Until renovated and remodelled by Sir Jeffry, the exterior had very little of eithee architectural character or dignity, or even of pictu reaquenees, except that arising from situation ; whereas now it is marked by many bold features and well-defined masses, and presents a series of parts, all varied, yet more or less interesting: but even whero the principal masses remain the same, the general outline, before feeble and insipid, has been greatly improved somewhat greater height than formerly has been given to most of the buildings by deep embattled parapets, and in some of them by machicolations also. Some of the towers have been carried up higher and others added; among these last are the Lancaster and York, flanking George 1V.'a Gateway, and distinctly marking that as the principal portal of the castle; also the Brunswick Tower, which, owing to its difference of form and greater mass, adds very much to the architectural effect of the north-east angle. But the most striking improvement of the kind was that of carrying up the Round 'rower 30 feet higher, exclusive of the Watch Tower on its summit, which makes the height in that part 25 feet more. Previously to this being done that keep hardly deserved the name of tower, it being of diminutively low proportions; whereas nuw it renders the castle very much more conspicuous than formerly as a distant object.
After the first grant of 300,0001., others were successively made and the total expenditure down to the end of the reign of William IV amounted to 771,000/. There has duce been a grant of 70,000/. for new stables, which form an extensive range of buildings, only 900 feet from the castle, on its south aide, and to the went of the Long Walk; they extend upwards of 600 feet, and include a riding-house, nearly 200 feet in length by 60 feet in breadth. Some additional expenditure has since been incurred by the removal of the houses along the west side of the castle by Thames-street, and the opening of the approaches, and in other improvements. The state apartments, which contain many fine portraits by Vandyke and Lawrence, as well as many other paintings and wurka of art and taste, are open to the public every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, by tickets obtainable gratuitously of the leading priutnellers iu London.
The beautiful chapel of St. George stands within the castle precincts. A chapel dedicated to St. George, for the service of the Order of the Garter, was erected at Windsor by Edward IlL (1327.77); but the preeent edifice was began by Edward IV. (1461.83), and was not com pleted until after the commencement of the 16th century. It Is one of the most beautiful specimens of the perpeudieular style of archi tecture in this country. The great east window is paiuted after the desilgos of West. During the last few years this chapel has been entirely and very judiciously restored at a great expense. St. George's Chapel i• a collegiate establishment. The chapter consists of a dean, eight cations, and six minor canons.
The male is surrounded on two aides by the Little Park, a very ancient and beautiful domain, which at one time formed part of Windsor Forest. Within its precincts is Frogmore Lodge, now occupied by the Duchess of Kent : the grounds comprise about 13 acres, laid out with great taste. In the reign of Queen Anne that part of Windsor Forest which remained the property of the crown, under the name of the Great Park, was cut off from the castle by the intervening private property ; and it was therefore determined to buy as much land as might be required to complete an avenue from the castle to the forest. This Is the present Long Walk, generally con sidered the finest avenue of the kind in Europe. It is a perfectly straight line, above three miles in length, running from the principal entrance to the castle to the top of a commanding hill in the Great I'ark called Snow HilL On each side of the road, which is slightly relax], there is a double row of stately elms. The view from Snow is very fine. In 1S32 a colossal equestrian statue of George Ill. was erected on the highest part of this hill. The total elevation of the statue and pedestal exceeds 50 feet, and the statue (man and horse) is 26 feet in height, The walks and drives in the Great Park present scenes of much beauty and variety. At the southern extremity of the park is Virginia Water, the largest artificial lake in the kingdom. The eastern side of the Great Park is chiefly in Surrey.