ON THE TRACK OF THE " OLD MEN." 
239 
ruins close by, but before they were absorbed in the building the 
spoliation was discovered, and they were returned, but whether 
again placed in situ is not known. 
On the southern side of the circle, and connected with it, is the 
remnant of a small rectangular building ; but for what purpose it 
was used, or whether it is a more modern addition, is uncertain. 
But for the fact that the Furnum Eegis is mentioned in the earliest 
recorded Perambulation, it could never have been recognised as a 
smelting-place. It presents the appearance of a circular enclosure, 
very similar to others to be found on the Moor. 
The district near King's Oven must have been at some period, 
or perhaps in succeeding periods, very fairly inhabited, for ruins of 
hut circles abound. The well-known Cyclopean enclosure known 
as Grimspound is not far distant, whilst near Post Bridge are 
others, all being situated in or near ancient stream works. Post 
Bridge itself is doubtless a settlement of considerable antiquity, 
for some of the houses, particularly that of Higher Merripitt, 
present the appearance of great age. A district formerly 
so rich in stream tin, and so extensively worked as this has been, 
must have possessed blowing-houses for smelting the black tin 
which was streamed and raised during the period between the 
time when the Furnum Regis was in work — whenever that might 
be — and the 17th and 18th centuries. 
Unfortunately the modern craze for the conversion of Dartmoor 
into fertile crop -bearing ground and richer pasturage, a craze 
which was rampant in the earlier portions of this century, has 
been the means of destroying many objects of great archaeological 
interest. The "new-take " wall builder has been a great sinner in 
this respect : mediaeval crosses with the arms knocked off made 
fine gate-posts, and blowing-house ruins a splendid deposit from 
which handy stones could be selected with little trouble and labour. 
It is no wonder then that the difficulty of recognising sites of 
smelting places in certain localities is so great. Diligent search in 
the Post Bridge district has not however gone unrewarded, for the 
writer found, close to the clapper bridge, an object which proves 
the former existence on this spot of a blowing-house. 
A few yards below the bridge, on the right bank of the river, is 
a ruin known locally as the "Barracks." This building was 
erected some years since as a residence for miners, and the 
discovery on the spot by the writer of what appeared to be a 
R 2 
