Set in the small market town of Candleford in the 19th century, the series stars Julia Sawalha, Olivia Hallinan, Brendan Coyle, Dawn French and Claudie Blakely. When the birth of a new baby brings financial pressure to bear on the Timmins household, eldest daughter Laura (Hallinan) leaves the village of Lark Rise to begin work as an apprentice to her cousin, Dorcas Lane (Sawalha), the postmistress of the neighbouring market town of Candleford. Laura and Dorcas soon become close friends and together they witness and experience the lives, loves and laughter of this now-vanished corner of rural England.