Cranford is a seemingly quaint and quiet English village in 1842 that's about to undergo a profound upheaval, thanks to the expansion of the railroad. Its society is held in check by the local widows and spinsters who know everyone and gossip about everything. There's a number of accidents, deaths, would-be romances, engagements, misunderstandings, financial hardships, and societal changes for everyone to endure and overcome as at least some of the inhabitants find longed-for happiness. Based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell.