Based in 1820, in Skipton, West Yorkshire. It follows three generations from one family, through poverty, death and sadness. Johnny was born into a very poor yet secure, family. He suffers every year in Autumn as Johnny and his father can no longer work until the following Spring. His father would go to the pub with his mother, returning home worse the wear for drink. This would depress Johnny and so he seeks comfort in his horse in the stable. On one terrible night everything changes for Johnny when his home catches on fire and he looses his beloved parents. Having now been orphaned and with no where to live, he ends up living in a boys home, not being able to read or write. He successfully shows the other boys everything he learnt from his father. Johnny's son Paul, becomes an orphan as well, when a terrible accident happens to his mother and his father ends up in prison. Paul joins the army but this experience is short lived when he realises he cannot fight in a war and kill people. He finally marries and has a son called Peter.Peter meets the daughter of a foundry owner, his life becomes a far cry from the time when Peter and his father arrive in the village and are treated as total outsiders with folk thinking they will take work from the locals. He and his father were told by an old lady whilst they travel north that they should follow the rainbow in the distance and that that is where their happiness shall be. So they head in that direction towards a village - but do they find the rainbow?