Maer village is another small typical old English country village , still very unspoiled and with many historical and notable associations.
The local Parish Church is set quite high and gives a commanding view over the historical Maer Hall, home in olden days of the local Squire of the Manor. In such olden days, Charles Darwin - not unknown to historians - is said to have travelled by horseback o'er the fields from Shrewsbury , some 30 miles away, to vist regularly his lady friend , resident daughter in the Hall.
Indeed a record of his ultimate marriage to that lass is kept on show in the Church entrance - a copy of the actual Marriage certificate.
The Hall is currently owned and occupied by a quite different occupant .. a local retired Builder , but the building is subject to bye-laws as a 'listed' building, requiring proper upkeep and indeed to his credit the current owner is indeed continuing to develop the Hall and currently is adding or converting much of the old stable-yard buildings into modern type flats for leasing
A far cry from the daily 'goings-on' of olden times. One photo shows a small doorway leading into the side of the Hall from the roadway (p100039) - this was known as the 'Beggar's door' where locals of poor standards were said to visit the Squire's Hall to be given a small hand-out of a round of bread coated with a fatty residue which was a tasty meal of the time for those without the means to buy more.
Many of the local properties and cottages remain much as they have been for many years although a few have inevitably been refurbished or 'enhanced' by 'modern' features, although strictly controlled by current regulations to prevent a spoilage of the locality.
It is still a very secluded but very attractive location in which the world of today seems far away.