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, which he purchased from his elder brother and through good business acumen accumulated a considerable fortune of £40,000 in land and money.

John Spier of Cuff predeceased his mother, dying in 1858 at the age of 28 in Largs; Margaret Gibson Spier (died, possibly from a carriage accident, 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.
Andrew Spier of Marshalland, John's brother, had also pre-deceased his mother and brother.
After many discussions and a Royal Commission investigation, 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.
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, which he purchased from his elder brother and through good business acumen accumulated a considerable fortune of £40,000 in land and money.
John Spier of Cuff predeceased his mother, dying in 1858 at the age of 28 in Largs; Margaret Gibson Spier (died, possibly from a carriage accident, 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. Andrew Spier of Marshalland, John's brother, had also pre-deceased his mother and brother. After many discussions and a Royal Commission investigation, 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.
Lands of Marshalland