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themadwomanintheattic

16th August 2025, 15:35
Hello everyone. Finished this, but didn't enjoy the heavy reliance on deletions.

Please can anyone help with the parsing of 4a?

Victoria's help with delivery from new coal depots (6,4)

I have P - S - A - / C - D -. Looks like POSTAL CODE, which is a straightforward anagram of COAL DEPOTS, with NEW as the anagram indicator. But where does VICTORIA'S fit in? It looks redundant - if you take it away the clue would still make perfect sense. What am I missing?
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rusty

16th August 2025, 15:46
Postcodes were first introduced in London in the 1850's when Queen Victoria was on the throne.
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chrise

16th August 2025, 15:47
What is the clue number? Could it also be a postcode?
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themadwomanintheattic

16th August 2025, 15:50
Thanks Rusty. I'd always thought postcodes were a much more recent phenomenon. No wonder I was baffled!

Chrise - the clue number is 4 across.
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chrise

16th August 2025, 15:59
It looks like rusty's explanation is correct, then.

I don't like words in clues that aren't necessary, though.
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bear of lb

16th August 2025, 16:12
Ah, themadwoman (etc) just beat me to it as I too was baffled by the mention of Victoria in 4A

I still think, regardless of when the Postal Areas were introduced, that dragging Victoria into the clue was what the 39 Articles call "a Work of Supererogation" : the clue was quite complete without her.

I have done all but two, but trying to work Vic in held me up for some time! A rap on the knuckles to the setter, I think.
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rusty

16th August 2025, 16:33
I checked Victoria, Australia, too, but that got me nowhere, so settled on Queen Victoria for the explanation.

The setter's "Victoria's" is superfluous, I'd say.
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gaufridus

16th August 2025, 17:19
Stumped on 27A
Experienced four seasons in one day, perhaps
I have -I-G-/W-T-H-D
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malone

16th August 2025, 17:21
Binge Watched, experienced four season (of a tv series, say).
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gaufridus

16th August 2025, 17:35
Thanks malone.
Tentatively, I had 'WATCHED' but couldn't think of the first word.
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