New barracks for the Royal Marines were built at Stonehouse, between Plymouth and the Dock, between 1779 and 1785 and still exist, though much extended in the 19th Century, Mount Edgecumbe can be seen in the background.

Another version of this watercolour, 6¼ x 9in. and also signed, is included in the catalogue of Girtin's works in Thomas Girtin and David Loshak, The Art of Thomas Girtin, 1954, p. 167 no. 243 where reference is given to a second version in the Bale sale