In the Yorkshire Dales in the 1870s, the shantytown of Jericho is the home of a community that will live, thrive and die in the shadow of the viaduct they've been brought together to build.
Annie Quaintain sets off with her children for a new life in Jericho and ends up setting up a boarding house for the labourers. But she is not the only new arrival in town. Handsome navvy Johnny is returning to his native Yorkshire from Africa - only to make violent enemies with a hot-tempered colleague.
Annie opens the door for Bamford the railway detective, who has returned to Jericho.
Annie's world is rocked when Martha falls seriously ill with fever.
News of Johnny's true identity spreads throughout the town, leaving him isolated.
Charles and Isabella feel the pressure with no hope of outside investment and with their horns still locked with Johnny, money for the viaduct is running out and wages have to be paid. After Charles announces that wages will be delayed, the navvy workforce is up in furious and calls a strike.
Charles needs a surveyor to discover the most affordable location to quarry stone for the viaduct. Annie and Johnny learn that the quarry site is where the bodies of Happy Jack and Skinny are buried and they become worried. Everything they thought was dead and buried could now destroy everything that they have fought for.
Johnny is the number one suspect following the murder of Red Killeen. Charles has washed his hands with his brother and Coates takes it upon himself to lock Johnny up pending the judgement of the law. Annie makes a desperate plea with Charles to have him released but he is still furious about having found out that Johnny and Isabella slept together.
In the aftermath of the trial, ANNIE and JOHNNY’s relationship is out in the open and they’re finally able to enjoy the intimacy of their union. With COATES on his way out of town, it seems that nothing can now disturb the peace and closeness between them. Except that COATES is determined that his time in Jericho is not yet done. The new quarry is a huge success for Jericho. Blasting through the rock, the men discover a cavern of sandstone that will change the fortunes of the viaduct. The only problem is that Jericho’s navvies won’t go near it: superstitions abound that the mine is on cursed land, the land where the bodies of HAPPY JACK, SKINNY and RED were buried.
