The historic Speir’s School was established by Margaret Gibson Spier, as a memorial to her son, John Speir. After prolonged discussions and an investigation by the Royal Commission, a final plan emerged for a co-educational day school, with facilities to accommodate a few boarders. In September 1887, its foundation stone was laid before more than a thousand guests, and officially opened the following year with nearly 150 pupils. In 1933, it reached the peak school roll of 310 and more than 350 when new classrooms were added.

However, by 1932 Speir’s School had financial difficulties and the County Authorities acquired the school after a protracted campaign in 1937. The school was finally closed in June 1972 when the Garnock Academy was established at Kilbirnie. After the closure, the buildings were badly vandalized and in 1984, all were demolished.

The woodlands and gardens are now open to the public. The head gardener of Eglinton Castle designed the 66,900 m2 (16.53 acres) grounds. He used a variety of shrubs and trees, eventually creating a very fine background for the Speir’s school; much of his garden designs remain to this day.

The grounds had originally a part of the Marshalland farm. A few orchid species are present and ivy dominates the grounds near the Geilsland Road. A survey on the grounds recorded 136 species of plants and 19 species of birds. The woodlands have an abundant amount of fungal growth, partially due to the large quantity of decomposed fallen timber.

Parrot Waxcap (Hygrocybe psittacina), a rare bird species is occasionally spotted. Speir’s is a site for birding with, amongst others, thrushes, finches, tits, chiffchaff, greater spotted woodpecker, willow, garden warbler and blackcap. The grounds are periodically patrolled by the Countryside Ranger, while the Grounds Maintenance Section maintain the entire grounds by removing fallen trees, mowing grass, and using it for InService Training sessions.

In 2008, an event was organized by the Beith Community Council to clean up and improve the grounds, fix an old track, and clean up litter. Gateside Primary School planted bulbs and trees donated by the Eglinton Country Park and local community. Ardrossan Academy pupils constructed new paths through the grounds and the woods.

In and around Beith, a small town in North Ayrshire Scotland, you will find many interesting landmarks with a long and interesting history. Here is a few locations you may want to add to your travel itinerary:

The Beith Moot Hill (also known as “Court Hill”) – is located a short drive away from Hill of Beith, Gateside. It is the spot on which the leader of the Tironensian monastic community, Abbot of Kilwinning, often administered justice to his tenants and vassals.

Speir’s School – is located on Barmill Road close to the Marshalland Farm. It was established Mrs Margaret Speir in 1887 to commemorate her son John Speir, who had deceased at the tender age of twenty-eight. The school began as a fee paying boarding and day school, integrated to the county’s education system in 1930′s. After the construction of Garnock Academy, it was immediately closed in 1973 and all buildings were pulled down in 1984. The 65,000 m2 (16 acres) of gardens and woodlands remain a popular spot for bird watchers, dog walkers, and those who enjoy the rural scenery.

Geilsland House – a writer and bank agent, William Fulton Love, constructed Geilsland House and established this small estate very close to the Gateside in the 19th century. Geilsland House is run by the Church of Scotland and considered as a special school. It is located next to Speir’s school grounds, separated by the Geilsland Road.

Beith’s Townhouse – was constructed and run by the Church of Scotland; the lower part of the Townhouse previously consisted of two small shops, one of them was an ironmonger ran by George B Inglis from 1862 to early 20th century. You will also find a small room where captives were held before they appear in the JP court, which was located in the upper hall, the court was also often used as the public meeting room.

Scapa Cottage (also known as Dummy Cottage), the whole exterior of the sandstone building has indentation marks giving it a most peculiar appearance; in its earlier years it was used as a Toll House. A deaf-mute young man stayed in the cottage many years ago, hence it acquired the name “Dummy Cottage”, a politically and morally unacceptable term nowadays.

Crummock House – this estate and mansion house stood on the fringes of Beith in a location now cut through by a main road from Dalry to Glasgow, sadly, it had been demolished. James Dobie and his family resided here in the 19th century. He was an author and historian. A cottage and some boundary walls still remain.