Lands of Marshalland

Lands of Marshalland
Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland UK grid reference NS
The old entrance to Marshalland House
Lands of Marshalland
Coordinates	55°44′36″N 4°37′35″W / 55.7434°N 4.6263°W / 55.7434; -4.6263
Type	Laird's House
Site information
Owner	Spier's Trust
Controlled by	Montgomerie
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Demolished
Site history
Built	17th century
Built by	Shedden family
Materials	Stone

The lands of Marshalland, Marsheland,Marsheyland 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, 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.

Hugh Montgomery of Broadstone granted a mortgage on the lands of Broadstone to his brother-in-law, Sir John Shaw in 1650. 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.

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. 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. In 1752 John Shedden acquired Townhead of Broadstone from Neil Snodgrass which in 1757 he sold to his brother Robert Shedden of Morishill.

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 at this point, which is also recorded as the Powgreen or Marshyland burn. Marshalland lay within the Barony of Broadstone. 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.

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. 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.