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Was Rudyard Kipling locked in a Southsea cellar?

Behind the theory that the author spent six β€œunhappy” years in Portsmouth and was imprisoned in a basement by his foster mum.

Was a much loved author locked in a Southsea cellar?

Rudyard Kipling is said to have spent six "unhappy" years in Portsmouth, as a child. The current resident of his childhood home thinks young Rudyard scratched the word "help" into the brickwork of the basement when he was imprisoned there by his foster mum.

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ reporter Bob Diggles met the current resident Catherine and local author Matt Wingett.

Picture: Getty Images

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8 minutes