The village of Kirspenich has a Celtic-Roman origin, as can be seen from its name, but it first appeared in records in 893 AD in the property register of Prüm Abbey.
The castle's square residence tower, made of rough stone, dates back to Gerlach von Dollendorf, who owned Kirspenich in 1278. In the 14th century the castle tower, which is mentioned in official records in 1301, was raised by two storeys. Despite further extensions and improvements during the 16th century Kirspenich never became the country seat of knights. In the 18th century the estate belonged to the Baron von Friemersdorf, who had the baroque residence, resembling a maison de plaisance and comprising 16th century parts, built against the tower.
At the beginning of the 20th century the castle functioned as a restaurant, which was extended to include further outbuildings and a large dance-hall. In the 90's the estate was fundamentally and thoroughly restored after decades of neglect.
References:Dryburgh Abbey on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders was founded in 1150 in an agreement between Hugh de Morville, Constable of Scotland, and the Premonstratensian canons regular from Alnwick Abbey in Northumberland. The arrival of the canons along with their first abbot, Roger, took place in 1152.
It was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored only to be again burned by Richard II in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly surviving until the Scottish Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland. It is now a designated scheduled monument and the surrounding landscape is included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.
David Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan bought the land in 1786. Sir Walter Scott and Douglas Haig are buried in its grounds.