A whole plate negative. On board an unidentified steamship alongside a wharf in Tilbury Docks during the great freeze of February 1895. The photographer is looking forward from the port side abaft the foremast. The mast is in a well deck close to the raised forecastle and an athwartships walkway protected by guardrails is just in front of the mast. Four large anchor handling davits are on the forecastle, two per side. The ship's derrick booms, rails, fittings and lower rigging are covered in ice. Another ship is berthed ahead and the sheds and quayside have a blanket of snow. This is a copy negative of a mounted photographic print.