The British ship Norwood outward-bound off the South Stack, Anglesey

Astern the South Stack is clearly visible with its suspension bridge linking it to Holyhead mountain. With a favourable south-east wind the ship has all sail set in the hope of a rapid passage through the dangerous confines of the Irish Channel, to the relative safety of the open ocean. On the right of the painting is an early paddle steamer with auxiliary brig rig, making for Liverpool. Perhaps the most striking feature is the unusual ensign worn at the peak, a modified white ensign having a red border with three cantons bearing masonic emblems. Almost equally unusual is the crowded main deck, nearly all males apparently. Together they suggest the possibility of a masonic sponsored emigration, possibly even a complete charter of the vessel. Although trading from Liverpool, the ship was owned by W. Webb of Newport (probably Monmouthshire), from 1854 (the first entry in Lloyd's Registers) until 1856. The houseflag at the foremast with its W logo can only refer to this period, bearing no relevance to later owners. Norwood (Captain James Price) certainly sailed to Australia in 1854 and 1855 which adds support to the hypotheses. It is known that Captain James Price was born in Pembroke in 1818, obtaining his master's certificate at Liverpool in 1853. Either he or the owner or both, may well have been freemasons and the hypothetical emigrants may have hailed from South Wales, keen to try their luck in the Australian gold fields, discovered only three years earlier. Liverpool-based owners commonly imported Canadian newly built ships, because they were cheaper. Norwood was delivered to Liverpool by Captain P. Hayes with a load of timber and five casks of apples for S.R. Graves, leaving Quebec on 1st November 1853 and arriving at Liverpool on 6th December. Under Captain James Price she left Liverpool for Melbourne on 17th April 1854, arriving on 13th June, having lost her main topmast en route.