Beith

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Beith
PopulationExpression error: "6,346[1] (2001 census)
est. 6,210[2] (2006)" must be numeric
OS grid referenceNS349542
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBEITH
Postcode districtKA15
Dialling code01505
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
This article is about the Scottish town. For the letter of the Ogham alphabet, see Beith (letter).
Beith Kirk in 1876, built on the site of Saint Inan's chapel.

Beith is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland.

One of its various claims to fame is that a signatory of the American Declaration of Independence, the Rev. John Witherspoon, was a former minister of its parish.

The sixteenth century poet Alexander Montgomerie was born in Hazelhead Castle, which is on the outskirts of Beith.

Dr Henry Faulds, the originator of the forensic use of fingerprinting as a means to identify criminals, was born in Beith in 1843.

It was also home to many world-famous cabinet works, such as Stevenson and Higgins.

The town was once served by two railway stations: Beith North and Beith Town. Both these stations are now closed, with the nearest station now being Glengarnock.

Beith also has its own golf course (the 8th hardest amateur course in Britain), two Beith Parish Churches of the Church of Scotland, 102nd Scout Group, and modern Primary school. The Royal Navy also maintains an armament depot, DM Beith, in the area.

Beith Rocking Stone

The Rocking Stone at Cuff Hill.

The Beith Rocking Stone, weighing 11 tons, sits on top of Cuff Hill. Local Folklore states that the Rock once upon a time rocked from side to side on a balance point.

The Beith Moot Hill

Beith Court Hill.
Boghall House and farm from near the court Hill.

The 'Court Hill' is near Hill of Beith, Gateside, in the Barony of Beith. Dobie states that this is the Moot Hill on which the Abbot of Kilwinning used to administer justice to his vassals & tenants. It is a sub-oval, flat-topped mound, measuring 15.0 by 14.5 metres (49.2 x 47.6 ft) over all, 10.0 by 8.0 metres (32.8 x 26.25 ft) across the top, and 2.0 m (6.6 ft) high, 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, and probably situated on a low outcrop, it 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).[3]

The Court Hill gallery

  • The Court Hill from the field above.
    The Court Hill from the field above.
  • The view from below the moot hill.
    The view from below the moot hill.
  • Details of the hill and the deeply excavated Boghall Burn.
    Details of the hill and the deeply excavated Boghall Burn.
  • Details of the boulders used in the construction of the Court hill.
    Details of the boulders used in the construction of the Court hill.

Speir's school

This school stood on the Barmill Road near the old Marshalland Farm. It was built Mrs Margaret Speir of the Marshalland and Cuff estate in 1887 to commemorate John Speir, her son, who had died at the tender age of 28. The school started as a fee paying day and boarding school, becoming part of the county education system in 1937. Following the construction of Garnock Academy, Speir's school closed in 1973 and the buildings were demolished in 1984.

The 16 acres (65,000 m2) of woodland and gardens remain a popular site for dog walkers, bird watchers, and those out to enjoy the rural surroundings.

Spier's School grounds gallery 2007 - 2008

  • The terraced lawn and garden beside the old walled garden area. These were tennis courts at one time.
    The terraced lawn and garden beside the old walled garden area. These were tennis courts at one time.
  • A view from near the Barrmill Road tradesman's entrance up towards the old school buildings.
    A view from near the Barrmill Road tradesman's entrance up towards the old school buildings.
  • Looking down towards Barrmill Road from the old school site.
    Looking down towards Barrmill Road from the old school site.
  • Scots pine and old plantings in front of the old school site.
    Scots pine and old plantings in front of the old school site.
  • The woodland policies near the Barrmill Road.
    The woodland policies near the Barrmill Road.
  • Looking towards the Powgree burn near Geilsland Road.
    Looking towards the Powgree burn near Geilsland Road.
  • Looking towards Barrmill Road from near Geilsland Road.
    Looking towards Barrmill Road from near Geilsland Road.
  • Ivy dominated woodland near Geilsland school.
    Ivy dominated woodland near Geilsland school.

Geilsland

William Fulton Love, writer and bank agent in Beith, built this small estate near Gateside in the 19th-century although the deeds go back to the 17th-century.[4] Geilsland is a special school, run by the Church of Scotland.[5]. It is separated from the Speir's school grounds by the Geilsland Road.

Geilsland House and School gallery

  • Geilsland Lodge and main entrance.
    Geilsland Lodge and main entrance.
  • A view of the side of the house which faces Beith.
    A view of the side of the house which faces Beith.
  • The side of the house which faces Geilsland Road and Speir's school grounds.
    The side of the house which faces Geilsland Road and Speir's school grounds.
  • The main entrance to Geilsland House.
    The main entrance to Geilsland House.

Beith Auld Kirk gallery

  • Beith Auld kirk.
    Beith Auld kirk.
  • The Old Sundial dated 1841.
    The Old Sundial dated 1841.
  • A memorial stone inside the old kirk.
    A memorial stone inside the old kirk.
  • Detail of the 'Agnus Dei' on the John Speir Memorial.
    Detail of the 'Agnus Dei' on the John Speir Memorial.
  • The John Speir memorial, previously at Speir's school.
    The John Speir memorial, previously at Speir's school.
  • Detail of the John Speir memorial.
    Detail of the John Speir memorial.
  • The memorial to John Speir's wife.
    The memorial to John Speir's wife.
  • The other John Speir memorial from Speir's school.
    The other John Speir memorial from Speir's school.

Beith kirk gallery

  • Commemorative plaque in Beith Kirk.
    Commemorative plaque in Beith Kirk.
  • Detail of the Coat of arms of the Barony of Giffen from the Auld Kirk, now in the Beith Kirk built in 1807.
    Detail of the Coat of arms of the Barony of Giffen from the Auld Kirk, now in the Beith Kirk built in 1807.
  • The Barony of Giffen coat of arms.
    The Barony of Giffen coat of arms.
  • The old Giffen aisle at Beith Auld Kirk.
    The old Giffen aisle at Beith Auld Kirk.

Beith landmarks

The Townhouse

Scapa Cottage.

Beith’s townhouse was built by public subscription in 1817; the lower part of the building originally consisted of two shops, one of which was an ironmongers operated by George B Inglis from 1862 until around 1900. There was also a small room where prisoners were kept prior to their appearance in the upper hall which was used as a JP Court, Sheriff Small Debt Circuit Court and as a public meeting room.[6]

Scapa Cottage

Scapa Cottage is known locally as "Dummy Cottage." The entire outside of the sandstone building is indented with marks (see illustration) giving it a most unusual appearance; in earlier years it was a Toll House. A deaf and dumb young man lived in the cottage in earlier times, hence the acquired name "Dummy Cottage," a politically unacceptable term today.[7]

Beith gallery

  • Beith High Church.
    Beith High Church.
  • House next to Beith High Church.
    House next to Beith High Church.
  • A sundial recording the donation of the Beith War Memorial plot by Lady Cochran-Patrick of Ladyland and Mosside.
    A sundial recording the donation of the Beith War Memorial plot by Lady Cochran-Patrick of Ladyland and Mosside.
  • Beith War memorial.
    Beith War memorial.
  • Very unusual 'Arabic writing' style ashlar carving on the 'Scapa Cottage'.
    Very unusual 'Arabic writing' style ashlar carving on the 'Scapa Cottage'.
  • The site of the old Beith North railway station.
    The site of the old Beith North railway station.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Beith Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  2. ^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data
  3. ^ RCAHMS Canmore archaeology site
  4. ^ Dobie, James (1876). Cuninghame topographised by Timothy Pont. Pub. J.Tweed. Edinburgh. P. 214.
  5. ^ Geilsland school
  6. ^ The Beith Townhouse
  7. ^ Details of Scapa Cottage

External links

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