In the year 1775, on a foul winter evening, Soloman Daisy, one of the three cronies of John Willet who is the proprietor of Maypole is telling the tale of the murder of Reuben Haredale, the owner of an estate called Warren, that happened on the same day 22 years back, The suspects were their gardener and steward, but with steward’s deceased body being recovered later, the missing gardener was the prime suspect of this murder. The estate is now resided by Reuben’s brother Geoffrey and Reuben’s daughter, Emma Haredale.
John willet treats his 20 year old son, Joe like a kid and fed up of the treatment goes to be a soldier. He says goodbye to her woman of love, Dolly Warden, daughter of the locksmith Gabriel Warden.
Another man named John Chester wants his son, Edward to marry a woman with inheritance. Edward is in love with Emma Haredale, but the enmity between Sir John and Emma’s uncle Geoffrey doesn’t let them unite. Edward leaves for West Indies in frustration. Barnaby, a locale’s mother was receiving annual compensation from Geoffrey but leaves the city to escape a shadowy stranger whom she had tried to protect.
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Five years later, in 1780, Soloman’s Daisy sees the ghost of Reuben, in the churchyard, 27 years after his murder. He along with John Millet heads for London taking Hugh, the hostler of Maypole along and are met by three men on the way who are seeking refuge for the night. The visitors who stay overnight with them are none other than Lord George Gordon, his secretary, Gashford and a servant, John Grueby. The next day they head for a protest and incite anti-Catholic sentiments and are joined by Hugh in the protests.
Geoffrey Haredale fails to find Barnaby and his mother, but the mysterious man finds them and attempts to extract money. Barnaby and his mother manage escape once again to London. At the Westminster Bridge, Barnaby is duped by the rioters and joins them in the march to Parliament. The rioters burn many catholic churches and homes of Catholic families.
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The protest forms groups with Hugh and associates heading for Chigwell and Barnaby guarding The Boot. They loot the Maypole on the way and captivate Dolly Varden and Emma Haredale. Barnaby is taken by the soldiers and held captive in Newgate which mob plans to burn down.
It is revealed to Haredale that the mysterious stranger is Barnaby Rudge Sr. and the murderer of Reuben. The rioters get hold of locksmith Gabriel to break the Newgate prison gates to which he refuses. When the rioters burn the Newgate, Barnaby, his father and Hugh are unable to escape due to betrayal by Dennis. Military patrols the streets and many are killed.
Joe Willet has lost his arm in the American Revolution, who along with Edward Chester saves Gabriel. They then save Dolly and Emma. Dennis and Hugh are hanged by Barnaby is pardoned by help from Gabriel. Joe and Dolly marry to be the proprietors of Maypole. Chester and Emma marry to leave for West Indies. Sir John Chester, Member of Parliament turns out to be father of Hugh and is killed by Geoffrey in a duel. Barnaby lives with her mother in Maypole looking after a farm.