Thrown into poverty when his father’s Chandlery collapses, Benjamin must adapt in a hostile working environment or risk losing his only remaining relative, his infant brother. But can he fight against his urge for power?
Iron Wick is set in Birmingham during the Industrial Revolution. In a short period of time, his father’s chandler business goes into liquidation, and his mother dies of eclampsia.
Benjamin is left to raise his brother on his own. He finds work in a factory where he meets Hector Blackburn and Hector’s niece, Mary.
Benjamin and Mary, to Hector’s dismay, start to have feelings for one another. Hector tries to make life difficult for Benjamin, but when he realises that his efforts only push the two together, he takes Benjamin on as an apprentice.
Further episodes will see Benjamin become corrupt through power; this will result in him losing his only friend at the factory, Daniel, and cause conflict between him and Mary.
Daniel’s death will cause Benjamin to quit his job and elope with Mary. He starts his own chandler, but invests in new equipment. Afraid of prospective parenthood, and now successful on his own, he has an affair on Mary with his first Crush, Edna.
Mary and Benjamin must decide whether to work out their differences, or go their separate ways.