Fine plan of the naval dockyard at Sheerness, Kent

A plan and prospect of the famous naval dockyard, finely engraved by P.C.Canot after Milton, both with a 24-point key. Around the whole is a rococo frame-like border containing vignette scenes of the works of the dockyard, drawn by John Clevely, a shipwright whose sons John and James Clevely are famous for their painting of the death of Captain Cook.

Sheerness Naval Dockyard was founded by Samuel Pepys in 1663 to improve the defences on the eastern coast of England, at a time the Dutch were a threat. Indeed the Dutch admiral De Ruyter actually occupied the town of Sheerness briefly in 1667. Consequently the defences were constantly improved, including a remodel by John Rennie, opened in 1823.