In 1870s Yorkshire Annie Quaintain, heavily in debt on her husband's death, takes her children Martha and George to join the masses heading for Culverdale and the shanty town of Jericho, home to the men and women building a railway viaduct. Encouraged by foreman Ralph Coates and befriended by the motherly Lace Polly Annie opens a lodging house, her first tenants being newly-arrived navvy Johnny Jackson and his friend Skinny. Martha argues with Alma Capstick, flighty daughter of Jericho's grocers whilst Johnny falls foul of vengeful co-worker Red, who is ordered to leave Culverdale. George witnesses an act of sabotage by Red which kills team leader Jack Laggan, but Red himself is killed as he pursues the boy and Johnny, on the basis that Red has apparently left Jericho, swears Annie to secrecy as they dispose of the body. The viaduct's investor Charles Blackwood feels guilty over Jack's death and realizes that it could be the end of its building. He is bailed out financially by an ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Detective Bamford arrives to investigate Red's disappearance and faces a wall of silence, ultimately departing after striking a deal with Ralph. Hatty Laggan, widowed by the explosion, joins Lace Polly's brothel but is treated kindly by rent collector Thornhill whilst Martha finds herself working alongside Alma and Johnny, having won money in a wrestling match, offers it to Martha to take her children and leave Jericho though she refuses. Charles is determined to carry on building the viaduct following the explosion but is strapped for cash and, against the advice of housekeeper and confidante Epiphany, considers a financial partnership with Isabella, who once jilted him, provided they get married. Written by don @ minifie-1

Charles marries Isabella though it is a financial arrangement, rather than a love match and he also gives Ralph Coates total autonomy as his agent, making Ralph enemies as he expels rogue tradesmen. This has a knock-on effect on Jericho as fever sweeps through the township, Martha being one of the victims, and Ralph's enemies form a blockade to prevent medical help getting through. Ralph and Johnny combine to break the blockade but Johnny also confronts Charles with a secret known only to the pair of them. Lace Polly gets a visit from Mabel, a former friend, who will join the ranks in her brothel. Written by don @ minifie-1

Having pronounced elder brother Johnny dead after he disappeared eight years earlier Charles refuses to acknowledge him though Isabella's attempt at reconciliation broadcasts their kinship to the navvies, who consequently feel hostile towards Johnny. With Johnny refusing to bankroll him Charles turns to Methodist minister Jonas Sorsby for financial aid but Sorsby will only help if Charles closes Jericho's tavern and brothel. The spineless Charles is about to pander to him when Annie, now running a successful canteen and backed by Isabella, Ralph and Johnny, exposes Sorsby's son as a whore-monger who attacked Mabel in Lace Polly's brothel, thus ensuring that any deal is definitely off. Written by don @ minifie-1

With no funds forthcoming to pay the workers they go on strike. At Ralph's suggestion Charles gives them dockets to exchange for goods but Johnny explains that they are worthless. The only solution is for Johnny to claim his birth-right and release the much-needed funds, whilst keeping secret his former affair with Isabella and Annie's fondness for him goes some way towards his decision to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile Alma's head is turned by surveyor Rory McCleod. Written by don @ minifie-1

Johnny falls foul of Ralph after Charles puts him in charge but gets ever closer to Annie. However they are alarmed when Charles explains that he must quarry stone from the graveyard where they buried Red. With most of Jericho against disturbing the dead Johnny sees his chance to move the corpse but Ralph insists on joining him and finds the body. He is only too pleased to accuse Johnny who gets no support from his brother whom Epiphany has told about Johnny's affair with Isabella. To spare Annie and her family he leaves Jericho but is caught by Ralph and returned to the settlement. Meanwhile Alma learns a harsh lesson. Written by don @ minifie-1

As Ralph destroys a box found on Red's corpse Annie asks Charles to intervene on the imprisoned Johnny's behalf but gets no joy. With Jericho divided between Johnny's detractors and his allies a trial goes ahead with Annie one of the few witnesses to speak up for his innocence, claiming she was with him at the time of the murder. Though Annie has asked Lace Polly to take him away from the town George returns and explains the true facts of Red's death, leading to Johnny being released and confronting Ralph as to why he hates him. At the same time Davey becomes aware of girl-friend Alma's indiscretion. Written by don @ minifie-1