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Was Rudyard Kipling locked in a Southsea cellar?

Behind the theory that the author spent six "unhappy" 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.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ reporter Bob Diggles met the current resident Catherine and local author Matt Wingett.

Image: Getty

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8 minutes