Return to Cranford

Episode guide

Matty Jenkyns has given up running her tea shop and is now caring for Tilly, the infant daughter of her maid Martha and the carpenter Jem Hearne, while Martha, who is pregnant, works in the kitchen. Captain Brown is preparing to open a train station at Hanbury Halt, located five miles from Cranford. Lady Ludlow will not sell any of her land to allow the railway to be extended into the town. Mrs Bell, a widow with two adult children, has been in deep mourning for fourteen months since her husband died.

Her daughter Peggy wears clothes that are handed down to her and rarely gets to spend time with people her own age, including any young men who might court her. The wealthy Mr Buxton has come back to his property after his wife passed away. He has brought his son William, who was educated at Eton, and his ward Erminia, who was schooled in Brussels. William and Peggy start to enjoy being together.

At Hanbury Court, Lady Ludlow is close to death. Miss Galindo is looking after her and has tried without success to reach Lady Ludlow’s son Septimus, who has been living in Naples supposedly for his health, to tell him his mother is ill. Eventually a letter arrives saying he has reached London and is on his way to Cheshire. After waiting several hours for her son to appear, Lady Ludlow collapses and dies.

At the same time, Martha goes into labour just as Jem is called away to Hanbury Hall to work as an undertaker. While he is gone, Martha begins to haemorrhage. No doctor can be found within ten miles of Cranford, so both Martha and her baby die. Septimus arrives at Hanbury Court with his foppish Italian friend Giacomo.

Their extravagant spending used up Lady Ludlow’s wealth, forcing her to take out a mortgage on the estate. The late Mr Carter, who had been her estate agent, arranged in his will for money to be lent to her from the bequest he left to Harry Gregson, so she could pay off the mortgage. Septimus resents having to repay this loan plus interest. He sends a carriage to fetch Harry from school and proposes to give the boy five thousand pounds right away if Harry will give up his claim to the rest of the money owed to him.

With that sum, Harry could fund a village school, while Septimus would keep the estate. Even though Harry is only fourteen, they shake hands on the deal, calling it a gentlemen’s agreement.

Production

The show's fictional Cheshire setting was not used for filming. Interiors were shot at Pinewood Studios, while Lacock in Wiltshire provided many exterior locations. The railway scenes were filmed at Staffordshire's Foxfield Railway.

Did You Know?

• Return to Cranford was released on DVD on 28 December 2009.
• A DVD box set comprising the first series, The Making of Cranford, and Return to Cranford was also made available on 28 December 2009.
• Lacock in Wiltshire was a location used for many films, including Pride and Prejudice and Emma for the BBC in 1995 and 1996, respectively, and also for the Harry Potter films in 2000 and 2001.