Four years on from the Poor Law Amendment Act, impoverished economic migrants from the south of England start to arrive at Quarry Bank Mill.

Just before dawn the bell wakes the young apprentices for another 12-hour shift at Quarry Bank Mill. Charlie Crout forces Miriam to leave the factory floor and his absence leads to an accident.

The Chartist rally at Kersal Moor is approaching and Daniel does his best to gather the workers despite a lacklustre response.

Esther Price arrives at court after assaulting her overseer, Charlie Crout. On the assumption that she will be found guilty, Mr Timperley is sent to the workhouse to collect a replacement apprentice.

Esther and Lucy head for Liverpool, chased by Timperley, but discover that Lucy's sister Catherine never returned to the workhouse.

Esther comes of age and leaves the apprentice house, but not before signing her contract of employment. Esther's new home is a small, dirty cellar in Styal village, but it gives her new freedom.

After a difficult labour, Esther finally gives birth to a healthy baby boy. She returns to work the next day but struggles to keep up. John Howlett and his wife Rebecca receive tragic news.

Lucy and Esther are convinced that Mr Timperley is responsible for Catherine's disappearance. They're determined to expose him but are blocked at every turn.

With the country in recession, William Greg is forced to slash his workers' wages. Daniel urges his colleagues to withdraw their labour, but can they afford to go unpaid during a strike?

The second series reaches its climax. There's a violent confrontation between the striking workers and the special constables, while Peter is desperate to find out the truth about Dominica.