An opportunity for us all to help preserve the William Barnes Archive for the future

An archive of items gifted to Dorset Museum by PJ Harvey on the publication of her Dorset dialect poem Orlam, has gone on display. The items will be exhibited between 29 March and 9 July 2023 outside the Museum’s Collection Discovery Centre.

The Dorset-born singer-songwriter, musician and poet, has visited Dorset Museum ahead of the publication of her Dorset dialect narrative poem Orlam.

Society member Jim Potts attends a preview of the multi-million-pound refurbishment of the Dorset Museum

Celebrating the Harvest at at St. Peter's Church, Winterborne Came, near Dorchester. During the service dialect poetry readings will be read by members of the William Barnes Society and music by Tim Laycock and Jam Please.

Regular contributor to the William Barnes Society, Jim Potts has produced a book of 43 stories,  written over a period of 50 years, both during and after the Jim's 35-year career in international cultural relations and media consultancy.

A new collection of 14 traditional West Country tales, retold by Tim Laycock, with beautiful illustrations by Zoe Barnish

Alan Chedzoy's recent book The Sheridans: A Dramatic Family Life, may be of particular interest to members of the Barnes Society because they were among the poet's earliest patrons.

Dr. Richard Bradbury of the Open University, editor of the six-volume The Collected Prose of William Barnes, made a convincing case for the continuing relevance and social significance of William Barnes.

Sam Jeffery has very kindly donated The Poems of William Barnes Edited by Bernard Jones Vol 1 in Dorset Dialect and The Poems of William Barnes Edited by Bernard Jones Vol 2 in National English to the Society.

Traditional Victorian Fayre, a William Barnes Society Fund-Raising event to celebrate the life of William Barnes, Dorset dialect poet

Following the recent William Barnes Society Annual General Meeting, John Blackmore presented 'Music and Song' to the audience.

Praise O' Do'set: An exhibition of handpainted woodblock prints illustrating the poetry of William Barnes by Jennifer Martindale

Once again Members of the William Barnes Society were invited on August 27th to The Stock Gaylard Oak Fair. for the special event celebrating woodcraft, timber, conservation and the countryside.

A service in honour of the Dorset dialect poet William Barnes was held at St Peter's Church at Winterborne Came near Dorchester.

On Sunday 8h October 2017 10:30am, at St Peter's Church, Dorchester, the Morning Service to commemorate the anniversary of the death of William Barnes took place. It was followed by a wreath laying at the statute.

On 19th September 2017, a group of William Barnes Society members gave an evening of poetry, music and song at Crossways Library for the Local History Group and guests.

For the last two years Marion Tait, Honorary Curator of the William Barnes Collection and secretary of the William Barnes Society, has been committed to raising the profile of the Dorset Dialect poet and organising fund-raising for the refurbishment of the William Barnes Gallery at Dorset County Mus

On Sunday 21st February, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, the Dorset County Museum opens its doors for the second year running to a traditional Victorian Fayre to celebrate the birthday of William Barnes, Dorset dialect poet. This FREE event will offer something for all the family.

As part of Sherborne Literary Festival, a celebration of William Barnes by members of the William Barnes Society at Raleigh Hall, Sherborne, Dorset.

The society annual Summer lunch took place on Saturday 24th June at Cerne Abbas Village Hall, Dorset.

The Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols with Poems by William Barnes. To celebrate the enduring nature of William Barnes and his works. Hosted by Minette and Alec Walters and presented by William Barnes Society. Service conducted by Rev Richard Betts

The society visits the Blackmore Vale, the country of William Barnes' Childhood

The newly refurbished Ancient Dorset Gallery tells the fascinating story of the past of the ancient peoples living in the county from the Lower Palaeolithic Age 3 million years ago to 1066AD.

William Barnes Society Poetry Readings and Cream Tea at Pine Lodge Farm Tea Rooms, Bockhampton, Dorchester.

This portrait, and accompanying collection of manuscripts, books and cuttings relating to William Barnes, are being offered to the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society from a private family collection for £3,000.

Dorset County Museum will be running a fundraising event on 30th August 2014. The event will take place between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm at St Peter's Church hall, High West Street, Dorchester. Stalls will include home-made produce and preserves, books and bric-a-brac, a raffle and tombola and childre

Staff and volunteers at Dorset County Museum are thrilled with the success of a fundraising fair held in Dorchester on 30th August.

The spectacular and varied landscape of Dorset, with its giants, hill forts, Jurassic coast and ancient buildings is the source and inspiration for many curious stories that have been passed down in families and village communities for generations.

A biography and anthology of the only English poet to write in a rural dialect