William Barnes Society Events

Dorset Meetings are held throughout the year, with talks, poetry readings, recitals and other entertainments including excursions to places with special Barnes connections. Annual events include a spring Service of Remembrance at Winterborne Came Church, a June, Summer Lunch and a wreath laying at St. Peter's Church, Dorchester, in October.

• Non-members are welcome to our events as advertised (£3 for entry), William Barnes Society members FREE. For more information on joining click here.
• External events advertised outside of the organisation may be ticketed.

To compensate for cancelled events during the Coronavirus outbreak,
the Society has prepared a programme of virtual events to entertain from the comfort of your home.
Please see the events listed below and keep revisiting the site for more details.

From 22/02/2021 until 22/02/2022
Starts 09:00
Barnes Night: A Celebration of the Life and Work of William Barnes

Tim Laycock and members of the William Barnes Society have produced a special programme with KeeP 106 radio celebrating Barnes’ life and featuring poetry and music in the Dorset dialect. 

From 27/03/2021 until 27/03/2022
Starts 09:00
A Dorset Spring through the Poetry of William Barnes

This FREE online event is a selection of poetry and music performed by members of the William Barnes Society

From 01/08/2021 until 31/12/2022
Starts 00:00
William Barnes Harvest Celebration

This FREE online event is a selection of poetry and music performed by members of the William Barnes Society

From 01/12/2021 until 31/12/2021
Starts 10:00
KEEPEN UP O' CHRIS'MAS

This FREE online event is a selection of poetry and music performed by members of the William Barnes Society

From 01/01/2022 until 01/05/2022
18:30 till 20:00
'A Dorset Year: the poetry and prose of William Barnes and Thomas Hardy'

Online event presented by members and friends of the William Barnes Society, the Thomas Hardy Society, Oxford's Stanza 2 poetry group and local contributors.