Set in an Oxfordshire hamlet and the wealthier, neighbouring market town, Lark Rise to Candleford is a vibrant adaptation of Flora Thompson’s autobiographical novel set towards the end of the 19th century. The series chronicles the daily lives of farm workers, craftsmen, and gentry, observing the characters in loving, boisterous, and competing communities of families, rivals, friends, and neighbours.

Our encore presentation of the full series of Lark Rise to Candleford from the very beginning will air weekdays starting April 8, 2015 at 5pm ET/2 PT.

The narrative is seen through the eyes of a teenage girl, Laura Timmins (Olivia Hallinan), as she leaves Lark Rise to start a new life under the wing of her cousin, the independent and effervescent Dorcas Lane (Julia Sawalha), who is Post Mistress at the local Post Office in Candleford. Through these two characters, viewers experience the force of friendship as Laura and Dorcas see each other through the best and worst of times.

EPISODES
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Season 1, Episode 1 | Wednesday, April 8
Laura Timmins says goodbye to her friends and family in Lark Rise to start her first job at the post office in the nearby town of Candleford. Postmistress Dorcas Lane gives her a warm welcome, but her loyalties are soon divided over a dispute at Lark Rise about payment for the delivery of telegrams.

Season 1, Episode 2 | Thursday, April 9
When her husband escapes from prison, postmistress Mrs. Macey fears the damage to her reputation will force her to leave Candleford. Caroline is summoned to Court for failing to pay her debts to the brewery. Laura strikes up a friendship with Philip, a gamekeeper from the manor.

Season 1, Episode 3 | Friday, April 10
Dorcas intercedes when a new maid drives a wedge bigger than her irresistible sponge cake between Old Amos and his son. Robert refuses to let his children sing a song in praise of the Tories at the local Church concert.

Season 1, Episode 4 | Monday, April 13
Ruby and Pearl Pratt face scandal when their estranged father returns to town. It’s bad new for the other Candleford residents too, as the wily old rascal is working his scams — aided by Caroline, who is being pursued by a bailiff. Meanwhile, Laura ignores her father while out with Philip.

Season 1, Episode 5 | Tuesday, April 14
The arrival of a new post office inspector causes problems for Dorcas. Robert has been carving a decorative angel on the schoolhouse for which he is not getting paid. Laura loses an important parcel.

Season 1, Episode 6 | Wednesday, April 15
A homeless family take advantage of Robert’s charity, leaving their little daughter behind. Sir Timothy is uneasy when Lady Adelaide wants to adopt her. Dorcas regrets playing cupid between Thomas and Miss Ellison.

Season 1, Episode 7 | Thursday, April 16
The residents rally around Susan Braby when they realize her husband Sam has hit her — until she has him arrested. Matthew is commissioned to make new gates for the manor. Lady Adelaide is concerned that Sir Timothy is spending too much time with Dorcas. Laura brings Philip home for tea.

Season 1, Episode 8 | Friday, April 17
A violent storm hits Lark Rise and Candleford. The arrival of a radical new teacher causes divisions in the two communities. Dorcas has a new admirer. Alf tries to impress Laura, who seems increasingly smitten with Philip.

Season 1, Episode 9 | Monday, April 20
Queenie finds a beautiful embroidered panel on a grave. Dorcas and Sir Timothy try to solve the mystery of who created it. Alf’s poaching leads him and Edmond into danger. Fresh out of prison, Caroline returns to Lark Rise determined to mend her ways.

Season 1, Episode 10 | Tuesday, April 21
Dorcas decides to sell up and leave Candleford. Philip’s possessiveness causes Laura increasing concern. And there are surprises, joy and sorrow when everyone gathers at the post office for Zilah’s birthday party.

Season 2, Episode 1 | Wednesday, April 22
When Dorcas and Emma each want to give Laura the same gift for Christmas, an old family wound is opened up and Laura finds herself torn between two mothers. As the inhabitants of Lark Rise and Candleford prepare for the festivities, loyalties are tested and the arrival of a ragged young woman introduces a note of Christmas mystery.

Season 2, Episode 2 | Thursday, April 23
A handsome stranger rides into Candleford with the plan to open a new hotel. However, Robert is suspicious of the stranger’s motives. The cantankerous landlady Mrs. Herring refuses to upkeep Lark Rise’s homes. Dorcas’ patience is tried with the arrival of a new maid who can do no right.

Season 2, Episode 3 | Friday, April 24
Battling with her emotions for new arrival James Dowland, Dorcas sets out to defeat the dashing property developer in the parish council elections. Meanwhile, over in Lark Rise, the daily grind of making ends meet proves too much for Robert and Emma. Young romance continues to puzzle Alf as he again questions his feelings for Laura.

Season 2, Episode 4 | Monday, April 27
An unexpected death unites the communities of Lark Rise and Candleford, but amongst the sadness Miss Ellison finds herself confronted with her brother George and a past she would rather forget. Divided between her Christian values and her obligation to her father, she struggles to follow her heart or her head.

Season 2, Episode 5 | Tuesday, April 28
Time rests heavy on the residents of Lark Rise and Candleford as baby Annie stirs up emotions of days gone by and loves yet to be found. With Emma Timmins feeling the strain of feeding and clothing her family, Dorcas offers to lend a helping hand — unaware of the consequences that her generosity will bring.

Season 2, Episode 6 | Wednesday, April 29
After Dorcas suddenly takes ill, Laura takes over her role in the post office. Laura soon feels the pressure mounting and is troubles when anonymous letters begin to arrive. When Minnie see the delivery of one of the packages, her past catches up with her once again. James cares for Dorcas while she is ill.

Season 2, Episode 7 | Thursday, April 30
After completing his work on the town clock, Robert discovers he has lost his precious tools, and by the same token, the means to feed his family. Meanwhile, Laura struggles with the possibility of Fisher leaving Candleford and Dorcas and James’ relationship begins to find stability.

Season 2, Episode 8 | Friday, May 1
Relationships are tested in Lark Rise and Candleford when relatives and friends arrive and, in some cases, are not what they appear to be. Some have their hearts broken and others have theirs mended. But it is the true bond of community that holds everyone together.

Season 2, Episode 9 | Monday, May 4
An attractive local milk maid takes a fancy to Alf. But animosity between Lark Rise and Fordlow threatens to destroy the budding young love. James Dowland is making every effort to mend his relationship with Dorcas, but begins to neglect his hotel. This leads Thomas to worry about his job.

Season 2, Episode 10 | Tuesday, May 5
As the harvest show comes around, Constable Patterson is given permission by his wife to seek a love. The Constable has no intention of doing any such thing — until a Pratt sister in distress sets his heart soaring. Will this newfound love come between the sisters who run Candleford’s clothing store?

Season 2, Episode 11 | Wednesday, May 6
Dorcas uncovers mysterious secrets as she seeks the intended recipient of a letter. Laura is tormented with the knowledge of her betrayal — but when she decides to meddle in the love life of her dear friend Alf, she makes things worse than ever.

Season 2, Episode 12 | Thursday, May 7
James Dowland is confined to his hospital bed when his son arrives in Candleford. Thomas and Miss Ellison must each face their own anxieties and uncertainties about their imminent wedding.

Season 3, Episode 1 | Friday, May 8
Journalist Daniel Parish arrives in Lark Rise with news that Emma Timmins is set to inherit a large amount of money, enough to change the family’s life forever. Daniel plans to write their story for his newspaper, but Dorcas is suspicious of his motives. Meanwhile Ruby looks for romance and Minnie tries not to tell a lie.

Season 3, Episode 2 | Monday, May 11
When a tree at Lark Rise appears to bleed human blood days before the bishop is coming to consecrate a new font, people begin to act strangely. Twister takes to the street telling everyone food will rain from the sky, Robert has trouble finishing the font, and Dorcas accidentally tells Pearl of Ruby’s pen friend.

Season 3, Episode 3 | Tuesday, May 12
Alf throws a house-warming party after renting his own cottage. Edmund announces he is leaving school to work in the fields, despite an excellent exam result. Minnie finds a baby girl on her doorstep and decides to care for her in secret.

Season 3, Episode 4 | Wednesday, May 13
It is harvest time at Lark Rise and all the families are working in the fields. But when a measles epidemic sweeps through the county forcing the mothers to stay home to look after the sick children, the harvest becomes in danger.

Season 3, Episode 5 | Thursday, May 14
Mr. Reppington, a recluse staying at the Golden Lion hotel, asks Dorcas to administer a fund he has set up to help poor widows. He turns out to be a famous concert pianist who has retired as he is mourning his childhood sweetheart, a Candleford girl whom he sacrificed for his career and who has recently died after years of marriage to another man. Ruby prepares to leave for Pontefract.

Season 3, Episode 6 | Friday, May 15
Pegleg, a crippled Crimean War veteran, makes his annual pilgrimage to Lark Rise to beg and Daniel, setting up his new paper “The Candleford Chronicle”, plans to highlight the government’s shameful treatment of him by denying him a war pension. Thomas feels inadequate after reading a self-help book while Alf lets a smitten Minnie down gently.

Season 3, Episode 7 | Monday, May 18
Sir Timothy is expected to visit Lark Rise from London to view the locals’ mummers play but only Lady Adelaide arrives. The play goes ahead, with Queenie, who has temporarily left Twister to teach him a lesson.

Season 3, Episode 8 | Tuesday, May 19
Pearl is struggling to maintain her business after Ruby’s departure and is overjoyed when Enid, a brilliant seamstress, shows up in Candleford to work for her. But Enid brings with her wild views of ladies fashion and a secret past life.

Season 3, Episode 9 | Wednesday, May 20
After a visit to Oxford, where postmen work shorter, prescribed hours, Thomas strives to form a union but gets little help from his colleagues. Margaret and Emma both look for a new start when the village schoolmistress is scared off by the rowdy children and both hope to get the post permanently.

Season 3, Episode 10 | Thursday, May 21
Bessie Mullins, the biggest gossip in Lark Rise, points the finger at Daniel when her daughter Emily gets pregnant and refuses to name the father. Nobody believes her until Minnie catches Daniel giving Emily money. Twister sulks when Queenie sells his chair to pay the rent and while Minnie and Alf get closer a letter from Fisher Bloom drives a wedge between Laura and Daniel.

Season 3, Episode 11 | Friday, May 22
Fisher Bloom arrives in Candleford on his way to a commission in the nearby town of Inglestone. He is greeted with general hostility by the friends of Laura and Daniel and Laura explains she no longer loves him. Dorcas is looking forward to Mischief Night but is less happy when Fisher tells her his work in Inglestone is connected with the arrival of the railway there, which will divert postal services from Candleford.

Season 3, Episode 12| Monday, May 25
While Laura feels torn between Fisher and Daniel, Dorcas makes an unwelcome discovery. In the light of the railway forcing new arrangements, Blakestone, the district manager, wants to buy the Candleford post office for his son. Daniel organizes a campaign to support her, backed by all in Lark Rise and Candleford.

Season 4, Episode 1 | Tuesday, May 26
Robert is working in Oxford and sending money home while Ruby Pratt has returned from Pontefract after splitting with her gentleman friend. Gabriel Cochrane, whose wife has died and whose foundry has been repossessed by the bank, comes to Candleford, penniless, and Dorcas employs him in her forge.

Season 4, Episode 2 | Wednesday, May 27
Daniel launches a poetry competition in his paper. Ruby suggests that the contest is rigged and Laura will win. Dorcas and Laura find, hidden in a book, a letter from Gabriel’s late wife to her lover, claiming that she only got married for material gain and does not love her husband.

Season 4, Episode 3 | Thursday, May 28
Everyone in the area is frightened when Thomas Brown sees a large snake in the woods. He sees it as an omen and begins to question his faith and the faith of others, including the mysterious newcomer, Reverend Marley. Gabriel must reconsider his entire life when he finds a letter from his wife claiming she loved someone else.

Season 4, Episode 4 | Friday, May 29
Queenie wins a pig at a fair and plans to fatten it up to share with the inhabitants of Lark Rise. However, Twister plans to sell it to various Candleford residents to make some money. Minnie believes that Alf cheated to win the fair’s shin-kicking contest.