This is one of several studies in the NMM's collection for the picture Wyllie exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1884, '"Heave Away": barges upward bound, shooting Rochester Bridge' (private collection), the year after his great success with 'Toil, glitter, grime and wealth on a flowing tide' (Tate).

When passing under Rochester Bridge it was necessary for the crew of a Thames barge to lower the tall masts in order to pass under, carried by the tide and sweeps (oars). The bargee, standing in the bows, is using the windlass on the stay fall block in order to do this. There is another drawing on the reverse of this sheet.