Villas
Discover the opulent world of Roman villas in Britannia with our curated reading list, which offers a comprehensive exploration of these luxurious rural residences.
Delve into the architectural marvels, lavish decorations, and sophisticated lifestyles of villa owners and inhabitants through the lenses of archaeology, history, and art history. Explore the evolution of villa complexes from simple farmsteads to sprawling estates, and uncover the economic, social, and cultural factors that shaped their design and function. From the grandeur of mosaic floors and frescoed walls to the practicality of agricultural production and technological innovations, our reading list presents a multifaceted portrait of villa life in Roman Britain. Engage with groundbreaking research, excavation reports, and interpretative studies that illuminate the role of villas as centers of elite power, symbols of Romanization, and nodes of cultural exchange. Whether you’re interested in the architectural details, social dynamics, or economic activities associated with Roman villas, these resources offer valuable insights into one of the most iconic features of the provincial landscape.
General
- Millett, M., Revell, L. & Moore, A.J., The Oxford handbook of Roman Britain, Oxford, 2016, Ch. 26, 34-35, 38-40.
- Rivet, A.L.F., The Roman villa in Britain, London, 1969.
Further Reading
- Applebaum, S., ‘Some Observations on the Economy of the Roman Villa at Bignor, Sussex’ in Britannia Vol.6, 1975, 118-132.
- Black, E.W., The Roman villas of South-East England, Oxford, 1987.
- Branigan, K., The Roman villa in South-West England, Bradford-on-Avon, 1977.
- Clarke, G., ‘The Roman Villa at Woodchester’ in Britannia Vol.13, 1982, 197-228.
- Dark, K.R. & Dark, P., The landscape of Roman Britain, Stroud, 1997.
- Dark, P., The environment of Britain in the first millennium, London, 2000.
- Frere, S., ‘The Bignor Villa’ in Britannia Vol.13, 1982, 135-195.
- Hingley, R., Rural settlement in Roman Britain, London, 1989.
- Johnson, P. & Haynes, I., Architecture in Roman Britain, York, 1996.
- Meates, G.W., The Roman villa at Lullingstone, Kent: I, the Site, Chichester, 1979.
- Meates, G.W., The Lullingstone Roman Villa II, The Wall Paintings and Finds, Chichester, 1983.
- Neal, D.S., The excavation of the Roman villa in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead, 1963-8, London, 1974.
- Smith, J.T. & Adams, A.T., Roman villas: a study in social structure, London, 1997.
- Todd, M., Studies in the Romano-British villa, Leicester, 1978.
- Walthew, C.V., ‘The Town House and the Villa House in Roman Britain’ in Britannia Vol.6, 1975, 189-205.
