Articles

The Roman Amphitheatre at Dorchester
An article written by William Barnes for The Gentlemans Magazine, May 1839

William Barnes as rector of Winterborne Came
William Barnes took up his duties as Rector of Winterborne Came in July 1862. His association with the parish went back much further, to early 1847

William Barnes, the Dorset Poet
Sir Frederick Treves, went to the school run by William Barnes, who became his life-long mentor and whose influence never left him.

The Shapwick Monster
This FREE online reading performed by Rod Drew of the William Barnes Society

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ debt to nineteenth-century poetry
Musician John Blackmore explores the works of Ralph Vaughan Williams

William Barnes and Witchcraft
Local writer and musician Jerry Bird examines the case of the Leigh Witches

Some Dorset Poems by Jim Potts
A selection of poems written by Jim Potts

Barnes and the slowing of time
A contribution from William Barnes Society member, John Osman

There but for the grace of God: The Execution of William Barnes, 1885
Following on from his previous article Jim Potts looks at case of another William Barnes

Barnes, Hardy and the Law - “But still thiese laes da seem a little tight”
Regular contributor, Jim Potts examines social justice and punishment at the time of William Barnes

William Barnes and my Great Grandfather
Sam Jeffery's Great Grandfather Charles Jeffery, a gunmaker in Dorchester reminisces on his meeting with William Barnes.

Part 3: Growing Up in the Dorset of William Barnes
As a part of series, Hilary Townsend continues to look back on how William Barnes poetry reflected in her growing up in the Blackmore Vale

Barnes, Hardy and the Sea
Jim Potts has been wondering how little Barnes wrote about the sea or the Dorset coast. Thomas Hardy wrote much more.

Maiden Castle
Jim Potts takes a look at Maiden Castle and the archaeologists, writers, poets and composers who where inspired by one of Dorset's magnificent prehistoric Hillfort

AROUND THE WORLD WITH WILLIAM BARNES: Part 2 - Greece
Jim Potts returns to Greece to explore Athens and the Influence of Greek Culture in works of Byron, Barnes and Hardy

Part 2: My Early Years in the Dorset of William Barnes
As a part of series, Hilary Townsend continues to look back on how William Barnes poetry reflected in her growing up in the Blackmore Vale

Christmasing and Wassailing
Regular contributor, Jim Potts looks at regional poetry surrounding Christmasing and Wassailing

Around the World with William Barnes - Bermuda
Jim Potts travels to Bermuda to discover the islands connections with Dorset and William Barnes

William Barnes and Winslow Homer
Jim Potts examines the illustrations by artists Winslow Homer and Hammatt Billings for William Barnes book 'Rural Poems' published in Boston, America in 1869

The 'Sun-Prints' of Rev. William Miles Barnes, Photographer
Photographs of Rural Life in the time of William Barnes

Around the World with William Barnes: Part 1 - Greece
Jim Potts travels to Greece to explore Evangelistria Monastery and how the wall paintings relate to one of Barnes poems

Part 1: My Early Years in the Dorset of William Barnes
As a part of series, Hilary Townsend looks back at her childhood and how William Barnes poetry reflected in her growing up in the Blackmore Vale

Dorsetshire Customs, & C.
Dorsetshire Customs, & C. by William Barnes. Harvest Home, Hay making, Matrimonial Oracles, Midsummer Eve, Peace in 1814, Country Pairs, Perambulations

Surdly Sam
Surdly Sam by David Downton. A sketch '˜Surely Sam' and poem entitled '˜Zummer' taken from George Philip Rigney Pulman Pulman's '˜Rustic Sketches: Being Rhymes on Angling and Other Subjects Illustrative of Rural Life' written in the East Devon dialect.

The Stained Glass Attitude
The Stained Glass Attitude: The Parsons' Window at Liverpool Cathedral

Social Changes in the 1830's
Marion Tait looks at William Barnes insight into Social Change and upheaval in the 1830's can be found in the following eclogues.

WESSEX WORTHIES: William Barnes
WESSEX WORTHIES: William Barnes by J. J. Foster

The Folk-Lore of William Barnes
The Folk-Lore of William Barnes by John Symonds Udal

William Barnes by Llewelyn Powys
Extract taken from Thirteen Worthies by Llewelyn Powys published in 1923
See also
Dorset Dialect
"Lagwood"
The bigger loppings of a tree
Society events

From 01/08/2024 until 01/08/2025
Starts 00:00
William Barnes Harvest Celebration
Starts 00:00
William Barnes Harvest Celebration

On 22/02/2025
Starts 09:00
Barnes Night: A Celebration of the Life and Work of William Barnes
Starts 09:00
Barnes Night: A Celebration of the Life and Work of William Barnes

On 23/02/2025
Starts 15:00
Tea with William Barnes
Starts 15:00
Tea with William Barnes

On 20/03/2025
Starts 09:00
A Dorset Spring through the Poetry of William Barnes
Starts 09:00
A Dorset Spring through the Poetry of William Barnes

On 09/04/2025
Starts 00:00
Friends Beyond - Barnes, Moule and Hardy
Starts 00:00
Friends Beyond - Barnes, Moule and Hardy

On 27/04/2025
10:30 till 12:00
Annual Service of Remembrance of William Barnes
10:30 till 12:00
Annual Service of Remembrance of William Barnes