St Swithins Church, Old Weston

Originally built in the late 13th century St Swithin's church is situated at the far west of the village, away from the rest of the homes and farms of Old Weston. This is thought to be because the original village, which was built near the church, was burnt and abandoned following an outbreak of the plague. It was later rebuilt on a "clean" site which was away from the church.

A short history can be found inside the church and the interested visitor can be rewarded by the sight of many original and historically important features.

Curious Church Custom

With reference to the strewing of the Parish church floor with new mown hay on St Swithin's Day a correspondent, Mr John Smithson traces the custom to squeaking boots.

"The villagers," he writes, "once had the strange propensity for buying their new boots in July, and wearing them for the first time on St Swithin's Day. This developed into a practice that became universal in the district and accordingly there was a terrible amount of squeaking made by these boots when the people trooped into Church on the Saint's day. This creaking noise much irritated a wealthy gentleman who lived at Old Weston, and who was rather eccentric. This man therefore left in his will a sum of money, to be spent each year in providing a large quantity of new-mown hay, to be spread over the floor of the Church as a preventive of the noise caused by the squeaking boots."

Some accounts say it was an old lady who did not like the squeaky boots.

The custom is over 300 years old.

A rood of land was in the custody of the Parish Clerk to to grow hay on condition that it was mown for strewing purposes immediately before the feast of St Swithin.

As with all old stories one can not be absolutely sure that this is the only explanation!