Miss Matty's house is full of life and bustle. Her dream of having a child in the house has been realised with the birth of Tilly, daughter of her maid Martha and carpenter Jem. Elsewhere, the shadow of the railway still looms, but the line has been halted five miles outside Cranford - a disaster for the town, in Captain Brown's view.
As Lady Ludlow waits for her son Septimus to return from Italy, Harry Gregson is sent away to school.
Meanwhile, as Mr Buxton returns to town with his son, William, and his niece, Erminia, Miss Matty becomes concerned about another young person - Peggy Bell - who lives in an isolated cottage with her mother and domineering brother, Edward. Miss Matty decides to intervene and engineers an invitation that will bring the four young people together.
In the Australian BBC DVD, there are only TWO episodes, which supports the listing on IMDB. These are August and October 1844.
This special two-part feature takes up the story a year after the small Cheshire town celebrated the marriage of Dr Harrison to Sophy Hutton. It’s August 1844 and Miss Matty’s house is full of life and bustle now she has her brother, Peter, home from India and Martha’s baby, Tilly, to keep her busy.
The amazons of Cranford – Miss Pole, Mrs Forrester and Miss Tomkinson - still set the tone in all matters for the town and anticipate with great excitement the arrival of aristocratic Lady Glenmire.Lady Ludlow awaits the return of her long-absent son Septimus and young Harry Gregson prepares to start his education at Shrewsbury. Wealthy widower Mr Buxton has returned to Cranford, bringing with him his charming ward, Erminia and his handsome Eton-educated son, William. And, at nearby Thorn Cottage, Peggy Bell is trying to make the best of things caring for her mother and brother Edward.
Despite the best efforts of Captain Brown to bring the modern age right into the heart of King Street, the railway has stopped five miles outside Cranford. However, life never stands still for long and Cranford is about to change in some unexpected ways.