Tilly Trotter

Homeless and out of work, Tilly moves in with Biddy Drew and her children and is welcomed as part of the family; unable to find other employment, she takes a job at the local mine, where a cave-in leads to a proposition from Mark.

While Tilly gets the cold shoulder from the villagers, the McGraths ransack her home, and her grandmother is killed; when Mark Sopwith finds her living in her grandparents' woodshed, he offers her a job as a nursemaid to his four unruly children.

Tilly moves in with the Drews and is accepted as one of the family; Sam Drew opposes Tilly signing on at the mine.

Tilly's arrival at Highfield reawakens old resentments among some of the staff, sparking a mutiny when Mark places Tilly in charge; Tilly grows wary of Mark's feelings for her, while an old enemy returns, seeking revenge.