Author name: crosswordanswers

5-across – Place breeding chickens : POULTRYFARM

7-across – Ceremony : RITE

8-across – Familiarity : INTIMACY

9-across – Captain – one using a rope : SKIPPER

11-across – Savoury jelly : ASPIC

13-across – British Romantic poet : BYRON

14-across – Cost of sending letter : POSTAGE

16-across – Member of US political party : DEMOCRAT

17-across – Mistake : SLIP

18-across – List of past achievements and failures : TRACKRECORD

1-down – Dumb : MUTE

2-down – One refusing to work – rings the bell : STRIKER

3-down – Former Japanese capital – Tokyo : KYOTO

4-down – Small bushy-tailed monkey : MARMOSET

5-down – Inflammation of the sweat glands : PRICKLYHEAT

6-down – Member of the thrush family which mimics : MOCKINGBIRD

10-down – Offer of marriage : PROPOSAL

12-down – Of alcohol, sold illicitly : BOOTLEG

15-down – First Englishman to sail round the world : DRAKE

17-down – In a little while : SOON

1-across – Unmarried : SINGLE

4-across – Formality : STARCH

8-across – Subsequently : LATER

9-across – Behave boisterously : ROISTER

10-across – Dirigible : AIRSHIP

11-across – Bracing seaside air : OZONE

12-across – Discharge of electricity in the atmosphere : LIGHTNING

17-across – Deduce : INFER

19-across – See 21 : BALLOON

21-across – Deterrent to low-flying air attacks : BARRAGE

22-across – Sponge : CADGE

23-across – Staggered : REELED

24-across – Although : ALBEIT

1-down – Of trees : SYLVAN

2-down – Unaffected – musical character : NATURAL

3-down – Deciduous coniferous tree : LARCH

5-down – Capital of Libya : TRIPOLI

6-down – Proportion : RATIO

7-down – Skin disease – shingles, for instance : HERPES

9-down – Trustworthy : REPUTABLE

13-down – Rubbish : GARBAGE

14-down – Person from Tyneside : GEORDIE

15-down – Sawn wood : TIMBER

16-down – Coin : INVENT

18-down – Smithy : FORGE

20-down – Regional : LOCAL

1-across – Place repairing certain toys : DOLLSHOSPITAL

8-across – Possess : OWN

9-across – Using hands to tell fortunes : PALMISTRY

10-across – Huge African or Indian animal : ELEPHANT

11-across – Aperture for coins : SLOT

13-across – On a ship : ABOARD

14-across – Courage : BOTTLE

16-across – Headland : CAPE

17-across – Timepiece striking the hours : REPEATER

20-across – Of tailoring : SARTORIAL

21-across – Parcel – collection : LOT

22-across – Coloured sweets : DOLLYMIXTURES

1-down – Male honey bee – hum : DRONE

2-down – Army NCO : LANCECORPORAL

3-down – Deep blue – precious stone : SAPPHIRE

4-down – Rectangular shape : OBLONG

5-down – Bucket : PAIL

6-down – Gossip : TITTLETATTLER

7-down – Baby clothes and accessories : LAYETTE

12-down – Bedspread : COVERLET

13-down – Person being charged : ACCUSED

15-down – The Twins : GEMINI

18-down – Former local taxation system : RATES

19-down – Corpse : BODY

1-across – Game of skill using coins : PITCHANDTOSS

9-across – Similar : ALIKE

10-across – Boring – source of petroleum : OILWELL

11-across – Goddess of the rainbow : IRIS

12-across – Relating to the meaning of words : SEMANTIC

14-across – Eight pints : GALLON

15-across – Destiny : KISMET

18-across – Amorous : ROMANTIC

20-across – Russian emperor : TSAR

22-across – Long-winded, wordy : VERBOSE

23-across – Of birds : AVIAN

24-across – Voucher for journey back : RETURNTICKET

2-down – First – opening : INITIAL

3-down – Masticate : CHEW

4-down – Group of North Atlantic volcanic islands : AZORES

5-down – A mat laid : DALMATIA

6-down – Unconcealed : OVERT

7-down – Providing one’s own food : SELFCATERING

8-down – Grand Prix competitor : RACINGDRIVER

13-down – Heavy rainfall : DOWNPOUR

16-down – Huge : MASSIVE

17-down – Cut in half : BISECT

19-down – Deserve : MERIT

21-down – Dusting powder : TALC

1-across – Scottish castle and royal residence : BALMORAL

5-across – Highest point : ACME

9-across – Confess : ADMIT

10-across – Scottish singing and dancing event : CEILIDH

11-across – Drinks and ice cream counter : SODAFOUNTAIN

13-across – North American country : CANADA

14-across – Discount : REBATE

17-across – Unplugged : DISCONNECTED

20-across – Afternoon performance : MATINEE

21-across – Bring up – an increase in pay : RAISE

22-across – Rod used for punishment : CANE

23-across – Carefully considered : MEASURED

1-down – Bill – magistrate : BEAK

2-down – Ridicule : LAMPOON

3-down – Leaving port : OUTWARDBOUND

4-down – Source of stability : ANCHOR

6-down – Porcelain : CHINA

7-down – Improved : ENHANCED

8-down – Army body preparing trenches etc : PIONEERCORPS

12-down – Scholarly – unrealistic : ACADEMIC

15-down – Artist”s studio : ATELIER

16-down – Addition to building : ANNEXE

18-down – The Devil : SATAN

19-down – Repair : MEND