With historic Tudor buildings and the backdrop of an impressive castle, you might struggle to find a more quintessentially English village square than Chilham.

Its chocolate box aesthetic has therefore proved a hit with producers over the decades, with the village between Canterbury and Ashford welcoming various film and TV crews.

Jeremy Clarkson visited in 2011 to shoot a package for Top Gear centred on the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type.

About 20 of the classic cars filled the village for two days of filming, while surrounding roads in the North Downs also featured.

• Make sense of Kent with The Briefing, our newsletter getting behind the headlines each morning. Sign up here and join our community of loyal readers.

Scores of fans flocked to Chilham to catch a glimpse of the spectacle and meet with Clarkson.

The motormouth said: “We needed a very picturesque village and this really fitted the bill and, I would say, most people have been very helpful.”

Two years prior to Top Gear, Chilham welcomed British TV crews for the filming of BBC drama Emma.

The adaptation of Jane Austen's novel - starring Tamsin Greig, Michael Gambon and Romola Garai - saw the village undergo significant changes.

Alongside Squerryes Court in Westerham, Chilham was a key player in the shoot, with a vibrant market being installed on the square. Gravel was put down and all modern installations were taken out and the location transformed into a true Austen setting.

The square was also turned into a market four decades prior, when Hollywood star Kim Novak filmed The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders in 1965.

The Terrence Young movie, set in the 18th century, follows a young house maid who has numerous love affairs in the hope to reach the top of society.

Novak went on to name her dog Chilham, in memory of her time in the village.

For the filming of Miss Marple in 2005, grass, benches and a memorial were all installed as Chilham was transformed into the fictitious hamlet of Lymstock.

James D’Arcy, Emilia Fox, Harry Enfield, Sean Pertwee and Kelly Brook were among the cast members for the episode titled The Moving Finger.

The Jacobean castle's grand appearance was utilised throughout and St Mary’s Church doubled as the hamlet's place of worship.

Chilham's allure for Agatha Christie adaptations began in the 90s when David Suchet visited for the filming of Hercule Poirot's Christmas - an episode where the famous sleuth investigates a winter murder of a millionaire.

The 1995 shoot saw the village transform into a winter wonderland, with the timber-framed buildings and square being covered in a layer of white.

In stark contrast to the Belgian detective, Inbetweeners stars Simon Bird and Joe Thomas used Chilham for their little-known comedy Chickens.

The pair, who shot to stardom playing Will and Simon in the classic E4 series, were spotted having lunch at the Woolpack Inn during a scouting trip to check out the village in 2011.

Barmaid Rose Calloway said at the time: “They came in for a meal with us at lunchtime on Friday. I couldn’t believe it was them.

“Apparently they were looking at the possibility of filming in Chilham. They had been round a couple of villages.

“They seemed really nice in person. They were deep in conversation during the meal but afterwards I couldn’t help myself and asked if I could have my photo taken with them.”

The Channel 4 comedy, which aired in September 2011, followed three young men shunned by their local community for refusing to fight in the First World War.

Chilham is also seen in a number of Mapp & Lucia episodes and in Michael Caine's 1969 film Battle of Britain.

It also features heavily in the final three episodes of hit American sitcom Married... with Children.

Guest starring bird lover Bill Oddie as a local historian, the three-part finale of season 6 sees the Bundy family head over to Chilham, doubling as the fictional village of Lower Uncton.