Lands of Marshalland

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The lands of Marshalland, Marsheland,<ref name=ono>Dobie (1896), Page 191</ref> Marsheyland<ref name=m>Thomson's Map Retrieved : 2013--06-25</ref> or Marshyland were part of the holdings of the Barony of Beith, Regality of Kilwinning and Bailiary of Cuninghame. They became the property of the Lyle family,<ref name=ono/> then the Shedden family, passing next to the Spier's family before finally becoming part of the Spier's Trust lands. The laird's house and farm were demolished in the 1960s.<ref name="Marshalland"/>

The History of the Lands of Marshalland[edit]

Marshalland and Spier's School.

Hugh Montgomery of Broadstone granted a mortgage on the lands of Broadstone to his brother-in-law, Sir John Shaw in 1650.<ref name=>Campbell, Page 147</ref> Sir John stayed at Broadstone Castle occasionally until circa 1700 but gradually alienated the estate in feus until only the farm upon which the castle stood remained and as it is recorded in 1686 that Sir John Shaw confirmed the sale then Marshalland seems to have originally been part of the Broadstone Castle lands.<ref>Coventry, Page 246</ref><ref name=ono/>

The 14/- shilling lands of Marshalland were acquired by John Shedden "of Hazlehead-toun" from John and Hugh Lyles in 1686 and later he also acquired the 32 Penny lands that were locally known as Erestoun's Mailing or Burnside of Marshalland.<ref name=ono/> In 1748 John Shedden acquired from John Shedden of Headrighead a dwelling house at Marshalland and a farm yard, an acre of land and another acre of land of the Mains of Broadstone.<ref name=ont>Dobie (1896), Page 192</ref> In 1752 John Shedden acquired Townhead of Broadstone from Neil Snodgrass which in 1757 he sold to his brother Robert Shedden of Morishill.<ref name=ont/>

Roy's map of 1747 refers to the site as 'Marchland', possibly indicating that the lands of 'Marshalland' lay on the boundary or march of the Barony of Broadstone within the Lordship of Giffen, and the Barony of Beith, the physical boundary being formed by the Powgree Burn<ref>Douglas, Page 109</ref> at this point, which is also recorded as the Powgreen or Marshyland burn. Marshalland lay within the Barony of Broadstone.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, Page 214</ref> Later maps refer to the site as Marshyland and Marshalland.

The land upon which Spier's school was built in 1858 only shows the presence of two wells and the fields of the old Marshalland Farm with its tree lined hedgerows. Tom Paterson and his sister farmed Marshalland in the 50s, however the last people to live at Marshalland were David and Mary Kerr, the fine house and associated farm buildings being demolished in the early 1960s.<ref name="Marshalland">Marshalland Farm Retrieved : 2013-06-22</ref>

Geilsland[edit]

Geilsland is recorded as a half merk land, part of the 4 merk land of Marshalland, in the Barony of Braidstone. 'Neilsland' is said to have been an earlier name for the land.<ref>Reid (2001), Page 38.</ref> 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.

File:Spier's School by Ross Stevenson of Dalry.jpg
Spier's School by Ross Stevenson of Dalry

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The Lairds[edit]

These 14/- shilling lands were acquired by John Shedden "of Hazlehead-toun" from John and Hugh Lyles in 1686 and later he also acquired the 32 Penny lands that were locally known as Erestoun's Mailing or Burnside of Marshalland.<ref name=ono/> John the elder had four sons, John (b. 1676), Robert (b. 1679), William (b. 1691) and James (b. circa 1694). John and Robert were born at Upper Hessilhead.<ref name=ons>Dobie (1896), Page 196</ref> In 1746 John's son, also John, passed the lands of Marshalland to his eldest son, again John, reserving only "certain houses and fields" to himself.<ref name=ono/>

The John Spier Memorial at Beith's Old Kirk.

John the younger, circa 1706, married Margaret Montgomerie, daughter of Matthew Montgomerie of Bogston. The couple had nine children, five sons and four daughters. He was an elder of the church in 1710 and in 1727 he was appointed to "perambulate and value" the lands of Mainshill in in Beith that the Earl of Eglinton was intending to exchange for the old Glebe of Beith.<ref name=ono/> John died circa 1765 and his son sold Marshalland to Robert Service who farmed at the Bigholm in 1785.<ref name=onth>Dobie (1896), Page 193</ref>

John Shedden the younger was known as "The Lang Laird" and married Mary Stevenson of Townend of Threepwood. The couple had five daughters and one son, John, known as "Jack the Marshalland" or "The Gem-keeper".<ref name=onth/>

Robert Service in 1785 had purchased Marshalland and in 1816 his son, Robert "of Bogside" inherited and sold the property to Robert Spier, writer in Beith. The lands were inherited by his on John who lived at Eglinton Street in Beith and then became a part of the Foundation endowment of Spier's School,<ref name=onf/> now the Spier's Trust.

In the 1850s an Andrew Spier is listed as resident at Marshyland (sic).<ref>Ayr Directory Retrieved : 2014-04-01</ref>

Jack the Marshalland[edit]

Born on 25 April 1756, the last John Shedden of Marshalland married Mary Raeside in 1836, however they had no offspring. John was a tall man, strong and a notorious poacher of hares at a time when poaching was governed by archaic laws.<ref name=onth/> After several court appearances Jack moved to a large estate in England where he worked as the head gamekeeper, earning a good wage and returning with substantial savings. On his return he became ironically known as "The Gem keeper" and when he died his poacher friend Thomas Stevenson fired off his gun to the "rict and left" over his grave, much to the surprise of George Colville, the minister at the time.<ref name=onf>Dobie (1896), Page 194</ref>

Marshalland House and farm[edit]

In around 1820 the part of the Marshal-land (sic) held by Robert Spier had a rent value of £58 18s 2d, whilst that part held by Mrs. Gibson was valued at £20 0s 0d.<ref name="Robertson">Robertson, George (1820). A Topographical Description of Ayrshire; more particularly of Cunninghame. Irvine : Cunninghame Press.</ref> Aitken's 1829 map shows an R. Spier Esquire as resident at Marsheyland (sic).<ref name="Aitken">Aitken, Robert (1829). The Parish Atlas of Ayrshire - Cunninghame. Edinburgh : W. Ballantine.</ref>

Andrew Spier, John Spier's brother, is designated 'of Marshalland' and may have lived there until his untimely death.<ref name="Ladyland 1887">Dedication Speech of the Spier School by B. W. Cochran-Patrick of Ladyland & Woodside. 28 April 1887.</ref>

The estate[edit]

Roy's Military Survey of 1747 shows the 'Marchland' farm buildings spread over both sides of the road through the farm with small areas of woodland located near to each group of buildings.<ref>Roy's Map Retrieved : 2013-06-22</ref> In 1820 'Marsheyland' is recorded on Thomson's map with a single building only, located on the approximate site of Marshalland House.<ref name=m/> The later Ordnance Survey maps show a farm behind Marshalland House with two wings, expanding between 1856, 1897 and 1909 to include other outbuildings, a sheepwash across the road and a likely horse-engine.

The dwelling house consisted of a central roughcast dwelling and side wings which were plain ashlar. A gated side entrance existed with a gated main entrance that had a circular driveway and a central island. The side gates were stolen in 2012.<ref>Roy's Map Retrieved : 2013-06-22</ref> After demolition the site became overgrown, however the old stone boundary walls remain in part and several large old lime trees still dominate the old garden area.

The total area of the farm lands was 76.3 acres (309,000 m2).

Marshalland Burn[edit]

This small burn rises from several springs within the grounds of the old Spier's, runs under the road near the main Barrmill Road entrance to then be piped under the field where it emerges on the boundary of the Marshalland Playing Fields before its confluence with the Powgree Burn near the old railway bridge at the 'T' junction for the DM Beith site. Polish prisoners of war in WW2 used to collect their water from the Marshalland springs and it is thought that the old carbonated water factory near Bellscauseway that produced 'cooling and temperance drinks' used these waters. 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.<ref>Reid (2001), Page 68</ref>

Spier's school[edit]

Main article: Spier's School

School history[edit]

The Spier's Institution Feu Disposition of 1887
Spier's school's location near Beith

John Spier was the son of Robert Spier, writer and bank agent in Beith, owner of the Marshalland and Cuff estates Bogstone, Bellcraig, Eastend of Shutterflat and Lugton Ridge farms. Robert was descended from the Spier's of Kersland Mill,<ref name="Ladyland 1887"/> which he purchased from his elder brother and through good business acumen accumulated a considerable fortune of £40,000 in land and money.<ref>Spier's School Magazine, No.1, December 1888. P. 2</ref>

John Spier of Cuff predeceased his mother, dying in 1858 at the age of 28 in Largs;<ref name="Reid 2001, Page 96">Reid (2001), Page 96</ref> Margaret Gibson Spier (died, possibly from a carriage accident,<ref>Gilbert, Thomas & Grace (2010). Windyhouse Farm.</ref> in 1870), also from a local family, who followed his wishes and erected a school on part of the lands of Marshalland as a memorial to her son at a cost of £12,000.<Ref Name="Groome">Groome, Francis H. (1903). Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. London : Caxton. p. 138.</ref><ref name="Pride8">Pride, David (1910). A History of the Parish of Neilston. Paisley: Alexander Gardner. pp. 132 - 133.</ref> Andrew Spier of Marshalland, John's brother, had also pre-deceased his mother and brother. After many discussions and a Royal Commission investigation,<ref name="Ladyland 1887"/> the final plan for a school emerged as a co-educational day school equipped to take a few boarders. The school closed in 1972 when Garnock Academy was opened and after vandalism and structural decay the buildings were demolished in 1984 and the rubble used to fill an old quarry at Lyonshields Farm near Gateside.

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.

Micro-history[edit]

Beith Football Club were based at Marshalland over the years 1882–1883, showing that a playing field was present before Spier's school was built in 1887-88.

The old school's playing fields are still used for football and have acquired the name 'Marshland'.<ref>Google Maps Retrieved : 2013-06-24]</ref>

References[edit]

Notes;

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Sources and Bibliography;

  1. Aitken, Robert (1827). Map of Beith Parish.
  2. Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1880.
  3. Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown. Edinburgh : Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1882.
  4. The Bellman. Beith Cultural and Heritage Society. Issue 12. January 2011.
  5. Campbell, Thorbjørn (2003). Ayrshire. A Historical Guide. Edinburgh : Birlinn. ISBN 1-84158-267-0.
  6. Coventry, Martin (2010). Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh : Goblinshead. ISBN 1-899874-36-4.
  7. Davis, Michael C. (1991). The Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire. Ardrishaig : Spindrift Press.
  8. Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Glasgow: John Tweed.
  9. Dobie, James (1896). Memoir of William Wilson of Crummock. Edinburgh : James Dobie.
  10. Douglas, William Scott (1874). In Ayrshire. Kilmarnock : McKie & Drennan.
  11. Kinniburgh, Moira & Burke, Fiona (1995). Kilbirnie & Glengarnock. Shared Memories. Kilbirnie Library. ISBN 1-897998-01-5.
  12. Love, Dane (2003). Ayrshire : Discovering a County. Ayr : Fort Publishing. ISBN 0-9544461-1-9.
  13. Murray, W. H. (1981). The Curling Companion. Glasgow : Richard Drew. ISBN 0-904002-80-2.
  14. Paul, L. & Sargent, J. (1983). Wildlife in Cunninghame. Edinburgh : SWT, NCC, MSC, CDC
  15. Reid, Donald L. (2000). The Beith Supplement - The Story of Beith's Newspaper. Beith : Duke of Edinburgh Award. ISBN 0-9522720-1-6.
  16. Reid, Donald (2001). In the Valley of the Garnock (Beith, Dalry & Kilbirnie. Beith : DoE. ISBN 0-9522720-5-9.
  17. Reid, Donald L. (2011). Voices & Images of Yesterday and Today. Beith, Barrmill, and Gateside. Precious Memories. Irvine : Kestrel Press. ISBN 978-0-9566343-1-3.
  18. Robertson, George (1820). Topographical Description of Ayrshire : Cunninghame. Irvine : Cunninghame Press.
  19. Strawhorn, John (1985). The History of Irvine. Royal Burgh and Town. Edinburgh : John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-140-1.
  20. Strawhorn, John and Boyd, William (1951). The Third Statistical Account of Scotland. Ayrshire. Edinburgh : Oliver & Boyd.
  21. The New Statistical Account of Scotland. 1845. Vol. 5. Ayr - Bute. Edinburgh : Blackwood & Sons.

External links[edit]

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