Print, titled as above, from Dodd's 'Dockyard' set of six (1789-90). The subtitle states that 'This view is taken from the Thames opposite the New Offices looking down the River, and comprehends what is generally called the Old Ground'. Text then follows in two columns: 'Woolwich is supposed to be the most Ancient of the Royal Yards: for so early as the third year of Henry VII's Reign he built the famous Ship called the Great Harry [at Woolwich], at that time a Nautical Wonder, being 1000 Tons burden, the first and largest Ship ever Built for public service (for Ships of War was hitherto furnished for the Kings Service by the Cinque Ports,) but so great has been the improvement in Naval [second column] Architecture since that period, that many Ships of twice that Magnitude has been built here. and as places of so much importance are continually improving in convenience, Woolwich is at present greatly enlarging its bounds, on which Convicts are employed in constructing New Mast ponds, erecting Store houses &c. for the more speedy fitting out the Royal Navy.' The imprint is centred below: 'Publish'd Octr. 29. 1789. by J. & J. Boydell, Cheapside, and at the Shakespeare Gallery, Pall Mall London.'

Dodd did two series of dockyard and seaport prints, easily confused in image terms. The early and slightly smaller unnumbered Royal Dockyard set was published by Boydell, comprising Blackwall (though not a Royal yard but see below) and Deptford (PAH9746) issued on 25 March 1789; Woolwich (PAH9725) and Chatham (PAH9714) on 29 October 1789; Plymouth (PAH9767) on 1 September 1790 and Portsmouth (PAH9742) on 1 November 1790. The larger numbered ones in a series called 'A Collection of the Sea Ports & of the River Thames' were published by Freeman on 4 June 1793: no.1 Greenwich (PAI7098 from his 1792 oil, BHC3867), no. 2 Limehouse (PAI7128), no. 3 a view of the river and shipping near the Tower of London (not in NMM: copy in BM), and no. 4 Dover (PAI7087).

While Blackwall was a civilian yard, it built many navy ships and Dodd's view of it (PAH9724), published with that of Deptford in March 1789, shows the launch of the 74-gun 'Bombay Castle', a warship built for the Navy as a gift of the East India Company. This, and to make a projected set of six rather than five, is presumably why it was included in the otherwise naval dockyard group. The view of Woolwich is based on an oil painting of the same size as that of Greenwich which was acquired by the Museum of London in about 2015. That of Blackwall is also from a recorded oil: even though its dimensions are not yet clear it seems likely all ten views were originally same-size canvases.

Woolwich Dockyard closed in 1869 but the 18th-century clocktower building seen on the right is the most substantial element of it that survives, today a community centre surrounded by later housing on much of the rest of the yard.A three-decker warship is shown on the stocks, still being built, and the Royal Standard flying from the flagmast may be for George III's birthday, since there is no obvious sign of a royal visit in progress. The tower in the centre-left background is that of St Mary Magdalene (built 1732-39), still Woolwich parish church today.