Cranford Episode Two

Dr Harrison wakes late for Church and hurries there, only to find the service in full swing and a rousing hymn being sung. Dr. Harrison is trying to make a good impression, especially on Sophy and her father and is extremely put out when he finds that he's late.

Neither the congregation nor the rector himself are best pleased with the late arrival. For his tardiness, Dr. Harrison gets the collection plate shoved in his face and a disapproving look from Miss Pole. But every cloud has a silver lining and Sophy smiles at him and little Walter gives a friendly wave.

On the way home from church the Jenkyns and Mary are invited to dinner at Captain Brown's house as they have a guest, a softly spoken Scot, Major Gordon (Alistair Petrie). It transpires that he had asked Jessie to marry him when they were both younger, but she had declined due to her sisters poor health. Nevertheless, Major Gordon and Jessie sing, a little tunelessly, but at least they both finish at the same time. It is apparent to all the ladies that Major Gordon still has huge affection and love for Jessie, unfortunately Captain Brown bumbles along not noticing any attraction at all between his daughter and guest.

Miss Caroline Tompkinson was overcome in the store, suffering giddiness and palpitations, which necessitates a visit from Dr Harrison who listens to Caroline's fast beating heart (but only when he's near) and doesn't notice that she fancies him rotten.

He doesn't diagnose anything that a short rest wouldn't solve and she and her sister are now under the delusion that he'd be a good match for her.

Miss Matty has bought a new carpet, but to prevent the colours bleaching away in the sun, she and Mary spend time sewing sheets of newspaper together to lay over the patches of carpet that are directly exposed. Jessie arrives clutching a posy of Anemones. Mary consults that book of secret love flower codes (or something like it) and it appears that Anemones signify "love ever steadfast". This delights Jessie and the ladies, because the normally slightly ragged around the edges looking Jessie has suddenly blossomed with happiness and looks transformed.

Harry's Father Job is nowhere to be found and his Mother is sick after having had her baby, and the rest of the children need to be fed. Harry bribes his younger brother (who "doesn't like touching udders") with the promise of a bun of his very own on Friday if he'll milk Mrs. Forrester's beloved cow and take the milk back to his Mother and the baby while he goes to find food on the Hanbury estate.

Harry's nameless brother completes his task, but in his haste to get the milk back home, while taking a few surreptitious gulps himself, he forgets to fasten the gate behind him.

The following morning, Mrs Forrester arrives to milk the cow and to her shock and horror, finds it missing. She jogs into town at quite a fair lick for a lady of her age and rallies help.
Major Gordon and Captain Brown search the fields looking for Bessie the cow and are informed that shouting "Bessie Dearest" is more likely to find the cow than simply Bessie. Swallowing their pride and their dignity, both men screech the offending phrase lustily.

Eventually the poor bovine creature is found, to Mrs. Forrester's dismay, wallowing in a pit of lime and mooing plaintively.

Major Gordon and Jessie return to the village for help in pulling Bessie from her limey pit of doom. Miss Matty remarks that Major Gordon has his arm around Jessie, to which Miss Deborah replies, "that is exactly where it ought to be"!

En route Jessie and Major Gordon stop in a leafy glade and Major Gordon proposes to the delighted Jessie, but due to the fact that he is shortly to leave to go to India, he wants to be married sooner rather than later. As Jessie is still in mourning for her sister and is dismayed that she would have to leave her father, she mournfully declines and both she and Major Gordon are quietly devastated.

As Mrs. Forrester's cow sustained a large amount of hair loss and no doubt chemical burns from the lime, Captain Brown suggests that the best course of action would be to put the cow down. This causes great consternation to Mrs. Forrester, so the second best solution is to dress the cow in flannel pyjamas, to much comedic effect and to the delight of Cranford's children, who wonder how the cow is milked. Answer: it has a flap at the bottom!


The day of Lady Ludlow's garden party arrives and all the ladies assemble in their finery, on the common, to attend. Mary is forced to travel with her quite young, very tiresome and permanently pregnant step-mother (Finty Williams) and is entreated to hold the baby, as she will look so much better with a baby's face next to hers. Mary looks royally pissed off and that being jammed in next to Miss Pole would be far more preferable.
The Hutton sisters are also waiting to on the common to attend, but Sophy is fretting that Walter is a bit hoarse and is on the brink of staying at home to look after him, when she catches sight of Dr Harrison and decides that Walter isn't quite so ill after all.

When Dr Harrison rides up to say hello, he also offers Walter a ride on his horse to the Garden Party, which Sophy allows and Walter clambers up next to Dr Harrison eagerly.The Garden party is in full swing, with Ladies eating Ice Cream, children racing around and Egg and Spoon races to be organised. Miss Matty, after having dispensed some eggs and set the children off on the Egg and Spoon race (which Walter wins!), she is distracted by a distinguished gentleman (a subdued Michael Gambon), who gently shakes her by the hand and then departs, leaving Miss Matty shaken and in a strangely quiet mood that Miss Deborah comments on. Miss Matty doesn't mention the interlude between her and Mr. Holbrook and instead blames her quietness on the "superfluity of dainties" to which she is not accustomed.

Mrs Forrester and Miss Pole have news, they fly across the grass, causing people to look up in fright at the scary sight of two middle aged ladies sprinting across the lawn. Unfortunately while Miss Pole is getting her breath, the slower Mrs Forrester arrives and blurts out the juicy gossip they have just overheard: the railway is coming to Cranford! Miss Pole is annoyed, she'd been building up to that!
A delegation of Amazons search out Captain Brown trying to have a quiet cup of tea and demand to know the truth of the matter. Captain Brown proudly affirms that the railway is to come and that he is to be the manager for the project. The ladies are aghast at the news and his betrayal. It's a wonder that the man doesn't instantly expire with the looks of horror, scorn and disgust being scowled his way.

Gently, Jessie berates Captain Brown about not telling her and when he states that his new job will take him away from town and she will be alone. Jessie realises that this means that her rejection of Major Gordon was a mistake and when she hesitantly claims that she could have been married, the self absorbed Captain Brown dismisses the idea and settles back down to his tea.

Miss Matty and Miss Deborah reach home and Deborah is fuming at the news, claiming that it will bring all manner of undesirables, rather nastily singling out "the Irish" for her particular ire. The anger that she feels has brought on a headache and she goes upstairs, getting a little giddy towards the top and goes into her room.
Mary, Martha and Miss Matty hear a loud thud from Deborah's room and Mary and Martha race up the stairs and find that Miss Deborah has collapsed. Mary keeps calm and tells Miss Matty to fetch the doctor.

Dr Harrison has been called to Reverend Huttons house as Walter is ill. His earlier hoarseness has developed into very nasty bout of Croup. Reverend Hutton is silently devastated and Sophy is distraught at the thought that she could have prevented Walter's illness by staying home instead of going to the Garden Party.

Meanwhile at the Jenkyns household, Dr. Morgan gently tells Miss Matty that Miss Deborah is dead. Miss Matty is utterly shocked and saddened. Judi Dench communicates the utter devastation she feels in a simple silent scene and the audience is also completely saddened by the loss of Miss Deborah. The series will be poorer for Eileen Atkins departure.There is no better news at Reverend Huttons, despite Sophy's, Dr. Harrison's and Dr Morgan's ministrations, as well as Reverend Huttons most fervent prayers, little adorable Walter dies. The doctors leave as the family say good bye to him. Kimberly Nixon was coming across as a bit of a shallow actress, with nothing to do but fuss over Walter and simper at Dr Harrison until now, but her desolation and sorrow at Walters death convinces otherwise.
Miss Matty sits in the parlour gazing at the seat her sister used to rule the Cranford court from as if, were she to gaze long enough, that Miss Deborah would resume her throne and continue to reign once more.

Miss Matty tells Mary that Deborah disapproved of people called her Matty and much rather preferred Matilda and she laments that no one will call her Matilda again.
Mary leaves Miss Matilda to her thoughts and Miss Matty, remains in her chair overwhelmed by grief.

Another fine episode, with the early comedy being leavened by tragedy. Miss Deborah was a formidable character given real depth and affection by Eileen Atkins and will be sorely missed.

Cranford Episode One

I thoroughly enjoyed Cranford and meant to get this cap up sooner rather than later, but circumstances proved otherwise, but better late than never.

The story starts with the arrival of Mary Smith (Lisa Dillon) to Cranford to stay with the two Miss Jenkyns'.
The eldest sister, Deborah (Dame Eileen Atkins) is imperious, aloof, bossy and snobbish. Her sister Matty (Dame Judi Dench) is the opposite: warm, generous and open, if a little scatty. Both actresses are utterly marvellous, Eileen Atkins can summon up a contemptuous demeanour with a slight purse of the lips and raise of her eyebrow and Judi Dench just glows with generosity, good humour and gentleness.

Mary is inducted into the etiquette of Cranford, no visiting until noon which runs until three o'clock and then the visit must be no longer than fifteen minutes. And upon the consumption of oranges, one must repair to her bedroom to partake of the "sucking" of this fruit in solitude. Miss Deborah sensibly cuts hers into segments, while Mary and Matty both prefer to suck theirs dry through a single hole in the rind.

The ladies first visitor of the day is Dr Morgan (John Bowe) who informs them of the new doctor, Dr Harrison, that has been employed to deal with the sick of Cranford, 'cos he's getting on a bit. Dr. Morgan not only has the requisite period drama sideburns, he also has wig that he wears on the occasion of (medical) house visits. Dr Morgan in deference to Miss Deborah's status as queen of the Cranfordian Amazons has come to tell the Misses Jenkyns' in person about this development, however the rest of the village must make do with Miss Pole, whom Dr Morgan has already appraised.
Miss Pole (Imelda Staunton) is more than just the village gossip, she takes it upon herself to impart her knowledge and all other pertinent village developments with such determination and diligence that she, with scant regard for her own safety, even flings herself in front of travelling sedan chairs to spread the news.
Imelda Staunton is a wonderful actress and Miss Pole is a genuine comic revelation. She bustles about Cranford imparting and spreading news and finds herself often in the midst of things, occasionally mischief of her own making. She lives to purvey a lively story and exaggerates enormously, rarely letting her companions get a word in edge ways. In some ways she is the most pantomimic of the characters, being larger than life and always in the thick of it!

She is aided and abetted by the rest of the Amazons: the Tomkinson sisters Caroline (Selina Griffiths, the one that has a hairstyle like someone put a mop on her head) and her elder sister Augusta (Deborah Findlay). Caroline hasn't yet given up hope that she might find a husband and Augusta encourages her, but they are both devoted to each other and are played by two fine actresses. Selina Griffiths is suitably fussy and a tad neurotic, while Deborah Findlay is more reflective and stoic.

Julia McKenzie as Mrs Forrester, a lady who doesn't have the best luck with animals completes the group and works very well as Miss Pole's foil.
Dr. Frank Harrison finally arrives, with his top hat well rammed down and looking all of about twelve. He attributes his lateness to his horse requiring to be shod and is shown in by Dr Morgan to his spare, to the point of emptiness, lodgings. It seems that he is to see patients perched on a tiny stool in the middle of the room, as it's the only furniture in the place. Despite this he seems happy enough.

St. John Rivers turns up and asks Jane to go to India, oops sorry wrong period drama. Andrew Buchan, (who was St. John in last years Jane Eyre) arrives. He is Jem Hearne, carpenter, joiner and general odd job man. He is here to measure the surgery for all it needs, but he warns Dr Harrison, very matter of factly, that if there's a funeral, he'll have to wait as he's to make the coffin.
The following morning, Dr's Harrison and Morgan visit the rectory to call on the housemaid and her sore knee, while there, Dr Harrison meets Sophy Hutton (who's played by Carey Mulligan, no wait, she's actually played by Kimberly Nixon, who bears a striking resemblance to Carey, but without the dimples). Sophy is playing with her beloved brother Walter, who she has raised since her mother died six years ago. Dr Harrison is immediately smitten, understandably as Sophy is undeniably pretty.

Sophy and Walter lead Dr. Harrison to the garden where they begin to beat cherries off a tree with a rake, well it gets the job done I suppose. In the original short story, Sophy picks pears, but just to ram home the fact that Sophy and Frank fancy each other, they have to pick cherries together. Yes, actually we noticed that, thanks, but isn't June a bit early for cherries?
While illicitly knocking down cherries, Sophy and Frank are observed by Sophy's father, a stern looking Reverend Hutton (Alex Jennings, a hundred years and a couple of dressing gowns away from Garry Essendine. Coincidentally both Alex and Lisa Dillon are still in Present Laughter, which is on at the National Theatre, in which Alex, as Garry, is irresistible to women and Lisa is nearly unrecognisable in a virulent red wig, playing vampish Joanna, a very funny play, as I've blogged about below, get tickets while you can).

Anyway, Reverend Hutton doesn't like the look of his daughter cherry picking with a complete stranger and interrupts on the pretext of young Walter's education. Sophy spotting her father rushes off too, leaving Dr. Harrison under a tree clutching some cherries. Reverend Hutton is described by Elizabeth Gaskell as being dignified and commanding respect and Alex Jennings manages to convey all that, despite having only two lines.
Meanwhile Jem Hearne is up a tree in the Tompkinson sisters back garden, he's been employed by the women to lop off some branches. When Jem states that he'll need help, Augusta vehemently disagrees, no doubt because it'll cost more and they aren't rich. Jem acquiesces and then in a moment that starts out comically, Jem falls out of the tree, turns quite gory as it appears Jem has broken his arm very badly and lurches out of the garden for help, dripping blood like a nineteenth century zombie, but with less of an appetite for human flesh.


Jem manages to make quite an entrance in the middle of Cranford's main street and faints clean away. He's taken to Dr. Harrison's by the authoritative Mr. Carter (the wonderful Philip Glenister) and a young poacher Harry Gregson (Alex Etel) is press ganged by Mr. Carter, into obtaining some ice to pack around Jem's arm to give Frank Harrison enough time to ride to find some curved needles so he can save Jem's arm. The village is agog with the news of Jem's accident and ghoulish Miss Pole is a little disappointed that it wasn't instantly amputated and the stump covered with tar. It transpires that when Dr. Harrison returns with his needles, he discovers that he has no candles and that when he asks Mr. Johnson (Mayor and storekeeper) for candles ("Four candles, y' know, 'andles for forks" - copyright the Two Ronnies) that he doesn't have the right sort.

Frank sits despondently clad in a black coat on the store steps and originates the rumour that Jem has died and that he is distraught. Eventually the reason for his despondency is revealed and the ladies of Cranford rally around and arrive en masse to donate all their candles (subject to a substantial candle tax) to the doctor for Jem's operation. Well if Jem expired, that would be the end of the hot handyman and they'd only have Dr Morgan's sideburns to lust after. On a more serious note, if Jem's compound fracture can't be fixed, he would lose it or at least the use of it and would not be able to work anymore, no doubt leading to the poorhouse.

In any event the operation, on a still conscious Jem (!), goes ahead with Mary as Frank's assistant. The ladies of Cranford then send Jem jelly and other food for invalids with Martha (Claudie Blakley) who just so happens to have secret relationship with Jem, even though she's been forbidden "followers" by Miss Jenkyns. It's touching to see their close and tender relationship and it's nice to see that writer Heidi Thomas hasn't ignored the working classes in her adaptation as Jem and Martha's experience is just as valid as that of the far more middle class Cranfordians.

A new family arrives in Cranford, Captain Brown (Jim Carter) and daughters Jessie Brown (Julia Sawalha) along with a sick sister Mary, who doesn't say a word and expires quite silently a little later on.
Captain Brown has a magnificent set of sideburns. Many of the Cranford side burns have me itching to lean through the tv and give them a tug, to see how real they are. Dr. Morgan's and Captain Brown's are of special note.

Julia Sawalha , looking much older than her Pride and Prejudice days is filmed in unflattering and unfair close up shots, in which the poor thing looks quite haggard and washed out. Lord Charles Maulver (Greg Wise) arrives as a friend and the landlord of Captain Brown and stays for awhile. His lack of facial hair is noted and I have come to the conclusion that he is a cad, although this may be due to his previous acting roles. He can do smug and self satisfied with his eyes shut.

Lady Ludlow (Francesca Annis) is holed up in her mausoleum of a house,
waited upon by Mr. Carter in the capacity of an estate manager and Miss Galindo (Emma Fielding) as her ladyships milliner. Lady Ludlow is opposed to the lower orders educating themselves as evidenced by her interrogation of a new maid. When told that the maid can read, write and cast accounts, Lady Ludlow spits that she is no good for anything but trade. Her servants are taught to obey her, do their jobs and learn their prayers and nothing else. This rankles with Mr. Carter and he is quite clearly annoyed by Lady Ludlows stance. Miss Galindo doesn't appear to care and may as well be made of stone for all the emotion Emma Fielding gives her.

Meanwhile back in Cranford, after setting a valuable lace collar in bowl of buttermilk to bleach, Miss Pole and Mrs. Forrester turn away to pass comments on Mrs Forrester's well fed maid. Taking its opportunity for some fresh delicious buttermilk, Mrs. Forrester's cat scoffs the buttermilk, lace collar and all. The ladies spring into action and begin a wild dash to the store to purchase a "compound". The procession gathers participants in the manner of Mrs. Jamieson, (Barbara Flynn plus sedan chair and carriers) who is attracted by the no doubt unusual sight of "some ladies running". The procession runs, somewhat out of breath, through the centre of Cranford, scattering inhabitants in their wake with Miss Pole's cry, "this is a matter of lace!" The lace in question residing in the cats stomach, but as it was woven by silent French nuns, is extremely valuable and must be retrieved.

When in the possession of the emetic compound, it is administered to the cat, which is placed in a boot that fought at Waterloo. The looks on the faces of the actresses as the cat evacuates it's bowels are wonderful and just goes to show fart jokes work!
The lace is washed out of the boot by a disgusted looking maid and held up now brown and worse for wear, though intact much to the delight of Mrs. Forrester.


Mary Brown dies while Captain Brown is away on business and the funeral has to be arranged by a distraught Jessie, who states that if her father does not return then she will walk behind the coffin, so that her sister will not be alone. This horrifies Miss Deborah, as women are not permitted to attend funerals. She retires to her room to meditate on the matter and in the morning appears at Jessie's side to walk alongside her behind the coffin. The consensus now being that if Miss Jenkyns is allowed to attend a funeral, then it must be ok, as she is the arbiter of all Cranford etiquette and thus Miss Deborah ensures that the scandal of a woman at a funeral is averted.Dr Harrison gains a full house of furniture, and a housekeeper, the recently widowed Mrs. Rose (Lesley Manville) who in one short scene and a few lines develops Mrs. Rose into a vulnerable and fragile woman, though kindhearted and gentle.
Jem's arm is healing well and he is able to use it well enough to fix Frank Harrison's plaque to the door, meanwhile Sophy and the rest of her family pull up outside to deliver some cherries, which is just an excuse to reiterate that Sophy and Frank are attracted to one another.
Cranford is stuffed with fantastic characters and even better performances, Eileen Atkins and Imelda Staunton nearly steal the show, but with great restraint don't steam roller every other performance in deference of their, they generously allow the other actors to shine and do their best also. From Captain Brown who emanates generosity and good humour, to Jem Hearne's stolid and everyday charm, to Mary Smith's patience and shrewdness, to Harry Gregson's youthful resilience. One especial mention must go to Heidi Thomas's script which retains almost all of Gaskell's original humour and is successful in melding all three sources into one very satisfying whole.