HIGHCLERE HOUSE.--But in the same year, 1837, he was called upon to exercise his skill in conversion on a grander scale, and in a far more striking manner, for the Earl of Carnarvon, at Highclere in Hampshire. At Walton he had to add much, and almost to reconstruct. At Highclere the whole constructional framework of the house was retained, and yet the building became in the strictest sense new and original. In fact, the contrast of its former and present condition, shown by the comparison of the two woodcuts, almost renders any comment unnecessary. The old building, as will be seen at once, is designed in the comparative flatness and insipidity of bare classicism: under his hand it became a palace, rich and original in design. Yet not only were the main walls preserved, with scarcely any extension of the building or plan, but even the secondary features were kept intact. In no case was the level of any floor or the opening of a window changed. The style chosen was less simple and richer in effect than the style of pure Italian. He called it “Anglo-Italian,” an Elizabethan or Jacobian style, which he thought excellent, when, as must often be the case in domestic architecture, the openings were of necessity too crowded for the purer Italian style, of which he had given examples in his Club-houses.[52] The centre, contrary to his usual practice, he elevated by an attic, feeling that the style admitted greater freedom and irregularity of treatment, and wishing to give importance to the great entrance; for he considered that the lofty and beautiful central tower and the elevated angle-turrets would preserve the needful unity of design. The building thus transformed was one of his favourite works. It certainly is in itself one of the most striking country seats in England, and he could fairly claim it as his own, and rejoice over the beauty created out of unpromising materials and under conditions of no slight difficulty. BOARD OF TRADE.--But of all examples perhaps the one best known is the conversion effected on the [Illustration: HIGHCLERE HOUSE, HAMPSHIRE. GENERAL VIEW OF THE HOUSE PREVIOUS TO THE ALTERATIONS.] [Illustration: HIGHCLERE HOUSE, HAMPSHIRE. GENERAL VIEW OF THE HOUSE AS ALTERED] [Illustration: THE PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE, BOARD OF TRADE, AND TREASURY, WHITEHALL. BEFORE THE ALTERATION BY SIR CHARLES BARRY]