Barnes Night - A Celebration of the Life and Work of William Barnes

In response to the cancellation of public events during the Coronavirus outbreak of 2020–21, the William Barnes Society created a programme of virtual events, enabling audiences to continue celebrating Barnes’ legacy from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

February 22nd has long been recognised as a significant date for admirers of William Barnes. It was traditionally the day on which members of his family marked his birthday, and in 2021 it also commemorated the 220th anniversary of his birth in 1801. In previous years, Society members and supporters would gather in person at St Peter’s Church in Came, Dorset, to honour his life and work in a shared act of remembrance and celebration.

Although circumstances prevented such a gathering in 2021, the spirit of Barnes Night was very much alive. Tim Laycock, together with members of the William Barnes Society, produced a special commemorative programme in association with KeeP 106 radio. The broadcast celebrated Barnes’ enduring contribution to Dorset’s cultural heritage, featuring readings of his poetry and performances of music in the Dorset dialect, bringing his words, voice, and local spirit to new audiences in a modern format.

• Narrated by Andy Venton

Poems written by William Barnes Readings include: 

• Praise O' Do'set read by Brian Caddy
• Pentridge by the River read by Rod Drew
• The Young Rymer Snubb'd read by Devina Symes
• Learning read by Sue Worth
• The Commons a-Took In read by Brian Caddy and Rod Drew
• The Dog Wi' Me read by Brian Caddy
• Jeane's Wedden Day in Mornen read by Devina Symes
• The Railroad read by Rod Drew
• The Witch read by Sue Worth
• John Bloom in Lon'on [All true!] read by David Strawbridge
• Woak Hill read by David Strawbridge
• Evenen in the Village read by Margaret Knott

Recorded by Andy Worth and Photography and images provided by Mark North

Additional Music:

• Lady Elizabeth’s Hornpipe arranged by Tim laycock and Phil Humphries
• The Stage Coach by William Barnes music, arrangement and sung by John Blackmore
• Linden Lea by William Barnes Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams, sung by Tim Laycock
• The Wife A-Lost by William Barnes music, arrangement and sung by Tim Laycock
• Nightingales Sing arranged by Tim laycock, and played by Nick Crump [recorder], John Holman [violin] and Tim Laycock [concertina]
• The Geate a-Vallen To by William Barnes music, arrangement and sung by John Blackmore
• The Mariner’s Hornpipe arranged by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries

• All songs and music used with permission 

More events

On 14/02/2026
14:30 till 15:30
'My Hwomeward Road' The Family Life of the Dorset Poet | Rebecca Danicic

On 19/02/2026
Starts 12:30
From the Stacks: Highlights from the William Barnes Archive

From 22/02/2026 until 22/02/2027
Starts 09:00
ONLINE | Barnes Night: A Celebration of the Life and Work of William Barnes

On 22/02/2026
Starts 15:00
Tea with William Barnes

From 20/03/2026 until 20/03/2027
Starts 09:00
ONLINE | A Dorset Spring through the Poetry of William Barnes