 George 's architectural taste shifted over the years . As a young man , he favoured Classical , in particular Palladian styles , but the king came to favour a more Gothic style , both as a consequence of the Palladian style becoming overused and poorly implemented , and because the Gothic form had come to be seen as a more honest , national style of English design in the light of the French revolution . Working with the architect James Wyatt , George attempted to " transform the exterior of the buildings in the Upper Ward into a Gothic palace , while retaining the character of the Hugh May state rooms " . The outside of the building was restyled with Gothic features , including new battlements and turrets . Inside , conservation work was undertaken , and several new rooms constructed , including a new Gothic staircase to replace May 's 17th @-@ century version , complete with the Grand Vestibule ceiling above it . New paintings were purchased for the castle , and collections from other royal palaces moved there by the king . The cost of the work came to over £ 150 @,@ 000 ( £ 100 million in 2008 terms ) . The king undertook extensive work in the castle 's Great Park as well , laying out the new Norfolk and Flemish farms , creating two dairies and restoring Virginia Water Lake , and its grotto and follies . 
