A term for a type of house, with varying definitions according to period. Roman villas were high-status and usually associated with a rural estate, whereas Georgian and later period villas were often semi-detached, town houses.
![The spectacular cropmarks of a Roman villa in North Pickenham](http://hbsmrgateway2.esdm.co.uk/norfolk/DataFiles/FullImages/1082.jpg)
The spectacular cropmarks of a Roman villa in North Pickenham. (© NCC)