This is one of five views of royal dockyards (RCIN 401526, 401543, 405164, 405165 and 405166) executed by Paton with figures by John Hamilton Mortimer (1740-1779). Horace Walpole wrote on 17 February 1775 that Paton had showed 'views of the royal dockyards at Deptford and Chatham' to the King at Buckingham House and that the King was pleased to 'express satisfaction at his performance'.

This view of Deptford docks looks down the river towards the church of St. Alfege and Greenwich Hospital; it shows the Trinity House (originally of Deptford) visitation by the company for their then annual service at St Nicholas, dining, inspection of almshouses etc. It is probably their standard flying at the bow the principal barge. A later print of the subject is in the National Maritime Museum (1793, PAH9729).

Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1776 (no. 220) entitled 'A view of his Majesty’s dock-yard at Deptford and the royal Hospital at Greenwich, with the procession of the Trinity Masters, being part of a set of views of the royal dock-yards'.