Dorset Poet Donates Works to Museum
- William Barnes bequeathed his works to Dorset's county museum.
- Barnes, a Dorset dialect poet, founded the museum in the 19th Century.
- His works will now be accessible to all at the museum.
A play centered on the life of 19th-century poet William Barnes is set to be revived as part of a fundraising initiative aimed at cataloguing his extensive archive. The William Barnes Society is seeking to raise £35,000 to ensure that Barnes' writings, woodcuts, and engravings, which he bequeathed to the county museum he co-founded in 1846, can be accessed globally. The revival of "The Year Clock," penned by society vice president Tim Laycock, is one of several events planned to support this endeavor. The fundraising campaign is being bolstered by the Dorset Archives Trust, the charitable arm of the Dorset History Centre, where the archives are housed, alongside the Dorset Museum. William Barnes, born in Bagber in 1801, was not only a celebrated poet and writer but also served as the rector of Winterborne Came parish until his death in 1886. A bronze statue commemorating him stands outside St Peter's Church, located near the museum he helped establish. Brian Caddy, chairman of the William Barnes Society, emphasized the importance of the project, stating it would "ensure a lasting legacy of our much-loved Dorset poet for all to enjoy and appreciate." Claire Dixon, director of the Dorset Museum, echoed this sentiment, highlighting that cataloguing the collection will allow more people to connect with Barnes' story and explore the significant artifacts related to his life and work.