William Barnes Society launch fundraising campaign

Items from the Barnes Archive © Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, held by Dorset History Centre

Work to preserve the William Barnes Archive will begin this November, following the William Barnes Society’s successful campaign to raise £35,000 in support of the project at the Dorset History Centre.

The archive, which contains 65 boxes of letters, manuscripts and papers relating to the Dorset-born poet and scholar, was deposited at the Dorset History Centre in 2018 by the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, who still own the collection.

The news was shared at the Society’s Annual General Meeting earlier this month, where Sam Johnston, Manager of the Dorset History Centre, outlined plans for the project. He confirmed that archivist Ruth Burton will lead the work, drawing on earlier cataloguing efforts by volunteers when the collection was housed at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery.

“This project will make the Barnes Archive more accessible than ever before,” Mr Johnston said. “By the summer of 2026, we’ll have a fully searchable online catalogue that anyone can explore and enjoy.”

Tim Laycock, looking through the many scrapbooks kept by William Barnes.

Claire Dixon, Executive Director of the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said “We are thrilled that this project will make our collection more accessible. We are looking forward to being able to inform new displays and stories both in our galleries and online, made possible by this new online archive. This is a great demonstration of the value of our partnership with the Dorset History Centre, that enables more people to access and learn from our collections and archives.”

The project will run from November 2025 to July 2026, and will involve collaboration between the Dorset History Society, William Barnes Society, and local volunteers.

Brian Caddy, Chair of the William Barnes Society, said: “We are thrilled that the ‘Barnes for All appeal’ has achieved its goal. The enthusiasm and generosity of our supporters have been extraordinary. Thanks to this effort, the William Barnes Archive will be preserved and opened up for everyone to discover. We are deeply grateful to the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, the Dorset History Centre, the Dorset Archives Trust, Dorchester Town Council, and all the generous individuals who contributed to this campaign.”

The Dorset History Centre will share updates as the project progresses through its public newsletter and monthly lunchtime series, From the Stacks, where archivists highlight items from Dorset’s collections. Anyone interested can sign up for updates here: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/libraries-history-culture/dorset-history-centre

The William Barnes Society says the project marks “a major step forward” in preserving Dorset’s literary heritage and ensuring the legacy of William Barnes continues to inspire future generations”.