In the 1850s Sandys was commissioned by his patron the Rev. James Bulwer to make drawings and watercolours of historical items in Norfolk. These became part of Bulwer's Norfolk collection. These tracings appear to be related to two finished works sandys made as part of the project. He seems to have traced the boat in the centre of this sheet directly from 'his own watercolour of one of the painted panels of the rood screen at St Agnes Church, Cawston' (Betty Elzea, 'Frederick Sandys 1829-1904: A Catalogue Raisonné,' p. 143). He also made a watercolour of the padlock he has drawn on this sheet. The watercolour is dated 9 March 1858 suggesting that these drawings may have been made around the same time (p. 143).