It almost certainly has an old rectory, a church and a neatly manicured green. There might be a pub and a community shop, too, and, if you’re really lucky, a primary school.

Yes, we’re talking about the quintessential British village. These days, however, you will struggle to find a butcher, a baker and a candlestick-maker. Instead, it’ll be the pensioner, the IT consultant — and too many commuters. There will also be a well-heeled homeowner, probably from outside the local area, who in many cases is now the only type of person who can afford to buy in such a rural idyll.

New research by Savills estate agency shows that the smaller the village, the larger the premium paid by purchasers, particularly those looking for…