WHERE are they now, those names beloved of yesteryear? Where the Non Plus? Where the Marquess of Granby? Where the Alma?

The practical answer is that they stand where they did, at Morton on Swale, at Whitby and at Cockerton but no longer commemorate a racing horse, the bounty of the Marquess towards soldiers and a battle in the Crimean War. Instead, they may well thrive, but languish from an historical point of view under everyday names - the Swaledale Arms, the Granby and the Brown Trout.

The Croft Spa is about to follow, removing from its title the fact that it once served the clientele - as did the railway but that's another story - visiting the charming little spa just up the road. The new blue neon signage is already in place and looks very trendy.

And now another piece of history - that stuff marketed as heritage - has come under threat. The Ketton Ox at Yarm was to lose its Ketton to become a common ox until the outcry in the Yarm and the front page of the D&S last week made the company that owns it think again. The Ketton Ox was one of the famous Durham Shorthorns - Comet was another - bred by rival farmers and taken by cart around the country for people to marvel at the girth of the creatures.

Barracuda, the owners, should take some credit for taking on board the points made to them. It is gratifying that not all pub companies will disregard heritage in their desperate attempts to make traditional hostelies appear more trendy.

Mind you, we don't suppose Barrcuda will have minded all the column inches being devoted to its establishment on the grounds that all publicity is good publicity.

Strangely, as the Ketton Ox was under threat in Yarm, it is being honoured near Darlington where the farm in which the breeder lived is being converted to a visitor centre. In 150-plus years, Spectator has learned that nostalgia isn't what it used to be, but it is good news that, on this occasion, the tide of commercialism has been turned and room can be found on a pub sign for a unique animal.

Lusty singing

Spectator was privileged to be in the audience at St Gregory's Church in Bedale on Tuesday to hear the touring Hatstand Opera Company in full flow.

The four singers overcame the handicap of one of their number suffering from a throat infection and the best efforts of the Tornadoes down the road at RAF Leeming to stage a memorable show in a wonderful setting.

Hatstand Opera is appearing all over North Yorkshire in the coming days. Don't miss it.

A special place

An Osmotherley farmer has helped the village's Benedictine monks to improve the new "prayer walk" above the Mount Grace chapel overlooking the village by using his carpentry skills. He fashioned three bird boxes from wood found near the chapel.

Monestary prior Father Terence Richardson said he was pleased local people are regarding the walk and chapel as a "special place."

The 500 yard-long walk was made by prisoners from Kirklevington Grange Prison, near Yarm, and has been officially opened by keen walker Bishop John Crowley, of Middlesbrough.