The Hole in the Wall

Summary

Arthur Morrison grew up in the East End of London and was familiar with life on the dockside. He tells the story of ‘The Hole in the Wall’ through the eyes of young Stephen Kemp, taken to live with his grandfather after the death of his mother. Nat Kemp is determined to keep his grandson apart from the seamier side of the Docklands but Stephen has a natural inquisitiveness that will not be quelled. What is the secret behind the collapse of the shipping firm Viney and Marr? What are the sins Stephen speaks of when he says, “My grandfather was a Publican and a sinner as you will see. His public house was ‘The Hole in the Wall’ on the river's edge at Wapping and his sins, all of them that I know of, are recorded here”. Listen and find out as the yarn, full of skulduggery, rattles along to the finish.