Funds to restore poet William Barnes archive being sought

A statue to Barnes stands outside St Peter's Church in Dorchester

Funding to restore the archives of a 19th century poet and polymath is being sought.

The William Barnes Society is looking to raise £35,000 to hire an archivist to restore his collection at the Dorset History Centre.

Barnes spent most of his life in Dorchester and is known for his poetry and philanthropic efforts.

When he died, aged 85, in 1886 he left an archive of his work to what is now the Dorset History Centre.

During his life, he became known for his dialect poetry, helped establish the Dorset County Museum, campaigned to protect Maumbury Rings from being cut through by the railways and founded a school in Dorchester.

Barnes' thatched rectory home at Winterborne Came still stands

He was also good friends with his fellow Dorset resident, the poet and novelist Thomas Hardy.

Barnes collection includes writings, poems, letters, sermons, woodcuts and engravings.

Volunteers from the William Barnes Society carried out some work on the archive several years ago, but the services of a professional archivist are now required to finish the task.

Dorset History Centre is looking for the funding

It is anticipated that an archivist will be needed for up to two years to complete the cataloguing.

Some funding has already been achieved by the History Centre, with the society seeking to add to the total to ensure the work is completed.

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