Young country girl Laura Timmins leaves her friends and family in the hamlet of Lark Rise to start her first job at the post office in nearby town Candleford.

Postwoman Mrs Macey receives news that her husband Dan has escaped from prison. Before long the whole town is alight with gossip, and Mrs Macey fears that the damage to her reputation will force her to leave Candleford.

When local widower Old Amos announces his engagement to his maid Patty, the town becomes suspicious that she may just be after his money. Meanwhile, Robert refuses to let his children sing a song in praise of the Tories at the local church concert.

A old man arrives in Candleford looking for his estranged daughters - who turn out to be Ruby and Pearl Pratt. Horrified to see him out in public, the girls must decide whether or not they can forgive him for deserting them when they needed him most.

Dorcas is thrown by the surprise arrival of a new Post Office inspector, Mr Rushton, who unearths anomalies in the way Dorcas runs the Post Office. Robert has been carving a decorative angel on the schoolhouse for which he is not getting paid.

Robert takes pity on a homeless family and brings them to stay at his house for the night. In the morning the family has departed, leaving their little daughter Polly behind.