Coordinates: 55°45′12″N 4°37′55″W / 55.7533°N 4.6319°W
| Beith | |
  Beith
Beith shown within Scotland |
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| Population | 6,346 [1] (2001 census) est. 6,210[2] (2006) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | North Ayrshire |
| Lieutenancy area | Ayrshire and Arran |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEITH |
| Postcode district | KA15 |
| Dialling code | 01505 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | NorthAyrshire and Arran |
| Scottish Parliament | Cunninghame North |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
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 one its Church of Scotland parishes.
The sixteenth century poet Alexander Montgomerie was born in Hazelhead (now Hessilhead) Castle, which is on the outskirts of Beith, beyond Gateside.
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,the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, 102nd Scout Group, and modern Primary school. The Royal Navy also maintains an armament depot, DM Beith, in the area.
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Beith Rocking Stone
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.
Beith and Kilwinning Abbey links
In the 12th century the Barony of Beith was given to the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey by the wife of Sir Richard de Morville. The farm or Grange of the monks is indicated by the name Grange Hill and a castellated tower indicated as once existing at this site may have been the local dwelling of the Abbot of Kilwinning when he was visiting the barony to deliver justice at the Court Hill or attend to other business. No clear remains have been found of the tower or grange buildings.[3]
The Beith Moot Hill
The 'Court Hill' is near Hill of Beith, Gateside, in the old 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).[4]
Views of the Court Hill
 The Court Hill from the field above. |
 The view from below the moot hill. |
 Details of the hill and the deeply excavated Boghall Burn. |
 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.
Views of Spier's School grounds in 2007 - 2008
 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. |
 Looking down towards Barrmill Road from the old school site. |
 Scots pine and old plantings in front of the old school site. |
 The woodland policies near the Barrmill Road. |
 Looking towards the Powgree burn near Geilsland Road. |
 Looking towards Barrmill Road from near Geilsland Road. |
 Ivy dominated woodland near Geilsland school. |
Geilsland
William Fulton Love, writer and bank agent in Beith, built Geilsland House and developed this small estate near Gateside in the 19th-century although the deeds go back to the 17th-century.[5] Geilsland is a special school, run by the Church of Scotland.[6]. It is separated from the Speir's school grounds by the Geilsland Road.
Views of Geilsland House and School
 Geilsland Lodge and main entrance. |
 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 main entrance to Geilsland House. |
Views of the Beith Auld Kirk
 The old Giffen Aisle at Beith Auld Kirk. |
 Beith Auld kirk. |
 Dobie family memorials |
 Old doorway to the Giffen Aisle. |
 The Old Sundial dated 1841. |
 A memorial stone inside the old kirk. |
 Detail of the 'Agnus Dei' on the John Spier Memorial. |
 The John Spier memorial, previously at Spier's school. |
 Detail of the John Spier memorial. |
 The memorial to John Spier's wife. |
 The other John Spier memorial from Spier's school. |
 The kirk rear view. |
Beith High church
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Beith landmarks
The Townhouse
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.[7]
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.[8]
Views of Beith
 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. |
 Beith War memorial. |
 Very unusual 'Arabic writing' style ashlar carving on the 'Scapa Cottage'. |
 The site of the old Beith North railway station. |
 Head Street church. |
 Beith landowners of the Victorian Era. Beith Library. |
Crummock House
This mansion house and estate stood on the outskirts of Beith in an area now cut through by the main Dalry to Glasgow road. Now demolished, the Dobie family lived here in the 19th century. James Dobie was a historian and author.[9] Some boundary walls and a cottage remain.
See also
References
- ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Beith Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=beith&mainLevel=Locality. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data
- ^ Hall, Page 135
- ^ RCAHMS Canmore archaeology site
- ^ Dobie, James (1876). Cuninghame topographised by Timothy Pont. Pub. J.Tweed. Edinburgh. P. 214.
- ^ Geilsland school
- ^ The Beith Townhouse
- ^ Details of Scapa Cottage
- ^ Dobie, James D. (ed Dobie, J.S.) (1876). Cunninghame, Topographized by Timothy Pont 1604–1608, with continuations and illustrative notices. Pub. Glasgow: John Tweed.
External links
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