Return to Cranford

Miss Matty's house is full of life and bustle - now with the addition of baby Tilly, daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem. Mr Buxton returns to town with his son William and niece, Erminia. And Miss Matty becomes concerned about another young person, Peggy Bell, who lives in an isolated cottage with her mother and domineering brother, Edward.

The unscrupulous Septimus sells Hanbury to the railway company. But its course is further thwarted when Mr Buxton refuses to sell land that the railway must cross, and the town threatens to wither at the root. Matty finally urges the Amazons and Mr Buxton to test the railway's mettle and leads the way in drastically changing the future of Cranford.

A surprise wedding between Captain Brown and Lady Glenmire causes a fracture of old friendships. Meanwhile, Matty feels she has unwittingly opened Pandora's box and fears that Cranford will never recover. But she resolves to take positive action and organises an event for Christmas Eve that will draw the town together.