"Cranford" is set in 1842-1843 in a small rural town dominated by a group of single and widowed middle class women who place great store on propriety, and on maintaining an appearance of gentility, even those whose means are barely adequate for the task. Arriving to town is a young man, Doctor Harrison (Simon Woods), who brings his own modern ideas to Cranford in the form of new treatments he has learned about at medical school in London.