Linked by Vismut

Puzzle explanation

In the pairs of answers to linked clues, the last letter of the first answer was the same as the first letter of the second answer. The linking letters spelt out “Mary Macarthur”, who led the Cradley Heath women chain makers’ strike for a minimum wage in 1910. Chain links were drawn in the grid through CRADLEY HEATH, WOMEN CHAIN MAKERS and STRIKE. In the numbered clues, the last letter of each was the same as the first letter of the next, and these letters spelt “there’s no message here”. The puzzle was published on the day of the 2022 Women Chainmakers’ Festival, which took place in Mary Macarthur Gardens, Cradley Heath.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer (unclued letter) Explanation
Linked
  IMA(M) I(mplicates) M(an) A(fter)
  (M)OWRA ((b)A(r)R(o)W (b)O(y)) <
  ARRACACH(A) ARRA(y) + CACH(e)
  (A)STILBE BEST * around (w)IL(d)
  SCREWE(R) S + CREW + E
  (R)ANT ANT
  MARR(Y) RAM < + R
  (Y)EARN EARN
  EBORACU(M) ROBE < + A + CU
  (M)ALAR A + (o)RAL <
  ULNARI(A) URINAL *
  (A)COCK COCK
  OTI(C) I after OT
  (C)APON AP + ON
  INAMORAT(A) ANIMATOR *
  (A)LL AT SEA TALL < + SEA(t)
  AMEE(R) ÂME + E
  (R)EFEREE (Sh)E(ila) + E in FREE
  DIE(T) D(erby) I(n) E(psom)
  (T)IN WIN − W
  POTLAC(H) POT + LAC
  (H)EAT EAT
  SAMSH(U) SMASH *
  (U)NNATURALISED (AND NEUTRAL) * around IS
  TWEE(R) TWEE
  (R)ISPS (bur)PS after (I + S)
Across
6 DORADO (R + A) in DODO
7 AEOLIAN A + (NAIL + OE) <
8 ORTS SORT with first letter moved to the end
11 GENU GENIU(s) − I
12 ANNULLING ANNUAL + LING − (quot)A
16 DUAL (Ba)DU AL(bum)
17 SKIERS 2 meanings
18 SATRAP (SAT + A + P) around R
19 STEDD ’S + TED + D
Down
1 RADIOPHONISTS (ROD’S HIT + PIANO) * + S(tage)
2 ISOBRONTS ISOS around BRONT(ë)
3 STRETTA (E(xtra) T(uition) T(raining)) in ARTS *
4 PIAS SPI(ce) * around A
5 SPICAE SPICE around A
9 INDIAN RED (GI ANDRÉ DERAIN − G − ERA) *
10 ANE (l)ANE(s)
13 GRUYÈRE (UP EASTER YARG) * − PASTA *
14 IMARET MARE in IT
15 IRES ((wi)SER I(nmate)) <
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