William Barnes is just your cup of tea

Enjoy a virtual cuppa with Dorset dialectical poet William Barnes and the Ridgeway Singers and Band.

Described by Thomas Hardy as ‘probably the most interesting link between present and past forms of rural life that England possessed’, William Barnes was undoubtedly the country’s greatest dialect poet. This spring the Ridgeway Singers and Band, led by Tim Laycock and Phil Humphries and supported by Artsreach, invite you to Tea with William Barnes to celebrate Dorset’s traditional music, song and poetry.

Born in Bagber in the Blackmore Vale in 1801, William Barnes attended school in Sturminster Newton. In later life he was an innovative schoolmaster, with a knowledge of over 70 languages, the author of over 30 prose books, an artist, engraver, musician, folklorist, inventor and parish priest.

Many of Barnes’ contemporaries regarded him as hopelessly oldfashioned, with his love of old ways, old words, and old customs; but now we have cause to be thankful that he captured the sound of the Dorset speech in such an artistic and imaginative way.

Barnes relished the country-dances, folksongs and carols of Dorset, and often wrote about community celebrations, where music was a key part of the proceedings. The forthcoming ‘tea’ with Barnes will feature the Ridgeway Singers and Band who will be joined by guests from The William Barnes Society. They will be celebrating the sounds and stories of old Dorset, performing traditional songs collected across the county, playing dance tunes from the repertoire of Blackmore Vale fiddler Benjamin Rose, and reciting some of the poems that keep alive the rich dialect of Dorset. This year’s Barnes celebration takes place at Cerne Abbas Village Hall at 3pm on Sunday, February 19. Tickets include a Dorset Cream tea and are available from Artsreach by calling 01305 269512.

Artsreach is also partnering with local film company Pageant Productions to live stream the event online. For more information visit artsreach.co.uk