buildings. The memorial is now in storage at the North Ayrshire Museum in <a href="/wiki/Saltcoats" title="Saltcoats">Saltcoats</a>, awaiting a suitable location for re-erection. The school also had a Garden of Remembrance composed of a rose garden within a square of yew hedges and an internal path. This was under restoration by the YMBB youth group in 2012. </p> <dl><dt>Role of honour for World War I and World War II</dt></dl> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/93px-Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG" decoding="async" width="93" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/140px-Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/186px-Spier%27s_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2307" data-file-height="2972" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/96px-Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG" decoding="async" width="96" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/144px-Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG/192px-Spiers_WWI_Role_of_Honour.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2307" data-file-height="2877" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/81px-Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG" decoding="async" width="81" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/121px-Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/161px-Spier%27s_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2402" data-file-height="3568" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"></div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/83px-Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG" decoding="async" width="83" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/124px-Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG/165px-Spiers_WWII_Role_of_Honour.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2626" data-file-height="3810" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext"></div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_gardens_and_woodlands">The gardens and woodlands</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: The gardens and woodlands"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Forbidden_Path,_Spier%27s_School.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG/220px-The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG/330px-The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG/440px-The_Forbidden_Path%2C_Spier%27s_School.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1712" data-file-height="2288" /></a><figcaption>The 'Forbidden Path' between the girls' and the boys' entrance</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg/220px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="304" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg/330px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg/440px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Grounds.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1631" data-file-height="2256" /></a><figcaption>Spier's in 2011.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiers_plucking_post.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_plucking_post.JPG/220px-Spiers_plucking_post.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_plucking_post.JPG/330px-Spiers_plucking_post.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Spiers_plucking_post.JPG/440px-Spiers_plucking_post.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>A bird of prey 'plucking post' in the grounds of the old school</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG/220px-Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG/330px-Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG/440px-Spiers_harts_tongue_fern.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>A Hart's-tongue fern (<i>Phyllitis scolopendrium</i>) growing in the lime mortar of an old wall</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Celandine_Sward.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Celandine_Sward.JPG/220px-Celandine_Sward.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Celandine_Sward.JPG/330px-Celandine_Sward.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Celandine_Sward.JPG/440px-Celandine_Sward.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>Celandine-dominated woodland in early spring</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG/170px-The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG" decoding="async" width="170" height="227" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG/255px-The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG/340px-The_Dawn_Redwood_in_leaf.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1712" data-file-height="2288" /></a><figcaption>The Spier's dawn redwood</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg/220px-Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="113" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg/330px-Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg/440px-Spiers_Coronation_Garden_Planting_1953.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3318" data-file-height="1704" /></a><figcaption>Planting the dawn redwood tree at the Coronation Garden in 1953.</figcaption></figure> <p>The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society list Spier's as an important designed landscape.<sup id="cite_ref-RCHS_39-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RCHS-39"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>39<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Earl of Eglinton's head gardener at <a href="/wiki/Eglinton_Country_Park" title="Eglinton Country Park">Eglinton Castle</a> laid out the 16.53 acres (66,900 m<sup>2</sup>) of policies (from the Latin word <i>politus</i> meaning embellished<sup id="cite_ref-Dingwall_40-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Dingwall-40"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>40<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>) and gardens. He used a variety of trees and shrubs, especially holly varieties, eventually producing a very fine setting for the school; much of the plantings remain to this day (2008).<sup id="cite_ref-Old_Speirian_41-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Old_Speirian-41"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>41<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> There were between 50 and 100 varieties of trees within the grounds of Spier's and they used to be labelled with their botanical names.<sup id="cite_ref-Stevenson_42-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Stevenson-42"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>42<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The 1888 order for trees from Samson Nurseries survives and lists the trees ordered for the arboretum as 300 sycamores; 300 Scotch elm; 400 beech; 1000 Scotch fir (<i>sic</i>); 200 Austrian pine; 200 black spruce; 200 black spruce; 50 English elm; 200 Norway maple; 175 limes; 50 English oak; 50 turkey oak; 75 horse chestnut; 50 hornbeam; 200 weeping birch; 100 rhododendron; 100 rowans; and also ash and willows for the hedge.<sup id="cite_ref-a_43-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-a-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The walled garden area, internally divided and later used for extra classroom space, was originally an orchard and Kitchen Garden; the entrance off the Terrace Walk at the old Tennis Lawns was used by the female pupils only. The path is described as a 'wheelbarrow road' and the plans for a 'Girls Garden' leading into the Girls' Court survive. The site near the Broadstone Arch with three sides formed from a yew hedge was the World War II Garden of Remembrance and now contains a labyrinth.<sup id="cite_ref-a_43-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-a-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An order for the Kitchen Garden lists five <a href="/wiki/Espalier" title="Espalier">espalier</a> pear, six apple, one plum and two cherry varieties for the five foot high walls and twelve standard fruit trees for planting internally. In addition the Kitchen Garden contained gooseberries, blackcurrants, whitecurrants, redcurrants and raspberries.<sup id="cite_ref-a_43-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-a-43"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>43<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A 'Coronation Garden' was established here in 1953. The site was close to the tennis lawns which lay next to the school on the Geilsland Road side. </p><p>This 1953 Coronation Garden was created with the central feature of the newly discovered "<a href="/wiki/Living_fossil" title="Living fossil">living fossil</a>" tree, the dawn redwood. This tree is very slow growing; it was surrounded by a key shaped edged path network with other ornamental plantings. It was damaged at the top during a money raising drive to fell trees for firewood for sale.<span class="geo-inline"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1156832818"><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Spier%27s_School&params=55_44.713_N_4_37.505_W_region:GB_type:edu&title=Coronation+garden"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">55°44.713′N</span> <span class="longitude">4°37.505′W</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="vcard"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">55.745217°N 4.625083°W</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">55.745217; -4.625083</span></span><span style="display:none"> (<span class="fn org">Coronation garden</span>)</span></span></span></a></span></span> </p><p>The altitude of the site is between 95 m and 100 m. </p><p>The area of woodland near the back entrance to Geilsland School is dominated by a ground layer of ivy and was known as the 'Ivy Palace' to the pupils of Spier's. </p><p>The ornamental plantings include the laurel-leaf <a href="/wiki/Holly" title="Holly">holly</a> (<i>Ilex aquifolia laurifolia</i>), <a href="/wiki/Highclere" title="Highclere">Highclere</a> holly, (<i>Ilex aquifolia hodginsii</i>),<sup id="cite_ref-Alan_44-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Alan-44"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>44<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Horse_chestnut" class="mw-redirect" title="Horse chestnut">horse chestnut</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cedar_of_Lebanon" class="mw-redirect" title="Cedar of Lebanon">cedar of Lebanon</a>, yew, the large leaved Persian ivy, (<i><a href="/wiki/Hedera_colchica" title="Hedera colchica">Hedera colchica</a></i>),<sup id="cite_ref-Hessayon_45-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Hessayon-45"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>45<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Cherry_laurel" class="mw-redirect" title="Cherry laurel">cherry laurel</a>, lime, holly, Scot's fir, <a href="/wiki/Metasequoia" title="Metasequoia">dawn redwood</a>, ash, monkey puzzle, great leopard's-bane (<i>Dornicum pardalianches</i>), turkey oak, Portuguese laurel<sup id="cite_ref-Clapham_46-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Clapham-46"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>46<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and <i><a href="/wiki/Rhododendron_ponticum" title="Rhododendron ponticum">Rhododendron ponticum</a></i>. </p><p>A fine boundary wall surrounds the 16-acre (65,000 m<sup>2</sup>) site, punctuated by gates which led onto the track which ran on the field's side or onto Barrmill and Geilsland Roads respectively. This wall was extensively repaired and rebuilt by a volunteer, Derek Graham, 2010-11. </p><p>The Spier's Trust also owns 48.26 acres (195,300 m<sup>2</sup>) of grazing land adjacent to the school grounds, including the High Field of 7.25 hectares lying within the school grounds.<sup id="cite_ref-47" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-47"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>47<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The locals know the Powgree as the Geilsland Burn and boys used to play a game of jumping across it from the Broadstone Bridge area down to Marshalland Bridge. The girls used to play in a small area nearby called the 'Fairy Glen.'<sup id="cite_ref-Youth_48-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Youth-48"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>48<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Robert Aitken on his map of 1827 gives the name as Polgree Burn.<sup id="cite_ref-49" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-49"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>49<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A small cottage near Broadstone Bridge stood near to an old mill and was called 'Crooked Dam' as marked on the 1850s OS map. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Spier's_Trust"><span id="The_Spier.27s_Trust"></span>The Spier's Trust</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: The Spier's Trust"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s,_Audrey%27s_School.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg/220px-Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="175" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg/330px-Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg/440px-Spier%27s%2C_Audrey%27s_School.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="2064" /></a><figcaption>Spier's shortly before demolition</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg/170px-Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="221" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg/255px-Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg/340px-Audrey%27s_Spier%27s_School.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2064" data-file-height="2688" /></a><figcaption>The school shortly before demolition</figcaption></figure> <p>The trust was founded in 1991 by Mr Jack Spier for the administration of Spier's and for the provision of educational grants and bursaries within the local area of benefit, this being the parishes of <a href="/wiki/Beith" title="Beith">Beith</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dalry,_North_Ayrshire" title="Dalry, North Ayrshire">Dalry</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dunlop,_East_Ayrshire" title="Dunlop, East Ayrshire">Dunlop</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kilbirnie" title="Kilbirnie">Kilbirnie</a> and <a href="/wiki/Neilston" title="Neilston">Neilston</a>. The Trust derives its income from the investment proceeds of the capital of the Trust and from the rental derived from letting for grazing 48.26 acres (195,300 m<sup>2</sup>) of land adjacent to the former school grounds. The Spiers Trust committee meet twice a year to give out small bursaries to qualifying local students. The Trust committee is made up of the local councillors from Beith, Dalry and Kilbirnie. The total area was 76.3 acres (309,000 m<sup>2</sup>). <a href="/wiki/North_Ayrshire_Council" class="mw-redirect" title="North Ayrshire Council">North Ayrshire Council</a> now lease the school grounds from the Trust for a nominal rent.<sup id="cite_ref-NAC_50-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NAC-50"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>50<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Diamond_Jubilee_Time_Capsule">Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In October 2011 Gateside Primary School pupils placed a 'Wish for the Future' time capsule in the Diamond Jubilee Wood site. This is registered with the <a href="/wiki/International_Time_Capsule_Society" title="International Time Capsule Society">International Time Capsule Society</a> (ITCS) at Oglethorpe University in the US. It is due to be opened on 18 June 2037, in the 150 anniversary year of the school's foundation. The pupils have maps of the location and the ITCS have the coordinates. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Spier's_Cholera_Pit"><span id="The_Spier.27s_Cholera_Pit"></span>The Spier's Cholera Pit</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: The Spier's Cholera Pit"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1829 and 1834 <a href="/wiki/Cholera" title="Cholera">cholera</a> broke out in <a href="/wiki/Beith" title="Beith">Beith</a> and although "clothes were burned, bedding fumigated, stairs and closes whitewashed, a nurse who was a veteran of the <a href="/wiki/Dalry,_North_Ayrshire" title="Dalry, North Ayrshire">Dalry</a> outbreak was engaged and a ban placed on entertainments at funerals." There were 100 cases in September 1834, 205 people were eventually affected with 105 deaths. Some of the people were buried in the parish churchyard, but others were buried in a field, in a <a href="/wiki/Cholera_pit" title="Cholera pit">cholera pit</a> close to what became Spier's School, on the little common south-west of where the Geilsland Road meets the Powgree Burn.<sup id="cite_ref-Porterfield_51-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Porterfield-51"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>51<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Robert Spier, the father of John Spier, was a member of the local health board.<sup id="cite_ref-Cholera_52-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cholera-52"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>52<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The pit had a mound of soil over it at one time however the farmers gradually ploughed this down to the field level. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Diamond_Jubilee_Wood">Diamond Jubilee Wood</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Diamond Jubilee Wood"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 2012 members of the communities of the Garnock Valley planted a new wood at Spier's to commemorate the <a href="/wiki/Diamond_Jubilee_of_Queen_Elizabeth_II" class="mw-redirect" title="Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II">Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II</a>. Beith Primary School carried out the major part of the planting thanks to the Woodland Trust who donated over 400 trees. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Spier's_Labyrinth_and_War_memorial"><span id="The_Spier.27s_Labyrinth_and_War_memorial"></span>The Spier's Labyrinth and War memorial</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: The Spier's Labyrinth and War memorial"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG/200px-Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG" decoding="async" width="200" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG/300px-Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG/400px-Spier%27s_labyrinth_-_full_view.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The Spier's labyrinth and the War Memorial in the Garden of Remembrance.</figcaption></figure> <p>Seventy ex-pupils from Spier's died in the First and Second World Wars. A War Memorial was located within the school, however since the demolition of the school no publicly accessible memorial has existed and the old rose garden at the 'Garden of Remembrance' has long been overgrown. In 2012 an old Spier's gatepier was collected, cleaned and placed within the old garden as a War Memorial. The group Youth Making Beith Better (YMBB) created a labyrinth around the standing stone War Memorial as a religious memorial - the 'one true path', etc. as found in several cathedrals and in other religious contexts. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Natural_history">Natural history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Natural history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg/220px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="491" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg/330px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg/440px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_Helleborine.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2608" data-file-height="5824" /></a><figcaption>A <a href="/wiki/Epipactis_helleborine" title="Epipactis helleborine">broad-leaved helleborine</a> orchid growing in the old school grounds</figcaption></figure> <p>The grounds had previously been the farmland of Marshalland farm and the evidence from OS maps does not show the presence of any old woodland after the mid-eighteenth century. Several orchid species are present and a few of the indicators species of older woodland. Ivy dominates the ground flora near the Geilsland Road to the extent that almost all other species are eliminated.<span class="geo-inline"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1156832818"><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Spier%27s_School&params=55_44.781_N_4_37.384_W_region:GB_type:edu&title=Ivy+Wood"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">55°44.781′N</span> <span class="longitude">4°37.384′W</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="vcard"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">55.746350°N 4.623067°W</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">55.746350; -4.623067</span></span><span style="display:none"> (<span class="fn org">Ivy Wood</span>)</span></span></span></a></span></span> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Wildlife_Site_status">Wildlife Site status</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Wildlife Site status"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Scottish_Wildlife_Trust" title="Scottish Wildlife Trust">Scottish Wildlife Trust</a> (SWT) have surveyed the grounds and recorded 19 species of birds and 136 species of plants. The grounds have a rich fungal flora, partly due to the quantity of fallen timber. This is exemplified by the presence of parrot waxcap (<i><a href="/wiki/Hygrocybe_psittacina" class="mw-redirect" title="Hygrocybe psittacina">Hygrocybe psittacina</a></i>), an uncommon species. The biodiversity and other considerations have resulted in the grounds qualifying as an official SWT Wildlife Site, code NS353532. This ensures a greater degree of protection against any possibly insensitive developments that might be proposed at any future date. In 2010 a specimen of the Arran whitebeam (<i><a href="/wiki/Sorbus_pseudofennica" class="mw-redirect" title="Sorbus pseudofennica">Sorbus pseudofennica</a></i>) a rare species unique to Scotland, was found at Spier's. In 2011 the exceptionally rare common broomrape (<i><a href="/wiki/Orobanche_minor" title="Orobanche minor">Orobanche minor</a></i>) was discovered growing at Spier's and has been the subject of a conservation project since that date. </p><p>The grounds also qualify as a Local Biodiversity Site (LBS). The Scottish Ornithologists Club (SOC) have identified Spier's as a site for birdwatching with, amongst others, tits, finches, thrushes, greater spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff, blackcap, willow and garden warbler.<sup id="cite_ref-53" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-53"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>53<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> An unusual bird migrant record for the school grounds in the 1920s is that of the <a href="/wiki/Common_redpoll" title="Common redpoll">mealy redpoll</a> (<i>Carduelis flammea flammea</i>). It breeds across the northern parts of North America and Eurasia.<sup id="cite_ref-54" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-54"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>54<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="North_Ayrshire_Council">North Ayrshire Council</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: North Ayrshire Council"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The grounds are occasionally visited by rangers from the North Ayrshire Ranger Service (District), based at <a href="/wiki/Eglinton_Country_Park" title="Eglinton Country Park">Eglinton Country Park</a>. NACs Streetscene (Grounds Maintenance) Section maintain the grounds of the parkland, mowing grass, removing fallen trees and they also use the site for In Service Training sessions. </p><p>In August 2012 Elma Murray, NAC Chief Executive; Joan Sturgeon, Provost; Robert Barr, Deputy provost; and local councillors visited Spier's in recognition of the restoration carried out by community groups. A copper beech tree was planted by the provost to commemorate the visit. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Spier's_Arboretum"><span id="The_Spier.27s_Arboretum"></span>The Spier's Arboretum</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: The Spier's Arboretum"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Before the Spier family built the school that bore their name, the ancient farmhouse and its lands were called Marshalland. Old maps show that apart from a small patch of woodland around the farm and outbuildings, all the rest was open fields with hedgerow boundaries, probably containing a few mature trees such as beech, ash, birch, and oak. The only other feature at that time was a track leading to the freshwater spring that contributes to the Marshalland Burn close to its source near the Geilsland Road. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg/170px-Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="217" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg/255px-Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg/340px-Spier%27s_1888_Tree_List_001.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2408" data-file-height="3076" /></a><figcaption>The original 1888 order for trees at Spier's</figcaption></figure> <p>In 1888, Spier's School was opened and thanks to the Earl of Eglinton's head gardener, aided by others such as Mr. W. F. Love, the school grounds were planted up with a specially selected list of trees and shrubs creating an arboretum. The tradition of enhancing the grounds continues to this day with memorial and celebratory tree plantings and along the way notable additions have been the exceedingly rare Arran whitebeam, the dawn redwood at the 1953 Coronation Garden, the Camperdown Elm and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Wood of 2012. </p><p>The tree order from Samson's Nursery of 20 November 1888 still survives and lists seventeen tree species, but with a total of 3350 trees planted at that time, costing the sum of £9 16s 6d. A fruit trees and shrubs order for the walled garden also survives, listing a total of 371 pears, apples, plums, cherries, gooseberries, currants and raspberries, with several varieties of each. </p><p>The walled garden was adapted to house additional classrooms and a gymnasium, resulting in the loss of the orchard, etc. Only a few self-seeded gooseberries and raspberries survive from the original plantings. After its closure in 1972, the school grounds received less maintenance and after the demolition of the school buildings in 1984 even the school 'footprint' itself became a woodland as native colonising trees such as willow, birch, and alder took hold there, providing however a site for the unusual and parasitic broomrape (<i><a href="/wiki/Orobanche_minor" title="Orobanche minor">Orobanche minor</a></i>) plant, one of Scotland's rarest plants. </p><p>In 2010, NAC Streetscene and the North Ayrshire Ranger Service, later joined by the Friends of Spiers (FoS), started a restoration programme that resulted in a network of all-weather and 'user-friendly' paths, followed by a survey of all 812 trees at Spier's and the removal of any deemed dangerous, many felled tree trunks and their stumps however being left as a habitat for insects, fungi, etc. </p><p>Extensive tree planting projects involving schools and youth groups were complemented by the planting by NAC Streetscene of a mix of exotic tree species, together with trees selected to further enhance the diversity of the Spier's Arboretum that have been provided through FoS and their 'Memorial' and 'Celebratory' tree planting schemes. </p><p>The Spier's Arboretum has a secure future with the prospect of additional species reaching maturity, such as aspen, toffee apple (<a href="/wiki/Cercidiphyllum" title="Cercidiphyllum">katsura</a>) tree, handkerchief tree, Wellingtonia, Wollemi pine, holm oak, walnut, fastigiate beech, sessile oak, monkey puzzle, and juniper that will give a total of around fifty tree species in the arboretum. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Leaflets,_Facebook,_etc."><span id="Leaflets.2C_Facebook.2C_etc."></span>Leaflets, Facebook, etc.</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Leaflets, Facebook, etc."><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A tree trail and accompanying leaflet were created in 2013 by the Youth Making Beith Better (YMBB) group to expand the information in the Spier's Old School Grounds leaflet. A Facebook page 'Spier's - Natural and Local History'<sup id="cite_ref-55" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-55"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>55<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> exists for the benefit of visitors and supporters. The grounds have their own TripAdvisor page that attracts visitor comments and photographs. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Memorials_to_John_Spier_and_Spier's_school"><span id="Memorials_to_John_Spier_and_Spier.27s_school"></span>Memorials to John Spier and Spier's school</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Memorials to John Spier and Spier's school"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG/220px-John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="294" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG/330px-John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG/440px-John_Speir%27s_memorial_1.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1712" data-file-height="2288" /></a><figcaption>The John Spier memorial, by William Brodie, now at Beith Auld Kirk. It had been in the Spier's school yard.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial,_Beith,_North_Ayrshire.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG/220px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG/330px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG/440px-Spier%27s_Old_School_Memorial%2C_Beith%2C_North_Ayrshire.JPG 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption>The Spier's Commemorative Wall under construction in the former school grounds in 2010</figcaption></figure> <p>The Spier's Memorial, now at Beith Auld Kirk, described as a "Monumental Shrine" in the RSA Exhibition of 1861, was designed by <a href="/wiki/Frederick_Thomas_Pilkington" title="Frederick Thomas Pilkington">Frederick Thomas Pilkington</a>, and sculpted by <a href="/wiki/William_Brodie_(sculptor)" title="William Brodie (sculptor)">William Brodie</a>. It was originally in the school yard, but later it was incorporated into Campbell Douglas & Sellars school building. </p><p>The school is remembered in 'Spiers Avenue' on the Kilbirnie Road. Part of the unmetalled road that runs from Fairholm (Craigvue) down towards Craig House is known as Spiersland Way; the latter part is known as Roughwood Road after the farm of that name. A Spier's care Home also exists in Beith. </p><p>Beith Primary school has a 'Spier's Library', a painting of the school and a stained glass window depicting the alternative design of the school, never built, but used on the Governor's official seal. It is dated 1870, 18 years before the school was completed. Gateside Primary school has a Spier's House as well as a Cuff House. </p><p>The old War Memorial from Spier's is presently in storage at the North Ayrshire Museum in Saltcoats; the John Spier memorials were moved to the Old Kirk in Beith<sup id="cite_ref-Love_21-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Love-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-School_32-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-School-32"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>32<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and the large statue of John Spier's was moved to Garnock Academy. </p><p>Garnock Academy holds the details of the grant of a Coat of Arms to Spier's, a number of stained glass windows, a mineralogical collection and the rector's old table and chairs from the study. It may also hold the Governor's seal. </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Geilsland">Geilsland</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Geilsland"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Geilsland_House" title="Geilsland House">Geilsland House</a></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG/220px-YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG/330px-YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG/440px-YMBB_and_Action_Earth.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>Youth Making Beith Better at the 2010 Spier's CITO Event</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG/220px-Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG/330px-Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG/440px-Geilsland_School_from_Spier%27s.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Geilsland_House" title="Geilsland House">Geilsland school</a> from Spier's</figcaption></figure> <p>This was a half merk land, part of the 4 merk land of Marsheland, in the Barony of Braidstone. It was sold in four lots. In 1867, two of these lots were purchased by Wiliam Fulton Love, writer and bank agent in Beith. He built a handsome villa, in the domestic gothic style,<sup id="cite_ref-Davis_56-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Davis-56"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>56<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and enclosed and planted with much taste, 5 acres (20,000 m<sup>2</sup>) around the villa.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (July 2016)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> This property is now part of Geilsland school, run by the Church of Scotland under its 'Crossreach' initiative.<sup id="cite_ref-Geilsland_57-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Geilsland-57"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>57<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The name is pronounced 'Jillsland' locally. The origin of the name may refer to a gil or gyll, referring to a cleft or ravine as found at the 'Fairy Glen' where the Powgree Burn cuts through the fields. </p><p>Pupils from Geilsland have helped to improve the grounds of Spier's by carrying out conservation projects. </p><p>In 2015 the Church of Scotland ceased to use <a href="/wiki/Geilsland_House" title="Geilsland House">Geilsland</a> as a school and it was sold to the Beith Development Community Trust Ltd. </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Gateside_Village">Gateside Village</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Gateside Village"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Gateside,_North_Ayrshire" title="Gateside, North Ayrshire">Gateside, North Ayrshire</a></div> <p>The village of <a href="/wiki/Gateside,_North_Ayrshire" title="Gateside, North Ayrshire">Gateside</a> lies close to Broadstone and Geilsland. It has a fine pub, primary school, plant nursery, Millennium garden, and the Isobel Patrick of Trearne Memorial Hall. Until recently it had a smithy. Trearne House stood nearby and was demolished, the site is now a large limestone quarry. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Industrial_and_social_archaeology">Industrial and social archaeology</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Industrial and social archaeology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="The_Moot_Hill">The Moot Hill</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: The Moot Hill"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG/220px-Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG/330px-Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG/440px-Beith_Court_Hill_1.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The Court Hill of the Abbot of Kilwinning near Gateside village</figcaption></figure> <p>A <a href="/wiki/Moot_hill" title="Moot hill">Moot hill</a> or Court Hill survives near Boghall in the old Barony of Beith. Dobie states that the Abbot of Kilwinning used it to administered justice to his vassals and tenants. It is a sub-oval, flat-topped mound, situated at the foot of a small valley. A number of large stones are visible in the sides of the mound. It is turf-covered, situated on a low outcrop, and is mostly an artificial work. It pre-dates the channelling of the burn which detours around it, the mound was probably isolated in this once marshy outflow of the former Boghall Loch (see NS35SE 14).<sup id="cite_ref-RCAHMS_58-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RCAHMS-58"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>58<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It does not seem to lie in the area identified by Smith.<sup id="cite_ref-Smith81_59-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Smith81-59"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>59<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Quarrying">Quarrying</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Quarrying"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A sandstone quarry existed near to Marshalland farm and several sizeable limekilns and limestone quarries lay towards Broadstone; marble was found at Broadstone.<sup id="cite_ref-Roberts_60-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Roberts-60"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>60<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Broadstone_castle">Broadstone castle</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: Broadstone castle"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Broadstone,_North_Ayrshire" class="mw-redirect" title="Broadstone, North Ayrshire">Broadstone, North Ayrshire</a></div> <p>The ruins of Braidstone or Broadstone Castle remained until about 1850.<sup id="cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Porterfield2-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> but when Broadstonehall Farm buildings were being rebuilt, the castle was pulled down and its stones used in the building works; the Broadstone Crags, the site of the castle, remain however. </p> <figure class="mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG/180px-Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG" decoding="async" width="180" height="135" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG/270px-Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG/360px-Broadstone_kiln_sided_on.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>A view of the <a href="/wiki/Broadstone,_North_Ayrshire" class="mw-redirect" title="Broadstone, North Ayrshire">Broadstone</a> lime kiln side wall</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Broadstone_or_Hillhead_Limekilns">Broadstone or Hillhead Limekilns</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Broadstone or Hillhead Limekilns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The OS maps for 1858 show that the 'Hillhead Railway' ran to Broadstone quarry from Barkip Junction on the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire Railway branchline to Kilbirnie. At first sidings and a transfer system existed with a weighing machine at what was to become <a href="/wiki/Brackenhills_railway_station" title="Brackenhills railway station">Brackenhills railway station</a>, later a direct junction was laid. The line did not survive into the 20th century. The road nearby is still known as 'Reek Street'. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Geology">Geology</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: Geology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Several large fallen trees at Spier's Old School Grounds have their roots embedded in rock which is derived from an old lava flow known as a 'dike,' one of a 'swarm' that exist locally. The solid geology of the Beith area is dominated by rocks such as limestone, coal, and also <a href="/wiki/Whinstone" title="Whinstone">whinstone</a>, an igneous <a href="/wiki/Basalt" title="Basalt">basalt</a>. The whinstone is therefore derived from volcanic activity and often shows itself as 'dikes' which are usually linear seams of hardened lava which was originally pushed up through the overlying limestone or coal. Coal miners were greatly inconvenienced by these hard dikes. </p><p>The basalt at Spier's has many distinctive holes or bubbles, known as <a href="/wiki/Vesicular_texture" title="Vesicular texture">vesicles</a>. These formed when gases such as steam and carbon dioxide escaped as the compressive pressure got less in the molten rock as the lava reached the surface. The largest numbers of bubbles occur when the hardened skin of the lava surface prevented the bubbles from rising to the surface and bursting. <a href="/wiki/Olivine" title="Olivine">Olivine</a> crystal faces are visible, a mineral rich in silica, iron and magnesium. The size of the faces shows that the lava cooled relatively slowly, allowing the crystals time to 'grow'. </p><p>Spier's is close to the limestone quarries of Broadstone, Hillhead, Middleton, Dockra and Trearne. Whinstone has been quarried along a dike at Barrmill and is still quarried (2011) at Loanhead. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="DM_Beith">DM Beith</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: DM Beith"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A large Defence Munitions (DM) centre is located at Beith. The site was originally developed in 1943 as a conventional <a href="/wiki/Royal_Naval_Armaments_Depot" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Naval Armaments Depot">Royal Naval Armaments Depot</a>, munitions store, for the <a href="/wiki/Royal_Navy" title="Royal Navy">Royal Navy</a>. It now processes and stores Spearfish, <a href="/wiki/Storm_Shadow" title="Storm Shadow">Storm Shadow</a>, <a href="/wiki/BGM-109_Tomahawk" class="mw-redirect" title="BGM-109 Tomahawk">Tomahawk</a> and <a href="/wiki/Brimstone_missile" class="mw-redirect" title="Brimstone missile">Brimstone</a> missiles. The school lay within the 'Exclusion Zone', limiting new housing developments, etc.<sup id="cite_ref-DM_61-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DM-61"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>61<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Marshalland_Burn">Marshalland Burn</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=28" title="Edit section: Marshalland Burn"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>This burn rises from springs within Spier's and runs under the road and field to emerge on the boundary of the Marshalland Playing Fields before entering the Powgree Burn near the old railway bridge at the 'T' junction for the DM Beith site. Polish prisoners of war in World War II used to collect their water from the Marshalland Well close to Bellscauseway and the carbonated water factory at this site may have used these waters to produce 'cooling and temperance drinks'. This enterprise was established in 1891 by Mr T. Murray and produced soda water, aerated water, seltzer, potass, magnesia, lemonade, ginger beer and ginger ale.<sup id="cite_ref-62" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-62"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>62<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Lands_of_Roughwood">The Lands of Roughwood</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=29" title="Edit section: The Lands of Roughwood"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/The_Lands_of_Roughwood" title="The Lands of Roughwood">The Lands of Roughwood</a></div> <p>The Spiersland Way is an old toll road that runs down to Burnside Cottage, probable at one time a smithy, stables and toll house near <a href="/wiki/The_Lands_of_Roughwood" title="The Lands of Roughwood">Roughwood Farm.</a> Roughwood was a small fortified tower in the 15th century and was home sequentially to the Hammills, Sheddens, and Ralston-Patricks. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Micro-history">Micro-history</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=30" title="Edit section: Micro-history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In 1912 several farms were held by the Spier's Trust and were subject to an official inspection by representatives of the trust. The Cuff, Marshyland, Bellcraig, Bogstone and Lugtonridge were all owned by the trust at this time.<sup id="cite_ref-63" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-63"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>63<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Eglinton Street was formerly known as the Whang or Whang Street and the plot of land at No 62 was feued in 1826 from Lady Mary Montgomerie by Robert Spier. The small chapel in the grounds to the rear was apparently for the family's private use and is probably the same age as the house.<sup id="cite_ref-L_11-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The rubble from the demolished school was taken to Lyonshields Farm and used to infill an old limestone quarry.<sup id="cite_ref-64" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-64"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>64<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In 1935 a cannon was located at the front of the school as seen in a photograph taken at that time.<sup id="cite_ref-65" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-65"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>65<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The annual Cadger's races of the 19th century were held at the Marshalland Field. </p><p>The name 'Pow' or 'Poll' refers to a slow-moving ditch-like stream and this may be appropriate in regard of the name of the burn, the Powgree.<sup id="cite_ref-66" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-66"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>66<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>On 11 May 1912 an official inspection by the governors took place of the farms owned by the Spier's Trust, these being Cuff, Marshyland, Bellcraig, Bogston, and Lugtonridge.<sup id="cite_ref-67" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-67"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>67<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A Spier's Knowe is marked on Windy Hill above Largs on the Muirshiel Hills.<sup id="cite_ref-68" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-68"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>68<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG/220px-Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG/330px-Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG/440px-Spier%27s_Stones_at_Garnock.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>Spier's ornamental stones at Garnock Academy</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG/220px-Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG/330px-Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG/440px-Spier%27s_school_lawns.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>Scot's pines at Spier's in the snows of 2009</figcaption></figure> <p>The 1st Beith Company (Spier's) Girl Guides was in the 1930s the only Guides group in Beith and was based at Spier's.<sup id="cite_ref-69" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-69"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>69<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The Girl Guides had a centre in the field next to the school for some years; the Spier's Trust having sold them 2.2 acres (8,900 m<sup>2</sup>). This building was repeatedly vandalised. The site was sold and a dwelling built, but after two fires this was also demolished. Only a small building remains, also vandalised. </p><p>The 'Old Spierian' records that transport to the school was a regular and severe problem. The 'train students' in particular had to leave home very early and return late.<sup id="cite_ref-70" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-70"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>70<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The 1910 OS map shows a 'Sheepwash' nearly opposite the side entrance to Marshalland farm. A house on the Barrmill Road where it joins the Beith bypass has the unusual name of 'Bellscauseway'. During the depression in the 1930s, times were hard and local people would go up to Spier's School to gather wood for the fire, but as often as not they got 'hunted' by the janitor.<sup id="cite_ref-Jean_71-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Jean-71"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>71<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A mineral spring known as 'Spiers Well' existed near <a href="/wiki/Gatehead,_East_Ayrshire" title="Gatehead, East Ayrshire">Gatehead</a> in 1789.<sup id="cite_ref-NAS_72-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-NAS-72"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>72<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The ghost of John Spier was said to roam the school tower, possibly to discourage students from exploring it, and that of his mother, Margaret Spier, the school grounds. The ornate memorial to John Spier was partitioned off due to its depressing effect on the students. </p><p>The Pirritt Hills in Antarctica are named for John Pirritt, Old Spierian, explorer and geologist.<sup id="cite_ref-73" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-73"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>73<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Powgree Burn name may translate as 'water or marsh (Pow) in an enclose area (Gree)' which is a good description of the area below the Hill of Beith where the Powgree has its source. </p><p>Donald Reid records that the school grounds were enclosed and laid out by Mr W. F. Love of Beith.<sup id="cite_ref-Reid_2001,_Page_96_14-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Reid_2001,_Page_96-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Restoration_of_Spier's_parklands"><span id="Restoration_of_Spier.27s_parklands"></span>Restoration of Spier's parklands</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=31" title="Edit section: Restoration of Spier's parklands"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg/250px-Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg" decoding="async" width="250" height="181" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg/375px-Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg/500px-Spier%27s_Coronation_Garden_plaque.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1493" data-file-height="1081" /></a><figcaption>Plaque at the Coronation Garden.</figcaption></figure> <p>The North Ayrshire Council Ranger Service co-ordinated the restoration and enhancement of the Spier's parklands with contributions from Beith and Gateside Primary schools; The Conservation Volunteers; Youth Making Beith Better; James Watt College; Redburn Activity Group; YKG Group; NAC Extended Outreach Group; Garnock Academy; Friends of Spiers; NAC Ranger Service volunteers; Geocachers; Youth Services; Beith Community Council; Geilsland School; Employability Fund Group; Beith Community Council; etc. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Community_involvement_at_Spier's"><span id="Community_involvement_at_Spier.27s"></span>Community involvement at Spier's</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=32" title="Edit section: Community involvement at Spier's"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG/220px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG/330px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG/440px-Speir%27s_school_grounds_2008_clean_up.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The YMBB volunteers at work in the grounds</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Eglinton_van.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Eglinton_van.JPG/220px-Eglinton_van.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Eglinton_van.JPG/330px-Eglinton_van.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Eglinton_van.JPG/440px-Eglinton_van.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The North Ayrshire Council Ranger Service lent a hand</figcaption></figure> <p>In 2008 Beith Community Council organised a Spier's School grounds tidy up and improvements morning. Litter was removed and an old path was cleared to allow better access to the site for local people and visitors to the area. Gateside Primary school have planted trees and bulbs donated by the community and <a href="/wiki/Eglinton_Country_Park" title="Eglinton Country Park">Eglinton Country Park</a>. Ardrossan Academy pupils have opened up new paths through the woods and the grounds. </p><p>The 'Youth Making Beith Better' group carried out path maintenance and many other grounds improvements works at Spier's through their John Muir Award work. Ken Stewart of Dalry brought Wesley, his Clydesdale horse, to extract logs from the woodlands, providing a spectacle for visitors and removing fallen timber with minimal damage to the habitats. Beith Out of School Care produced publicity posters for the site and the YKG youth group had a BBQ and planted trees. <a href="/wiki/Geilsland_House" title="Geilsland House">Geilsland School</a> was involved in several projects within the parklands, especially the Coronation Garden restoration. </p><p>A Sustainable Return on Investment (SRoI) project was trialed at Spier's, organised by the Greenspace group and part financed by Scottish Natural Heritage. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Friends_of_Spier's_(FoS)"><span id="Friends_of_Spier.27s_.28FoS.29"></span>Friends of Spier's (FoS)</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=33" title="Edit section: Friends of Spier's (FoS)"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>This is a Garnock Valley support group, affiliated to The Conservation Volunteers (TCV). </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_Cuff">The Cuff</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=34" title="Edit section: The Cuff"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239009302">.mw-parser-output .portalbox{padding:0;margin:0.5em 0;display:table;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:175px;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portalborder{border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa)}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-entry{display:table-row;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;height:1.9em;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-image{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .portalbox-link{display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .portalleft{clear:left;float:left;margin:0.5em 1em 0.5em 0}.mw-parser-output .portalright{clear:right;float:right;margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em}}</style><ul role="navigation" aria-label="Portals" class="noprint portalbox portalborder portalright"> <li class="portalbox-entry"><span class="portalbox-image"><span class="mw-image-border noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="flag" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/32px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png" decoding="async" width="32" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/48px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Flag_of_Scotland.svg/64px-Flag_of_Scotland.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="600" /></span></span></span><span class="portalbox-link"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Scotland" title="Portal:Scotland">Scotland portal</a></span></li></ul> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff,_Beith.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG/220px-Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG/330px-Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG/440px-Gibson_Marriage_Stone_at_The_Cuff%2C_Beith.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>Gibson marriage stone at the Cuff, Gateside</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Cuff_Farm_and_gates,_Gateside.JPG" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG/220px-Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG/330px-Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG/440px-Cuff_Farm_and_gates%2C_Gateside.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2288" data-file-height="1712" /></a><figcaption>The Cuff farmhouse and entrance gateposts</figcaption></figure> <p>The Cuff was an estate which later became a farm, near Gateside. A <a href="/wiki/Marriage_stone" title="Marriage stone">marriage stone</a> of the Gibson family gives the date 1767 and may have come from an older mansion house once situated nearby. The farm still has ornamental and functional entrance gates and gateposts from the Victorian era and magnificent lanes lined with beech trees. Margaret Gibson was an heiress, and her son John Spier was living at the Cuff at the time of his early death. The Spiers owned the Cuff estate and through Robert Spier's marriage to Margaret Gibson acquired the estate of Marshalland.<sup id="cite_ref-L_11-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-L-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div style="clear:both;" class=""></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=35" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <dl><dt>Notes</dt></dl> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-3"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Speir's-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Speir's_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Speir's_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Speir's_1-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Speir's_1-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Speir's_1-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Spiers School. 1888 - 1968.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">James Dobie, <i>Memoir of William Wilson of Crummock</i> (Edinburgh, privately printed, MDCCCXVI [1816]), p. 191</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="/wiki/James_Paterson_(journalist)" title="James Paterson (journalist)">James Paterson</a>, <i>History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton. IV. - I - Cunninghame</i> (Edinburgh: J. Stillie, 1863-66), p. 82</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Douglas, p. 109</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">James Dobie, <i>Cuninghame topographised by Timothy Pont</i> (Edinburgh: J. Tweed, 1876), p. 214</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Dobie3-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Dobie3_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Dobie3_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Dobie (1816), p. 194</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Porterfield2-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Porterfield2_7-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Porterfield, S. (1925). <i>Rambles Round Beith.</i> P. 31.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Robertson-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Robertson_8-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">George Robertson, <i>A Topographical Description of Ayrshire; more particularly of Cunninghame</i> (Irvine: Cunninghame Press, 1820)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robert Aitken, <i>The Parish Atlas of Ayrshire - Cunninghame</i> (Edinburgh: W. Ballantine 1829)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Ladyland_1887-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Ladyland_1887_10-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">B. W. Cochran-Patrick of Ladyland & Woodside, "Dedication Speech of the Spier School", 28 April 1887</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-L-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-L_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-L_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-L_11-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-L_11-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFStuff" class="citation web cs1">Stuff, Good. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-892-62-eglinton-street-whang-house-including-ru">"62 Eglinton Street, Whang House, Including Ruined Chapel to Rear, Boundary Walls and Gatepiers - Beith - North Ayrshire - Scotland - British Listed Buildings"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=62+Eglinton+Street%2C+Whang+House%2C+Including+Ruined+Chapel+to+Rear%2C+Boundary+Walls+and+Gatepiers+-+Beith+-+North+Ayrshire+-+Scotland+-+British+Listed+Buildings&rft.aulast=Stuff&rft.aufirst=Good&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk%2Fsc-892-62-eglinton-street-whang-house-including-ru&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASpier%27s+School" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Spier's School Magazine, No.1, December 1888. p. 2</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Marshalland-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Marshalland_13-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.today/20130414094901/http://www.beith.org/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=21">Marshalland farm</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Reid_2001,_Page_96-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Reid_2001,_Page_96_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Reid_2001,_Page_96_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid (2001), Page 96</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Spier's_Trust-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Spier's_Trust_15-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Spier's Trust.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Beith-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Beith_16-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Beith_16-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>The High Church, Beith. 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P. 79.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Latin-24"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Latin_24-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.righthandpointing.com/latin/?p=67">"Right Hand Pointing: Short Poetry, Short Fiction, and Short Art"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Right+Hand+Pointing%3A+Short+Poetry%2C+Short+Fiction%2C+and+Short+Art&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.righthandpointing.com%2Flatin%2F%3Fp%3D67&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASpier%27s+School" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-reid-25"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-reid_25-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-reid_25-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid, Donald L. 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P. 78.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">NAC Records Management Unit. Perceton Archive.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Youth-48"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Youth_48-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reflections on Beith and District. <i>On the wings of time.</i> (1994). Pub. Beith High Church Youth Group. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-0-8" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-0-8">0-9522720-0-8</a>. P. 31.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-49"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Aitken, Robert (1827), Map of the Parish of Beith.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-NAC-50"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-NAC_50-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Guidance note on Spier's Trust Committee (Spier's Trust Scheme 1978) North Ayrshire Council.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Porterfield-51"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Porterfield_51-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Porterfield, S. (1925). <i>Rambles Round Beith.</i> P. 36.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Cholera-52"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Cholera_52-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ayrshireroots.co.uk/Towns/Beith/Cholera%20in%20Beith.htm">Cholera deaths in Beith</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><i>Birdwatching in Ayrshire and Arran</i>. No. 28. Spier's School Grounds. 2003.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-54"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-54">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Paton, E. Richmond and Pike, Oliver G. (1929). <i>The Birds of Ayrshire.</i> London : H. F. & G. Witherby. p. 19.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/spiershistory">"Security Check Required"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Facebook" title="Facebook">Facebook</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Facebook&rft.atitle=Security+Check+Required&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fspiershistory&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASpier%27s+School" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Davis-56"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Davis_56-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Davis, Michael (1991) <i>The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire</i>. Pub. privately. P. 97.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Geilsland-57"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Geilsland_57-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFschools" class="citation web cs1">schools, isbi. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/2911-GEILSLAND_SCHOOL.html">"Geilsland School - Beith - Ayrshire, Scotland - KA15 1HD"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Geilsland+School+-+Beith+-+Ayrshire%2C+Scotland+-+KA15+1HD&rft.aulast=schools&rft.aufirst=isbi&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.isbi.com%2Fisbi-viewschool%2F2911-GEILSLAND_SCHOOL.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASpier%27s+School" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-RCAHMS-58"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-RCAHMS_58-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081204122032/http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/highlightacp3.html">"Historic Environment Scotland"</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/">the original</a> on 4 December 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">8 January</span> 2008</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Historic+Environment+Scotland&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rcahms.gov.uk%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASpier%27s+School" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Smith81-59"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Smith81_59-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. P. 81.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Roberts-60"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Roberts_60-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Robertson, George (1820). <i>A Topographical Description of Ayrshire; more particularly of Cunninghame.</i> Irvine : Cunninghame Press, Irvine. p. 281.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-DM-61"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-DM_61-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.secret-bases.co.uk/secret3.htm">DM Beith</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-62"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-62">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid (2001), Page 68</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-63"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-63">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid, Page 84</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-64"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gilbert,</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-65"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-65">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.friendsreunited.com/album.page/Album?albumKey=4423&albumType=1&member_key=0&mediaKey=0">Friends Reunited</a> Retrieved : 2011-11-07</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-66"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Strawhorn, Page 36</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid, Donald L. & Monahan, Isobel F. (1999). <i>Yesterday's Beith. A Pictorial Guide</i>. Beith : Duke of Edinburgh Award. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9">0-9522720-5-9</a>. P. 84.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-68"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch/view/?sid=74926761">Ordnance Survey</a> Retrieved : 2010-12-06</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid, Donald L. and Monahan, Isobel F. (1999). <i>Yesterdays Beith, a pictorial guide</i>. Beith : DoE Award Scheme. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9">0-9522720-5-9</a> P. 12</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">The Old Spierian. Centenary edition. 1887 - 1987.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Jean-71"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Jean_71-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.beith.org/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=83">The 1930s In Beith</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-NAS-72"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-NAS_72-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">National Archives of Scotland. RHP3 / 37.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Reid, Donald L. and Monahan, Isobel F. (1999). <i>Yesterdays Beith, a pictorial guide</i>. Beith : DoE Award Scheme. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9">0-9522720-5-9</a> P. 110</span> </li> </ol></div> <dl><dt>Sources</dt></dl> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ol><li>Douglas, William Scott (1874). <i>In Ayrshire</i>. <i>A Descriptive Picture of the County of Ayr</i>. Kilmarnock : McKie & Drennan. Reprint. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4097-1645-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4097-1645-7">978-1-4097-1645-7</a>.</li> <li>Gilbert, Tom (2012). Personal recollection.</li> <li>Trust Disposition and Settlement by Margaret Spier of Marshalland. 19 March 1869.</li> <li>Kinniburgh, Moira & Burke, Fiona (1995). <i>Kilbirnie & Glengarnock. Shared Memories.</i> Cunninghame District Council. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-897998-01-5" title="Special:BookSources/1-897998-01-5">1-897998-01-5</a>.</li> <li>Reid, Donald L. (2000). <i>The Beith Supplement - The Story of Beith's Newspaper</i>. Beith : Duke of Edinburgh Award. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-1-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-1-6">0-9522720-1-6</a>.</li> <li>Reid, Donald (2001). <i>In the Valley of the Garnock (Beith, Dalry & Kilbirnie)</i>. Beith : DoE. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-9522720-5-9">0-9522720-5-9</a>.</li> <li>Strawhorn, John (1994). <i>The History of Prestwick</i>. Edinburgh : John Donald. <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-85976-405-2" title="Special:BookSources/0-85976-405-2">0-85976-405-2</a>.</li></ol> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Spier%27s_School&action=edit&section=36" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" decoding="async" width="12" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376" /></a></span> Media related to <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Spier%27s_School" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Spier's School">Spier's School</a> at Wikimedia Commons </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239549316"><div class="refbegin refbegin-columns references-column-width" style="column-width: 20em"> <dl><dd><ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=zT2-g50fhYc">Video of Scottish Glacial Erratics in History, Myth & Legend</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.facebook.com/spiershistory">The Spier's Natural & Local History site.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGDpEMJeDIY">Spier's Asiatic Cholera Pit.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb_4sPw9zg0">In Memory of Geilsland School (1964-2014)</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4rERXJyqrs">WWI Trench Reconstruction on the High Field at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st7Dbm5H3KU">Kersland Glen and the Tianna Falls on the Powgree Burn.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtTcR1EjTnU">Honey or Boot-lace Fungus at Spier's'</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtpaS9dhMhg">The History of Spier's Old School Grounds - Part 2.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yDIUfNXseM">The History of Spier's Old School Grounds - Part 1.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpShzqk5v6M">SNAPS Video of the High Field at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcDsVVKdhhI">Video of an oscillant at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBahROp5cxk">Video of the common broomrape plants at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njQwlqqimPE">Video of the Arran whitebeam at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIEpg5nJbA8">Video of the Coronation Garden.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzOQ33-Bltg">Video and narration about lesser celandine.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.friendsreunited.com/signedin/schoolgroup.aspx?school_key=4423&isstudents=0&type=SS">Friends Reunited - Spiers School.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130706013112/http://www.s1beith.com/media/uncategorised-images">Spier's School magazine pages Accessed : 2010-11-18.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/sc-49727-barrmill-road-gatepiers-railings-and-boun">British Listed Buildings.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Documents/CorporateServices/LegalProtective/LocalDevelopmentPlan/CorePathsPlanMap17.pdf">NAC Spier's Site. Accessed : 2010-07-31.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080509143840/http://www.garnock.com/history.aspx">Garnock Rugby Club. Accessed : 2010-04-25.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map?key=*ERGV01&type=ER">Sustrans Cyclepaths. Accessed : 2010-03-31.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://friendsofspiers.wordpress.com">Friends of Spiers Blog.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.buildscotland.co.uk/construction_news.asp?newsid=97849">Spier's on Construction News.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120301182312/http://www.beith.org/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=499">A sporty photo at Spier's.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120223013238/http://www.speirfamily.org/index.html">Speir family Genealogy and History Site.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120218055804/http://www.beith.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1367">Old Spierian's reunion and photographs.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.beith.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1816">Beith Online reports on Spier's Old School.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020615/http://www.beith.org/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=455">A photograph of Senior pupils at Spier's school.</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081121144552/http://www.old-maps.co.uk/indexmappage2.aspx">Old Ordnance Survey Maps.</a></li> <li><a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/A_Researcher%27s_Guide_to_Local_History_Terminology" class="extiw" title="wikibooks:A Researcher's Guide to Local History Terminology">Wikibooks:A Researcher's Guide to Local History Terminology</a> A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology.</li></ul></dd></dl> </div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid 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