This view has not changed much since Cox drew it on one of his many visits to Bolton Abbey, often while staying at the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Bridge. Buildings still stand on the left of this scene, and a wall runs from them towards the Abbey, which is no longer partly shielded by trees. On the reverse is a chalk and watercolour study of trees and the River Wharf, probably close to the Abbey, indicating that this is a sheet from a sketchbook. While that study is relatively unresolved, Cox has indicated that the present work amounts to a finished drawing by initially it D.C. in the lower left corner.

At 19 x 27.5 cms the sheet is close in size, the scale of the subject and its handling to one inscribed "Nr. the Inn Bolton" and dated "Septr 2nd 1844" in the collection of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums, and they could well be from the same sketchbook. Another comparable drawing of 'Trees and Cattle, Bolton Abbey" is in the collection of Birmingham Musuems Trust. In these drawngs. Cox used black chalk as his favoured medium to capture the the light, shade and textures of nature with remarkable freeedom, particulalry in his later career. The present work and the Aberdeen drawing share a soft and rich modulation in the mark-making and smudging of the chalk.

It would have taken about 20 minutes to travel from the Devonshire Arms to the Abbey, approaching it from the south. On 5th September Cox wrote to his son, David Cox Jr., "Our party here all seem all to enjoy themselves very much... The weather has been most delightful, and we work until six and seven in the evening from nature."