This painting relates to a Portland Bill work, 'Ruined Cottage', dating from 1950, illustrated in S. John Woods (intro.) John Piper Paintings, Drawings & Theatre Designs 1932-1954, London, 1954, pl.160. Piper first visited Portland Bill near Weymouth in Dorset in 1929 but did not paint there until 1948; he exhibited Portland subjects until 1955
(See D. Fraser Jenkins, John Piper, Tate Gallery Exhibition Catalogue, London, 1983, p.122)