Cranford was published and is set in England during the Victorian era, which took place roughly between 1820 and 1914 and corresponded to Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901). The British Empire rose in industrial power during this period, sealing Britain’s status as the most powerful empire in the world. Technological advancements such as factories powered by steam engines and railroad transportation spread throughout Britain, previously a largely rural nation. With the rise in industrialization came a huge spike in population as people migrated from the country to the city, creating overcrowded urban centers with high poverty rates. Industrial workers also worked in grueling, dehumanizing conditions for little pay. The village of Cranford is unique in that it is still largely rural, with the exception of the neighboring railroad. Captain Brown’s death by railway symbolizes the Cranford women’s resistance to the rapid industrialization and modernization of rural life.

The Cranford women are behind the times when it comes to industrialization, but ahead when it comes to gender conventions. During the Victorian era, the ideal woman was strictly dependent, docile, and domestic. Men, however, were considered leaders of society who belonged in the public sphere. They were the heads of household in all things financial and political, while their wives tended to the house and raised children.