Explore Hollow
A city in the quarry
Hollow is built in terraces up the walls of a quarry above the River Marl. Quays and warehouses line the Floor at the water, the Steps climb terrace by terrace, and the Archive stands on the Crown at the top. Choose a place to read about it and the people connected to it.
1 · On the Floor, by the quays
The Weighhouse
Every cargo that comes up the river crosses the great beam scale here. Otter porters heave sacks onto the platform, the scale clerk calls the weight, and on the mouse gallery above, the clerks enter it into the books.
Sedge, an old heron, runs the hall from the high desk. Beside the main door, a locked glass case holds the season’s Register, which any clerk may read inside the building.
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2 · On the Crown
The Archive
The Archive stands on the Crown at the top of the quarry, across a white square. Readers carry leather satchels through its doors, and its long windows catch the sun before the river does.
In its Reading Room, any animal may ask for the Workings of their own Season recommendations: the reasons the Ledger printed for them.
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3 · East along the Floor
The Kilnworks
East along the Floor, where the warehouses thin out, the brick sheds and chimneys of the Kilnworks begin. Its smoke lies in a long band above the roofs.
In the glasshouse, a furnace burns behind its round glory hole, and glassblowers turn bowls, lamp cups and chimneys at their benches near the river wall.
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4 · Across the River Marl to Lowbank
The Lower Ferry
A flat timber raft drawn along an iron cable across the River Marl, between the Floor landing and Lowbank. Passengers ring the bell on the landing post, and the keeper turns the hand-wheel.
The fare is two coppers each way. For Lowbank animals with baskets and hand-carts, it is the short way to the Floor.
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5 · The quarry wall, Floor to Crown
The Hoist
An industrial lift that climbs the quarry wall stage by stage, from the Floor to the Crown, carrying hand-carts, cupboards and passengers. Its tarred-rope smell reaches the stairs.
Mallow’s father, Corm, works the Third Stage from the winding house a few doors along the Ninth Stair.
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6 · The upper terraces
The Ninth Stair
One of the terraces stacked up the quarry wall. The Fenns live here in two rooms above Cobb’s cooperage, and Hesper keeps her tailoring shop in the front room.
From the kitchen window, the terraces descend roof under roof to the River Marl.