St Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester from 852 to 862 AD.
On his request, rather than being buried in Winchester cathedral, he was buried in a simple tomb in the graveyard “where the sweet rain of heaven may fall upon my grave”.
However, on 15 July 971 AD his body was moved inside the cathedral.
A huge storm then hit and it supposedly rained for 40 days after.
Legend suggests that the spirit of St Swithin was so outraged at being moved that he was responsible for this weather.
The folklore therefore suggests:
“St Swithin’s Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin’s Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t’will rain no more”
