Buckingham Palace forms the architectural core of the palace was built for the first Duke of Buckingham and Normanby in 1703 to the design of William Winde. The style chosen was of a large, three-floored central block with two smaller flanking service wings. Buckingham House was eventually sold by Buckingham's natural son, Sir Charles Sheffield, in 1761 to George III for £21,000. Sheffield's leasehold on the mulberry garden site, the freehold of which was still owned by the royal family, was due to expire in 1774. Under the new Crown ownership, the building was originally intended as a private retreat for King
John Johnson (architect, born 1807) 91 Highbury New Park, Middlesex, the sculptor Edward Bowring Stephens of 110 Buckingham Palace Road, Middlesex, and Alfred Godwin of 3 King's Bench Walk, Temple. His designs for the Town Hall in Staines, Surrey, were submitted as part of a public competition in 1878 and the building was completed between 1879 and 1880. John Johnson (architect, born 1807) John Johnson (1807 – 28 December 1878) was an English architect who specialised in religious buildings and churches in the Gothic style. He was regularly employed by the civil engineer Sir John Kelk to design the homes and public buildings he funded.