Sal Clitheroe is a working-class woman originally from Badford. Following a tragic accident involving her husband, she is forced to relocate to Kingsbridge to find work in the textile mills. She is deeply protective of her young son, Kit, and possesses a strong sense of justice that puts her at odds with the wealthy masters. Resourceful and resilient, she relies on her skills with a spinning wheel to provide for her family.

Joseph Hornbeam is a wealthy, ruthless mill owner and local justice in Kingsbridge. He fiercely defends the privileges of the rich and views the working class with deep suspicion and hostility. A harsh and unyielding businessman, he actively resists any attempts at social reform or workers' rights, using his influence to control the local economy and legal system.

Kit Clitheroe is Sal's young son. At just six years old, he is forced into employment as a servant at the Riddick family manor to help pay off debts. Despite his young age and the harsh treatment he receives from his employers, Kit demonstrates intelligence and a strong work ethic. He is observant and forms early opinions about the deep class divides in his world.

David Shoveller, known locally as Spade, is a skilled weaver and supplier of luxury cloth in Kingsbridge. A widower who lost his wife and child years earlier, he is highly respected in the community and serves as an advocate for workers' rights. He is an intelligent and progressive businessman, often using his influence and resources to help those oppressed by the wealthy mill owners.

Amos Barrowfield is a young, ambitious clothier and prominent Methodist in Kingsbridge. He unexpectedly inherits his family's struggling business and must quickly learn to manage heavy debts and aggressive competitors. Unlike many other business owners, Amos is sympathetic to the working class and strives to balance modernization with ethical treatment of his employees.

Will Riddick is the violent and arrogant son of the Badford squire. He abuses his wealth and social standing to mistreat working-class people without facing consequences. Entitled and deeply prejudiced, he uses his position to demand bribes and inflict cruelty on those beneath him in the social hierarchy.

Roger Riddick is the younger brother of Will Riddick and a university student. Unlike his cruel brother, Roger is an educated man who demonstrates genuine compassion. He has a passion for inventing and studying new machinery, often sharing his technological interests with his friends. He is sympathetic to progressive ideas and shows kindness to the working-class people around him.

Jane Midwinter is the beautiful daughter of the local Methodist leader. She is highly conscious of social status and wealth, determined to secure a comfortable and luxurious future for herself. Her pragmatic and ambitious approach to marriage often makes her blunt in her romantic rejections, as she actively seeks a partner who can elevate her social standing.

Elsie Latimer is the intelligent and pragmatic daughter of the Bishop of Kingsbridge. Recognizing her privilege, she leverages her social standing to establish a Sunday School for poor children. She is highly observant and active in her community, preferring direct action and charity over the formal religious ceremonies favored by her father.

Arabella Latimer is the middle-aged wife of the Bishop of Kingsbridge. Trapped in a loveless and emotionally distant marriage, she searches for new ways to experience passion and test the confines of her restrictive social role. Her quiet rebellion begins with gardening but soon extends to exploring forbidden romantic connections.

Squire Riddick is the wealthy patriarch of the Riddick family and the primary landowner in Badford. While considered less outright cruel than his eldest son, he instinctively sides with his family and uses his authority to protect their interests, often at the expense of the poor and vulnerable.

George Riddick is the middle son of the Badford squire and an Anglican rector. He is tasked with running the local Poor Relief but harbors a deep disdain for Methodists and working-class villagers. He uses his position to enforce the rigid social hierarchy and shows little sympathy for those in need.

Jarge is a working-class man in Kingsbridge who works in Joseph Hornbeam's mills. He is deeply wary of the rapid industrialization transforming his trade and strongly opposes the new machines that threaten workers' livelihoods. He is passionate about workers' rights but struggles with the immense power imbalance between the hands and the masters.

Joanie is a resilient working-class woman who shares her home with Sal and several family members. She is deeply affected by the soaring food prices and the greed of the local merchants. Driven by a desire for fairness, she takes bold action to ensure her community has access to affordable bread during difficult times.

Harry Clitheroe is Sal's husband and a hardworking laborer in Badford. He is deeply aware of the dangers of angering the gentry and tries to keep his head down to support his family. His tragic fate at the hands of a reckless employer serves as a harsh reminder of the vulnerabilities of the working class.

Bishop Stephen Latimer is the elderly, emotionally distant religious leader of Kingsbridge. He prioritizes his comfort, dignity, and social reputation over genuine religious devotion or family connection. He represents the rigid, formal traditions of the Anglican church and relies heavily on social conventions to maintain his authority.

Kenelm Mackintosh is an ambitious and highly educated young priest working as an aide to the bishop. He views the priesthood primarily as a vehicle for social mobility and is careful never to take a stance that might upset his superiors. He hides his Scottish background to avoid prejudice and constantly maneuvers to advance his career.

Henry Northwood is the colonel of the Kingsbridge Militia and the son of the Earl of Shiring. He is a wealthy and influential figure who commands the local military forces during a time of widespread unrest and fear of French invasion. He is a prime target for ambitious social climbers in Kingsbridge.

Canon Midwinter is the spiritual leader of the Kingsbridge Methodists and Jane's father. Following the Methodists' split from the Church of England, he has lost much of his former wealth and status, a decline that deeply influences his daughter's pragmatic approach to marriage.

Kate is David Shoveller's sister and a skilled dressmaker who creates fashionable clothing for the wealthy women of Kingsbridge. She runs a successful shop and lives quietly above it with her companion, Rebecca. She relies on her brother's discretion to protect her private life from a highly prejudiced society.

Rebecca is Kate's companion, living a quiet and hidden life above the dress shop in Kingsbridge. Due to the strict social prejudices of the era, she and Kate must keep the true nature of their bond a secret from the broader community.

Fanny is an orphaned thirteen-year-old maid working at the Riddick family manor. Taken in by the wealthy family to work as a servant, she helps Kit adjust to the harsh realities of domestic service under Will Riddick's volatile temper.

Deborah Hornbeam is Joseph Hornbeam's daughter. She represents an opportunity for her father to elevate their family's social standing through a strategic marriage to the local squire's son.

Howard Hornbeam is Joseph Hornbeam's son. He lacks his father's commanding presence and ruthlessness but stands to inherit the expanding textile empire in Kingsbridge.

Alfred Nash is a local milkman in Kingsbridge who owes money to Joseph Hornbeam. He leverages his friendly access to the working-class community to act as a spy, reporting their activities and organizational efforts back to the wealthy masters in exchange for financial leniency.