FACTFINDER’S CROSSWORD

Dear Reader,

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are suspending competition entries for all our prize crosswords. Puzzles will continue to appear as normal but no entries will be accepted or prizes given.

We hope to return to normal as soon as possible.

The solution to this week’s Factfinder crossword will appear next Saturday as usual.

Stay safe!

Joy Yates, Editorial Director

Across

8 Seaport in the east coast ( pop about 12,000),

a former royal burgh ( 8)

9 A plant commonly known as a wattle ( 6)

10 Former name for an area in the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel ( 6)

11 Citizen of a country in south- east Europe

( 11,100 sq miles; pop about 3 million) ( 8)

12 A square pilaster at either side of a door way

( archit) ( 4)

13 A guiding principle ( 6,4)

15 Italian painter and architect ( 1483 - 1520 ( 7) 17 British Overseas Territory in the north Atlantic ( 20.5 sq miles; pop about 70,000) ( 7)

20 Plant species of the spurge family ( 10)

22 Of no legal force ( 4)

24 Relating to aquatic mammals including

whales, dolphins, etc ( 8)

26 Country in central Europe ( 120,733 sq miles;

pop about 38 million) ( 6)

27 Plaster used for coating walls, making casts,

etc ( 6)

29 Albert __ ( 1879 - 1955), German- born scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Physics n 1921 ( 8)

Down

1 Anne __ ( 1507 - 36), the second wife of Henry

VIII ( 6)

2 A tumult or disturbance ( 8)

3 Citizen of a country in southern Europe

( 35,609; pop about 10 million) ( 10)

4 A complete break- up or collapse ( 7)

5 Charles __ ( 1775 - 1836), London- born essayist

and critic ( 4)

6 Historic county in eastern Wales ( 6)

7 Obtained by guile or swindling ( 8)

14 Composite plant of the sunflower family,

once cultivated for its medicinal root ( 10) 16 A cupid portrayed in a work of art ( 8)

18 A pillar or column of a single stone ( 8)

19 A cocktail containing brandy and white

creme de menthe ( 7)

21 A delicate degree or shade of difference ( 6) 23 Long pieces of cloth used as sashes,

turbans, etc, similar to sarongs ( 6)

25 A valuable handicap run each year in August

at York ( 4)