This handsome Grade II listed Georgian house in the village of Little Missenden could be the Christmas gift from paradise for a Vicar of Dibley fan. It was £3.95m when it came on the market 18 months ago. Last month the price was reduced to £3.75m.

Missenden House has what it takes to be a nice little earner. From time to time over the past 20 years, it has contributed towards its upkeep as a set for films and TV productions.

In the popular BBC One sitcom starring Dawn French in the title part, it was in the spotlight as the manorial home of the millionaire chairman of the parish council, the most powerful man in the fictional village of Dibley.

In early episodes of the show which ran over three series from 1994-2015 gentleman farmer David Horton played by Gary Waldhorn was a thorn in the side of the newly arrived vicar.

Later he saw the light and hoped to marry her but last we heard, she wouldn’t have him.

Missenden House has also provided a backdrop for Midsomer Murders.

It was built in 1729 as a classic ‘Georgian box’ for Jonas Deacon, a prosperous East India merchant.

It was first extended 20 years after it was built and then again in 1850 when the west wing was added for the family of Captain John Cuffe.

In the 1950s the property was split into separate units.

During their 21 year stewardship the present owners have restored and remodelled the main house.

They’ve created a country home with an interior which graciously combines the elegance and classic proportions of its Georgian origins with modern features and a contemporary colour pallet.

Today there are ten bedrooms and eight bathrooms including a bedroom and bathroom in each of two self-contained annexes.

The house encompasses what many might judge to be the best work of interior designers spanning 300 years.

There are four principal reception rooms. The library with stained glass panels depicting Henry I and Charles I leads to the most recent addition to the layout – the glass cube conservatory with polished concrete floor.

Either side of the entrance hall are the 26ft drawing room (original window seats) and 22ft dining room. Both have deep bay windows, fireplaces and the ornate ceilings of the period. The panelled walls in each room have been lightened with a coat of matt white paint but the outline of the original panelling is still evident.

The designer kitchen has ‘blue pearl’ granite worktops. The Miele gas hob, oven and microwave save the cook from exhaustion when the weather’s too hot to use the Aga. Also in the Miele line-up are a couple of fridges, a freezer and a coffee maker. A roof lantern captures maximum daylight for the breakfast area. There’s also a large roof light in the 30ft square family room. A further reception room (26ft by 18) is currently used as a games room. Below stairs is a wine cellar and one of the two annexes. The other annexe is reached via a side entrance on the ground floor.

The main staircase leads to a split level landing where the two principal bedrooms are a similar size to the drawing room and dining room below. The master bedroom has an ornate ceiling.

The agents at Savills in Amersham point out: “It’s a good example of English Rococo work dating from the second half of the 18thcentury.” By way of contrast, the Villeroy and Boch bathroom attached to the master suite has a Nordic double shower with body jets.

The grounds amount to almost one and threequarter acres.

Little Missenden is the quintessential English village. If you don’t know the area, you wouldn’t have an inkling it’s there.

It’s a rarity in commuter land, a leafy oasis down a narrow country lane off the A413 halfway between Amersham and Great Missenden. The station in Old Amersham is less than ten minutes away by car.

The village has a Saxon church, village hall, Church of England infant school and a couple of pubs; there’s not much else other than picturesque period cottages and houses most of which have been part of the Chiltern landscape for generations.

Highlights of the annual calendar include a week-long music festival in October and a concert in December. This year’s concert is a medieval celebration of Christmas in words and music on Friday, December 14. The parish church of St John the Baptist is a fitting venue for musical events of all kinds including weddings and christenings. It’s not limited to Sunday services and cream teas.

*Missenden House is for sale through the Amersham office of Savills (01494 787785).