This painting captures a scene of shipbuilding in Rye, where the construction of ships and other vessels had been established on the estuary of the River Rother in the 13th century following a royal order that forbade the export of timber for this purpose. This 19th century image shows the construction of two ships on the banks of the river set against the background of Rye.
'Shipbuilding at Rye, Sussex' was painted at a moment in time was the industry was booming after centuries of decline. Rye started to benefit from the Industrial Revolution when the threat of an invasion by Napoleon lifted. By the mid 19th century, the shipbuilding industry had taken advantage of the demand for merchant ships. Various Rye shipbuilders started to achieve widespread fame for their design, craftsmanship and the sailing qualities of their ships.
