Crossword No. 397: ‘Playfair’ by Afrit

Symmetry: None

Size: 169 cells

Theme:
12 lights are entered Playfair-coded, with the code-square entered in the centre of the grid.

Highlight the line below this, to reveal the codeword:
WHISKERANDO

Other information:
This seems to have been the first ever Playfair puzzle. 12 entries were coded, but there were no unchecked letters involved. Instead, solvers had to insert the code square in the 5 × 5 block in the middle of the grid. The preamble referred to Lord Peter Wimsey.