Evelyn is the quiet, solitary curator of the Portheast Museum of Maritime Curiosities, operating out of a ramshackle Cornish boat shed. She was abandoned as a baby with only a fragment of handmade Cornish lace, an event that defines her deep attachment to lost objects. Nearing her early sixties, she lives a reclusive life in a static caravan, hoping someone will recognize her lace. An eviction notice from the local council threatens the sanctuary she has built.

Sariah manages the Warburn Spa hotel, maintaining a polished, efficient exterior that masks her difficult upbringing. She resents the economic disparity in Portheast, where wealthy tourists overlook underpaid local staff. When she recognizes a broken teacup from her childhood among the museum's artifacts, the campaign threatens to unearth memories she prefers to keep buried. She agrees to build the campaign website to control which items are displayed.

Alison works as an administrator at the local sports center, utilizing a background in public relations. She manages a demanding job alongside caring for her young son and attempting to appease her controlling partner. At the museum, an embroidered piece of sailcloth catches her attention, connecting to her grandfather and challenging her understanding of her family's past. She volunteers to gather human-interest stories to help save the sheds.

Della is an Australian expatriate who runs an ice cream parlor in the boat shed adjacent to Evelyn's museum. Known for her eccentricities and bright energy, she provides a sharp contrast to Evelyn's quiet demeanor. She previously worked as a television host in Australia before leaving her high-pressure career for a fresh start in Cornwall. Della originates the idea to link the museum's collection to local family histories.

Jacob is a good-natured young man working in Portheast while recovering from a derailed university career. Despite being the grandson of a wealthy and historically powerful local landowner, he lives modestly in a bedsit and struggles to find his place in the town. He enthusiastically joins the campaign, using his local connections and friendly demeanor to gather support.

George is a local antiques dealer who operates a shop in Portheast. He carries a dubious reputation inherited from his father, who raised him to participate in illicit art and antique deals. He recognizes a painting in Evelyn's promotional materials, which immediately makes him suspicious of her motives. He closely monitors the new website to see what other items might be exposed.

Edwin is Evelyn's deceased adoptive father. He presented himself as an academic and established the Portheast Museum of Maritime Curiosities, ostensibly to give Evelyn a purpose after her career in London ended. He maintained strict control over the family dynamic, insisting Evelyn accept his version of events regarding conflicts.

Elsbeth is Evelyn's deceased adoptive mother. She possessed an ethereal, detached personality that contrasted with her husband's commanding presence. She abandoned her own degree to marry Edwin, leaving her family confused by the choice.

Roy is Alison's partner and the father of their young son, Will. He exerts coercive control over Alison's life, dictating her movements, monitoring her communication, and isolating her from friends. He uses intimidation and physical violence to maintain dominance in his household.

Keith is Alison's father and a lifelong resident of Portheast. He maintains a quiet life and worries about his daughter, though he remains largely unaware of the extent of Roy's abuse. He takes an interest in the museum's collection, specifically an embroidered sailcloth he believes his own father made.

Fred is Keith's deceased father and Alison's grandfather. He was known for his quiet demeanor and his marriage, which his family viewed as functional rather than passionate. His hand-crafted sailcloth becomes a central item in the museum's campaign to uncover local history.

Grace is Sariah's estranged mother, living in Redruth. She maintains a harsh, critical demeanor and struggles with a long history of bitterness. She arrives in Portheast furious that her family's cracked teacup is being used in a public campaign, demanding its immediate return.

Rose is Sariah's aunt and Grace's sister. She left her family at the age of fifteen under mysterious circumstances, missing Grace's wedding. She is remembered by Sariah for offering rare moments of maternal tenderness during childhood visits.

Sir Jasper is Jacob's deceased grandfather, formerly a powerful landowner and major employer in Portheast. He wielded significant influence over the town and its residents, using his wealth to manage his family's reputation and silence potential scandals.

Simon is Jacob's estranged father. He continues the Warburn family tradition of using financial transactions to manage personal obligations, preferring to send money rather than offer genuine emotional support or connection.

Grant is Roy Pinlow's older brother. He operates a local garage with his siblings and serves as the calmest member of the volatile Pinlow family. He holds the authority to manage Roy's temper when situations threaten to escalate out of control.

Will is Alison and Roy's toddler son. He is the center of Alison's world, and she constantly monitors Roy's moods to protect the child from the household's tension.

Frances is a former curator at the British Museum who provided lodgings for Evelyn during her brief curatorial traineeship in 1987. Evelyn remembers her as highly career-oriented.