Now known as the Kennel Field this field was also recorded as Hac Noose in a list collected over 20 years ago by Adam Gray. This is an interesting alternative that appears to refer to the rocks on the shore below the field and is probably derived from Old English haca-nōs meaning hook-nose or hook-shaped headland. The shape of the shore has changed through the centuries but the tide-covered rocks below this field do form a hook shape. 

There is another, more intriguing, possibility: ‘Hac’ might be a rare survival of a Scandinavian-influenced form ‘hack’ of Old English hæcc ‘hatch’, with the specific meaning ‘a fish-trap. Noose could still mean nose or might be Scots noose refering to the tightening space of a fish trap. The small bay enclosed by the natural rock outcrop could have been turned into a fish trap similar to the remains of other ancient fish traps found in Kirkcudbright Bay.

This information was gathered as part of the PLACE in the Biosphere project. Click on the links to visit their web site and blog.