Evelyn Hood

After the death of her husband, Kirsty Lennox remarries and rebuilds her life, watching her children find success. But the arrival of four-year-old Rowena Lennox, Kirsty's granddaughter by marriage, throws the family's plans for the future into disarray.

By day Mirren works in the twisting department at Ferguslie Thread Mills and by night she works in a local fried-fish shop. She also cares for her sick mother and dreams of the day her fiancé, Donald, will send for her to come and live with him in America.

Widowed Lessie Hamilton lives with her young son and her brother Davie. To make ends meet, Lessie works in the local grocery shop supporting Davie as he works on the docks and attends night school, hoping to become an engineer, much to the scorn of their reformed alcoholic father.

As the Great War rolls on, Lessie Carswell's grocery shop is thriving, even while the community of Greenock experiences tragic losses. Lessie's son Ian reaches fighting age and is sent to Ypres.

Rose MacDowall is hopeful that her husband Alex can overcome his post-war night terrors and return to full health so she can concentrate on her thriving dress-designing business. But Alex's scheming sister Fiona can't help but interfere, much to Rose's frustration.

Eighteen years after being cast out by her father for falling pregnant, Kirsty Lennox returns to Paisley determined to lay the ghosts of the past to rest. Kirsty's husband Matt takes over the cabinetmaking business running it with the help of their two eldest sons.

When Rowena and Neil Lindsay's mother tragically dies in a boating accident, her father – devastated by his wife's death – is unable to care for them. Wanting the best for Rowena, Fergus and Sarah dream of a society wedding for Rowena to a wealthy man.

After tragically losing her husband at sea, Eppie Watt must support herself, her daughter Charlotte and mother-in-law and sets to work packing and selling herring in Portsoy Harbour.

Orphaned Elizabeth Cunningham is taken on as a companion to the lady of the Montgomery household at the age of fourteen. When the mistress dies, Elizabeth becomes housekeeper...

Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret. To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd’s household, Duncan’s employer and Meg’s days are filled with domestic duties.

Brothers James and Innes Lowrie return home to their wives and families after the war, Innes working for a shipbuilder and James returning to sea and the family's fishing business. Sister Bethany Pate and Innes have sons and heirs to go into the family business, but James does not.

One year after Weem Lowrie’s death, his wife Jess and children are still living in his shadow, bound by the strict decisions he imposed when he was alive.

Morag Weir's young life is full of responsibilities: caring for the ailing Sander Weir, the man who has raised her as his daughter; whilst managing his household and shipping business.

In the midst of a street brawl, Margaret Knox first encounters Islay McInnes, a Highland girl struggling to support herself and her two cousins in the Paisley slums. Their two lives are polar opposites.

Christian Knox dreams of a life beyond that of a Paisley housewife and at thirteen is determined to further her education. Headstrong and enterprising, Christian soon becomes the manager, representing the local weaver women.