Lowry became a regular visitor to Cleator Moor, Cumbria, after his close friend, Geoffrey Bennett (1902-1991) had moved there with his wife, Alice, and son, also Geoffrey, to run its National Westminster Bank branch. Lowry sketched and drew with Geoffrey Bennett, a keen amateur artist, and they enjoyed making caricatures to amuse the younger Geoffrey. In fact, Lowry used some of young Geoffrey's pastels to produce a series of vivid drawings of shops and landmarks in the town. Cowles Fish & Chips, Cleator Moor, (1948; Private Collection, on loan to The Lowry, sold in these Rooms, 24 May 2012, lot 228, £145,250), previously in the collection of Reverend Geoffrey Bennett, was also executed in pastel on blue paper (see note to lot 3).

The present work was executed after a young resident of Cleator Moor had an accident on his bicycle outside the shop front which resulted in a broken window. Lowry was staying opposite and probably witnessed the accident, or its aftermath, and this became a fitting subject for a drawing.
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